What is an overjet?
An overjet is when your upper front teeth stick out horizontally, far beyond your lower front teeth. Sometimes, overjet is genetic, but it can also be caused by habits like thumb sucking as a child. Overjets can impact your appearance and even how you chew and speak.
Orthodontic treatments like braces can correct an overjet, improving both the function and appearance of your teeth. Traditional metal braces are one option, as are clear aligners.
Early orthodontic evaluation and, if necessary, treatment can significantly reduce the total treatment time and optimize tooth development. Let’s take a look at some real-life examples of what you can expect from braces for overjet before and after treatment.
What causes an overjet and what problems can it cause?
Common Causes of Overjet
An overjet can be genetic, meaning you’re more likely to have it if other people in your family have it. Jaw and tooth development are influenced by genetics, and these factors can contribute to an overjet.
Certain habits, such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and prolonged pacifier use, can also cause an overjet. Many people have a tongue thrust without even realizing it, and the problem may not be diagnosed until they see an orthodontist to fix spacing or open bite issues.
Sometimes overjets are caused by differences in jaw size and position.
Potential Complications of Untreated Overjet
If you don’t get your overjet treated, your front teeth will be more vulnerable to injury, and you may have trouble speaking clearly or chewing efficiently. You may also feel self-conscious if you don’t like the way your overjet looks.
Braces Treatment for Overjet: The Process
Fixing an overjet with braces is a process that typically involves several steps.
Initial Assessment and Treatment Planning
The first step is a thorough orthodontic evaluation, which includes X-rays and impressions. Orthodontists use these to create a treatment plan that’s tailored to your individual needs. The amount of time you’ll need to wear braces will vary, depending on the complexity of your case.
Braces Application and Adjustment
Brackets are bonded to the teeth, and archwires are placed to guide tooth movement. Regular adjustments are needed to keep the teeth moving in the right direction.
Additional Appliances
Depending on the case, orthodontists may use additional appliances, such as:
- Herbst appliance. A fixed appliance that encourages lower jaw growth.
- Forsus springs. Applies force to correct the overjet.
- Temporary anchorage devices (TADs). Provides additional anchorage for tooth movement. Micro TADs can also be used to treat deep bite with spacing.
Before and After: Braces Correction of Overjet
Braces can make a big difference in correcting an overjet, as the before-and-after photos below show. Here’s what you can expect during the process:
Early Phase Treatment
If your orthodontist catches an overjet early, it may be possible to guide jaw growth and address skeletal issues before they become more pronounced. For example, in Case 3, a Class II overjet was treated in two phases over three years. The first phase alone corrected the overjet by 80%.
Your orthodontist may also want to address habits like thumb sucking that could be contributing to the overjet.
Mid-Treatment Adjustments
As your treatment progresses, your orthodontist will monitor tooth movement and make adjustments to the braces as needed. It’s normal to experience some discomfort during this time, but there are things you can do to manage it, like taking over-the-counter pain relievers or using a cold compress.
Final Results and Retention
Once your braces are removed, you’ll see a dramatic improvement in your alignment and bite. But the work isn’t over yet! You’ll need to wear a retainer to maintain the corrected position. Long-term stability depends on a number of factors, including your age, the severity of your overjet, and your compliance with wearing your retainer.
Below, you’ll see before-and-after pictures from Impress, showing real cases of teeth misalignment treated with clear aligners.
Alternatives to traditional braces: Clear aligners for overjet
While traditional braces are a highly effective way to correct an overjet, they’re not the only option. Clear aligners can provide a more discreet way to gently move your teeth into the correct position.
Clear aligners like Impress offer a way to correct a wide range of teeth alignment issues, including overjet. The aligners are nearly invisible, and you can take them out to eat, brush, and floss.
With clear aligners, your dentist or orthodontist will begin by scanning your teeth. Then, you’ll receive a series of aligners that you’ll switch out every week or two. As you move through the series, your teeth will gradually shift into their ideal positions.
For highly complex cases, fixed appliances like traditional braces may offer more predictable results. And because you can remove clear aligners, patient compliance is key. You’ll need to wear your aligners for the prescribed amount of time each day to see the best results.
Braces for Overjet: Real-Life Examples
The best way to see what braces can do for an overjet is to look at some real-life examples.
For instance, a study in Reference 1 describes a patient with a severe overjet who received early treatment in multiple phases. Reference 2 contains before and after photos of patients treated for overjet with clear aligners from Impress.
And Reference 3 shows examples of overbite treatment using Herbst appliances, Forsus Springs, and tooth extractions.
Final Thoughts
After braces, wearing your retainer consistently is key to keeping your new smile. Keep brushing and flossing, and don’t skip your regular dental checkups. Correcting an overjet can improve both how your teeth work and how your smile looks, so stick with it!