Overbite (Deep Bite)

When the teeth do not meet normally, biting or chewing can be difficult or uncomfortable. Teeth may look misaligned, and some people have speech difficulty, mouth breathing or trouble biting into food correctly.

Overbite can run in families when upper and lower jaw sizes, or jaw and tooth sizes, differ. Childhood thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, prolonged bottle use and pacifier use beyond age three can also contribute to an abnormal bite pattern.

The bite develops as baby teeth are replaced and the jaws grow. Premature loss of baby teeth can reduce arch length and worsen excessive overbite, crowding, rotations or unfavourable molar relationships as the developing teeth shift.

Persistent thumb sucking and tongue thrusting can alter tooth position. Extra, lost, impacted or unusually shaped teeth, poorly fitting fillings or crowns, and jaw fractures are other listed contributors to malocclusion and bite changes.

A dental examination checks how the back teeth come together while you bite. X-rays of the teeth, face or skull and diagnostic models can be used to assess the tooth and jaw relationship and record the problem.

Orthodontic appliances can move teeth and improve overbite, overjet and the way the back teeth meet. In growing patients, treatment aims for a bite and profile compatible with the person’s skeletal pattern; adult treatment may require longer appliance use.

The amount of bite correction and treatment time are relevant to the work required. Orthodontic treatment can last six months to two years or more, and adults may need braces or other devices for a longer period.

An uneven bite can make chewing or speaking difficult. During orthodontic treatment, appliances may irritate the mouth and gums; discomfort, tooth decay and gingivitis are among the possible complications listed for malocclusion care.

Inherited jaw and tooth proportions cannot always be prevented. Reducing thumb sucking and tongue thrusting can help address modifiable habits, and maintaining space after an early baby-tooth loss can reduce the alignment changes caused by lost arch length.