Some babies and toddlers who suck their thumbs or use pacifiers develop an overbite. Once you develop an overbite, it won’t correct itself – orthodontic intervention, and in severe cases oral surgery, is needed.

An overbite is a jaw misalignment that causes the upper teeth to protrude. Some overbites are subtle, while others are more severe, causing buck teeth.

Who gets an overbite?

Sometimes, an overbite is inherited – it runs in the family. Other times, habits that babies or children develop may cause an overbite.

Possible causes of an overbite include:

• A family history of overbite
• Being born with a small lower jaw
• Drinking out of a baby bottle longer than expected
• Thumb sucking, especially beyond age three
• Pacifier use after age three
• Fingernail biting
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
• Thrusting the tongue too far forward, pressing it against the front teeth

It’s also possible for adults to develop an overbite, if they clench their teeth or bite strongly.

What are symptoms of an overbite?

An overbite can affect your physical appearance, but it can also cause other problems.

Common symptoms of an overbite include:

• Difficulty closing the mouth around the teeth
• Difficulty fully opening the mouth
• Pain or discomfort while chewing or eating
• Jaw pain
• Speech difficulties
• Tooth decay
• Abnormal wearing of the teeth, causing enamel loss in unexpected areas
  
  

How is an overbite treated?

Different treatments are available for an overbite, usually administered by an orthodontist. The treatment that you need depends on the cause and severity of the overbite.

Possible treatments include:

• Palate expanders
• Traditional metal braces or clear aligners
• Retainers
• Extracting specific teeth to make more room, if teeth crowding is an issue
• Surgery to correct jaw misalignment

“It’s possible to treat an overbite at any age, including well into adulthood. However, it’s often easier to treat an overbite during childhood or adolescence,” says oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Shahid Rahim Aziz, M.D. “If you have concerns for yourself, or your child, your dentist is a good first stop for an evaluation.”

Micrognathia: A related condition that may cause overbite

Some babies have a condition called micrognathia, or a small lower jaw. Micrognathia is caused by inherited conditions and may sometimes cause an overbite.

Sometimes, babies outgrow micrognathia and its associated overbite before they’re 18 months old. Other times, treatments are needed to correct the condition.

Micrognathia is not caused by thumb-sucking or other common causes of overbite. It’s often a sign of an inherited genetic mutation, such as:

• A cleft lip or cleft palate
• Pierre Robin sequence
• Stickler syndrome
• Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome
• Hemifacial microsomia
• Craniofacial microsomia
• Treacher-Collins syndrome
• Nagar syndrome
  
  

Babies who have micrognathia may experience symptoms, including:

• Breathing noisily
• Difficulty feeding
• Trouble gaining weight
• Sleep apnea
• Poor sleep (quality and quantity)
  
  

When babies and children with micrognathia need treatment, it’s traditionally offered early in childhood. Treatments may prevent overbite.

Possible treatments include:

• Sleeping on their back, if stomach sleeping makes them thrust their tongue forward
• Sleeping with a CPAP, BiPAP or nasopharyngeal airway device to improve breathing
• Surgery, which is personalized for each patient, depending on their cause of micrognathia
  
  

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Shahid Rahim Aziz, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Aziz or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.
  
  

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.