What Causes an Overbite and Can It Be Corrected?

What is an overbite?

An overbite describes how much the upper front teeth vertically overlap the lower front teeth when you bite together.

Some overlap is normal. Your upper and lower front teeth are not generally supposed to meet edge to edge.

When the upper front teeth cover substantially more of the lower front teeth, we may describe the relationship as an excessive overbite or deep bite.

But the amount of overlap isn't the entire diagnosis. We also want to see where the teeth contact, how the front teeth are angled, how the back teeth fit together, and whether the jaws themselves are contributing to the bite.

What's the difference between an overbite and overjet?

This is where a lot of the confusion starts. Overbite and overjet describe two different directions.

You can have a deep overbite without much overjet, increased overjet without a deep bite, or both at the same time.

That's why "I have an overbite" is a useful starting point, but it isn't enough information to choose a treatment.

What causes an overbite?

There isn't one cause that explains every deep bite. The position of the teeth can contribute, the relationship between the jaws can contribute, and very often several factors are working together.

1. The position of the front teeth. The angle and position of the upper and lower incisors affect how those teeth overlap when you close your bite.
2. The vertical position of the teeth. How the front and back teeth have erupted influences the depth of the bite. That means we can't always correct a deep bite by simply moving the front teeth backward or forward.
3. The shape of the dental arches. A pronounced curve through the lower teeth can be part of a deep-bite pattern and may need to be addressed during treatment.
4. The relationship between the jaws. Facial growth and skeletal anatomy influence how the upper and lower teeth meet. In some patients, the jaw relationship is an important part of the overbite.
5. A combination of factors. Two people can have a similar amount of visible overlap for completely different reasons. That is why the cause matters as much as the measurement.

Two overbites can look similar in the mirror and require very different treatment plans.

Is the overbite coming from the teeth or the jaws?

This distinction helps us understand what orthodontic treatment can realistically change.

This is one reason orthodontic records matter. An examination, photographs, digital scans, and appropriate X-rays show us far more than we can learn from the amount of overlap visible in a smile.

Does every overbite need to be fixed?

No. Some vertical overlap is normal, and simply having an overbite does not mean you need braces or Invisalign.

Treatment becomes more relevant when the depth of the bite is creating damaging contacts, contributing to another orthodontic problem, affecting function, or creating an esthetic concern you want to address.

1. The lower teeth contact the palate or gum tissue. With a very deep bite, the lower incisors can contact the soft tissue behind the upper teeth.
2. The bite is contributing to tooth wear. Where and how the teeth contact can concentrate force on particular surfaces.
3. The bite feels functionally limiting. A deep bite may be one part of a larger relationship affecting how the upper and lower teeth work together.
4. Other orthodontic problems are present. Crowding, spacing, rotations, increased overjet, and other bite relationships can occur alongside a deep overbite.
5. You want to change how the bite affects your smile. Esthetics can be a legitimate reason to consider treatment. We still want the correction to make sense for the health and function of the bite.

If your bite is healthy and stable and the overlap isn't creating a meaningful concern, treatment may not be necessary simply because an overbite exists.

Can an overbite be corrected?

Many deep overbites can be improved with orthodontic treatment.

The important question is what movements are needed to create that correction.

Depending on the bite, treatment may involve changing the vertical position of the front teeth, changing the position of the back teeth, adjusting the angle of the incisors, leveling the dental arches, or combining several movements.

That's why there isn't one appliance or technique that fixes every overbite.

Our orthodontic treatment is provided by Dr. Edward Viloria , a board-certified orthodontist who evaluates the entire bite before recommending braces or clear aligners.

The goal isn't simply to make the overlap smaller. It's to create a bite that works as a whole.

Can braces fix an overbite?

Yes. Braces are one of the primary tools an orthodontist can use to correct a deep bite.

Brackets and wires give the orthodontist continuous control over tooth movement, which can be especially useful when several movements need to happen together or the bite is more complex.

Our braces are planned by Dr. Viloria based on the movements your teeth and bite actually require.

Can Invisalign fix an overbite?

Invisalign can also correct certain deep overbites.

Clear aligners can be particularly useful when the problem is primarily dental and the required tooth movements can be predictably accomplished with aligners.

That doesn't mean Invisalign is right for every overbite. The severity of the bite, the underlying jaw relationship, the movements required, and how consistently the aligners will be worn all matter.

Our Invisalign treatment is also planned by Dr. Viloria, so the decision between aligners and braces starts with the bite rather than the appliance.

Don't start with the appliance you want. Start with the movement your teeth need.

Can an overbite be corrected in adults?

Yes. Adults can undergo orthodontic treatment for a deep overbite.

The difference is that adult treatment takes place after facial growth is complete. If the problem is primarily dental, orthodontic tooth movement may provide the correction we need. When the jaw relationship contributes significantly to the bite, the limits of tooth movement become a more important part of the discussion.

We also consider gum health, bone support, crowns and other restorations, missing teeth, and previous dental treatment when planning orthodontics for an adult.

Age alone doesn't tell us whether treatment is possible. The condition of the teeth and supporting tissues, the type of overbite, and the movements required are much more useful.

What happens after the overbite is corrected?

Orthodontic treatment doesn't end the day the braces come off or you finish your last aligner.

Teeth can move after treatment, so retention is part of maintaining the result. Dr. Viloria will recommend a retainer plan based on the movements that were made and the bite that needs to remain stable.

With a deep bite, we're interested in maintaining more than straight front teeth. We also want to preserve the corrected vertical relationship between the upper and lower teeth.

The amount of overlap is only the beginning.

If your upper teeth cover much of your lower teeth, it's reasonable to wonder whether your overbite should be corrected.

But I wouldn't make that decision from the mirror alone.

First we need to determine whether you're seeing a normal amount of overlap, a dental deep bite, a broader skeletal relationship, an overjet that is being called an overbite, or a combination of those things.

Then the conversation becomes much more useful. We can decide whether treatment would help, what movements are required, and whether braces or Invisalign makes more sense for your bite.

The question isn't just, "Do I have an overbite?" It's, "What is creating my bite, and does it need to change?"