What is an overjet?
An overjet is when the upper front teeth extend noticeably beyond the lower front teeth, so the upper teeth stick out farther than they should. Orthodontists call this an excess overjet.
It can come from the position of the teeth, from a difference between the upper and lower jaws, or both. Our Orthodontic Issues We Treat page lists it with the other bite problems we treat.
What is the difference between an overjet and an overbite?
An overjet is the distance between the upper and lower front teeth from front to back, while an overbite is how much they overlap from top to bottom. In everyday speech, an overjet is often called an overbite.
Our blog post What Is an Overjet and How to Treat It explains the difference, and Can Invisalign Correct an Overbite? covers overbites.
What causes an overjet?
Jaw size and position are sometimes inherited, and a difference between the upper and lower jaws can cause an overjet. Long-term thumb sucking, tongue thrusting or pacifier use can also push the front teeth forward.
When baby teeth are lost too soon, the surrounding teeth can shift and create bite problems. If your child has the habit, read Does Your Child Suck Their Thumb? What Parents Should Know.
Why should an overjet be treated?
Front teeth that stick out are more likely to be chipped or injured in a fall or during sports. An overjet can also make it harder to bite into some foods and can affect speech.
Some people develop a lisp or jaw strain, or feel self-conscious about their smile, particularly teens. See Braces for Children for how bite problems affect children.
How do you treat an overjet?
We treat overjets with braces, clear aligners and elastics and, in growing children, functional appliances that guide jaw growth. Dr. MacKenzie recommends the combination that suits your bite and your age.
Clear aligners can be Angel Aligner or Invisalign. When treatment ends, retainers hold the teeth in their new positions. See Braces, Invisalign and Clear Aligners and Retainers.
When should a child with an overjet see an orthodontist?
By age 7, as the Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends. For children and teens, early treatment is often easier and more effective, and early evaluation is always free at MacKenzie Orthodontics.
Phase 1 treatment while the jaw is still growing can reduce the risk of injury to front teeth that stick out. The Angel Kid Aligner System is a removable option for children with tooth protrusion. Most children seen at 7 are simply monitored. See Aligners and Palatal Expanders for Kids and growth monitoring for kids.
Can adults have an overjet corrected?
Yes. Adults can have an overjet corrected with braces or clear aligners, although treatment may take longer than for a growing child.
Most full treatment for adults takes 12 to 24 months. When the overjet comes from a jaw that protrudes too far for orthodontic treatment alone, jaw surgery with an oral and maxillofacial surgeon may be considered, and we give non-surgical options to every patient who would benefit from treatment. See Treatment for Adults and Orthognathic Surgery.
How much does overjet treatment cost?
Your fee depends on your treatment plan, and we give it to you at your free consultation. We offer 0% interest monthly payment plans and direct bill most major insurance providers.
If you are not sure what your plan covers, bring your insurance details to your consultation and our team will review your benefits with you. See Cost, Insurance, and Financing.
Front teeth that stick out, in your child or in yourself? Book a free consultation in Saint John, Quispamsis or St. Stephen. It includes digital x-rays, clinical photos, a 3D intraoral scan and a personalized smile simulation, at no cost and with no obligation.