Does my child have an overbite?
Almost every child has some overbite, and a small one is normal and healthy. What parents usually mean by the word is either upper front teeth that stick out well ahead of the lower ones, or top teeth that cover most of the bottom ones. Both are common, both are treatable, and this page shows you how to check for them at home, what counts as normal, and when a specialist look is worth it.
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Reviewed by Dr Shaz MacAvoy, Specialist Orthodontist. Doctor of Clinical Dentistry (Orthodontics), registered with the Dental Council of New Zealand.
Overbite, overjet and deep bite: which one do you mean?
Three different things get called an overbite. Knowing which one you are looking at tells you how much it matters.
Overbite: how far the top teeth overlap the bottom ones
Measured up and down. With the back teeth together, the upper front teeth normally cover the top quarter to a third of the lower front teeth, about 2 to 4 mm. That is a normal bite, not a problem.
Deep bite: too much overlap
When the upper teeth hide most or all of the lower front teeth, or the lower teeth bite into the roof of the mouth behind the top teeth. Over the years a deep bite wears the teeth and can make the gums behind the top teeth sore.
Overjet: the top teeth sit forward
Measured front to back. Up to about 3 mm is normal. Beyond about 6 mm the front teeth stick out, which most people call buck teeth. This is the version that gets front teeth chipped, and it has its own guide below.
A two minute self check at home
You need good light and a child who is happy to show their teeth. Ask them to bite their back teeth together, not to push the jaw forward, and to lift their lips.
One clear yes is enough to book a free look. Nothing on the list and your child is 7 or older? A first check is still worth it, because how the jaws are growing only shows to a specialist. Read when a child should first see an orthodontist.
Six signs an overbite is worth a specialist look
None of these means treatment is urgent. They are the things we would rather see early, while growth can still help.
The lower front teeth are almost hidden
A deep bite in a growing child often gets deeper as the adult teeth come through. Seen early it is one of the simpler things to correct.
The top teeth sit well forward
A large overjet leaves the front teeth exposed to knocks in sport and play. Children with prominent front teeth are roughly twice as likely to chip or break one.
The lower lip sits behind the top teeth
A lip that tucks behind the upper teeth pushes them further forward over time, so the overjet tends to grow rather than settle.
The chin looks small or set back
Many overbites come from a lower jaw that is growing a little behind the upper one. That is exactly the pattern early treatment can guide while a child is still growing.
Teeth are wearing or the gums are sore
Lower teeth biting into the gum behind the top teeth, or flattened edges on the front teeth, mean the bite is doing damage that gets harder to undo.
Your child is being teased about their teeth
Prominent front teeth are one of the most common reasons children ask for braces themselves. That matters, and it is a good enough reason on its own to have a look.
The right age to act on an overbite
Overbites are mostly about how the jaws are growing, so timing matters more than for crooked teeth.
Age 7 to 10: look, and usually wait
The first look is worth having around 7 to 8. Most children with a mild overbite are simply checked again in a year at no charge. A habit that is keeping the teeth forward is worth stopping now.
Age 10 to 14: the window for guiding growth
Around the growth spurt, a growing lower jaw can be encouraged forward with a removable appliance, then the bite finished with braces or aligners. This is when most overbite treatment starts.
Age 15 and up: still very treatable
With growth slowing we rely more on moving the teeth, sometimes with small elastics. Braces and clear aligners correct overbites well right through the teens.
Every case is quoted in writing after the specialist consultation, and if both an early phase and later braces are likely, we say so at the start. See the best age for braces and braces at 12, 13 or 14.
What it looks like when treated
Real young Milk Orthodontics patients, treated by a specialist and shared with their permission.
More on how we treat an overbite, all the conditions we treat and more before and after results.
What it costs, and what is free
The first visit is a free Smile Assessment. If treatment is worthwhile, comprehensive braces or aligners for children and teens are from $9,900 all-inclusive, most cases around $10,400. Early treatment to guide jaw growth starts from $4,500. Interest-free plans spread the cost over treatment, and there is a family discount for siblings.
Answered honestly
Is an overbite normal in children?
Yes. A small overbite, where the upper front teeth cover the top quarter to a third of the lower ones, is a normal healthy bite. It becomes worth a look when the lower teeth are mostly hidden, when the top teeth sit well forward, or when the lips do not close easily at rest.
What is the difference between an overbite and an overjet?
An overbite is vertical: how far the top teeth overlap the bottom ones. An overjet is horizontal: how far forward the top teeth sit. Most people who search for overbite mean an overjet, with the front teeth sticking out. Both are common and both are treatable.
How do I know if my child's overbite is too deep?
Ask your child to bite their back teeth together and lift their lips. If you can see less than about a third of the lower front teeth, or the lower teeth touch the roof of the mouth behind the top teeth, the bite is deep and worth a free specialist look.
Will my child grow out of an overbite?
Usually not. A deep bite tends to get deeper as the adult teeth come through, and an overjet caused by jaw growth stays or grows. What can settle on its own is a mild overjet held by a thumb or dummy habit, once the habit stops early enough.
At what age should an overbite be assessed?
Around 7 to 8 for the first look, when the adult front teeth are through and we can see how the jaws are growing. Most children are then watched, with treatment timed to the growth spurt around 10 to 14 if it is needed. The first assessment is free.
What happens if an overbite is not treated?
A deep bite slowly wears the front teeth and can make the gum behind the top teeth sore. A large overjet leaves the front teeth exposed to knocks, and children with prominent front teeth chip or break them about twice as often. Neither is an emergency, but both are simpler to correct while a child is growing.
How is an overbite treated in a child?
It depends on the cause. Where the lower jaw is growing behind the upper one, a removable appliance worn around the growth spurt can guide it forward. The bite is then finished with braces or clear aligners, sometimes with small elastics. A habit that is holding the teeth forward is addressed first.
How much does overbite treatment cost for a child in NZ?
At Milk, comprehensive braces or aligners for children and teens are from $9,900 all-inclusive, most cases around $10,400. Early treatment to guide jaw growth starts from $4,500. The Smile Assessment is free, and the written plan with an exact quote follows the $390 New Patient Consultation.
Spotted an overbite? Let us take a look
A free 20 minute Smile Assessment with our Treatment Coordinator at Newmarket or Albany. No referral, no obligation, and if the answer is wait, we will say so.
More self checks: does my child have buck teeth, does my child have an underbite and does my child have a crossbite. Or start with the ten signs your child may need braces.