Bite & Alignment Issues
6 min read • By Dr. Kevin Baharvand, Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics
People use "overbite" to describe almost any front-tooth issue, but overbite and overjet are two different things, and mixing them up leads to a lot of confusion about treatment. The short version: an overbite is vertical, and an overjet is horizontal. Once you see the difference, everything else makes sense. Let me break down both and how we correct them.
Overbite vs. overjet: the real difference
Picture your front teeth from the side. The overbite is the vertical overlap, how far the top teeth come down over the bottom teeth. A small overlap is healthy and normal. When the upper teeth cover the lowers too much, that's a deep overbite. The overjet is different: it's the horizontal gap, how far the upper front teeth jut out ahead of the lower ones. A large overjet is what most people mean by "buck teeth."
| Overbite | Overjet | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | Vertical (up and down) | Horizontal (front to back) |
| What you see | Upper teeth cover too much of the lowers | Upper teeth stick out ahead of the lowers |
| Common name | Deep bite | Buck teeth |
What causes them
Both often come down to genetics, an inherited mismatch between the size or position of the upper and lower jaws. Childhood habits play a big role too: prolonged thumb-sucking, pacifier use, or tongue thrusting can push the upper teeth forward into an overjet, while a jaw-size difference tends to drive a deep overbite. Sometimes crowding or missing teeth contribute as well.
Why they're worth treating
A deep overbite can cause the lower teeth to bite into the gum behind the upper teeth and wear the teeth down unevenly, and it can strain the jaw. A large overjet leaves the front teeth more exposed, which raises the risk of chipping or breaking them in a fall or sports, and it can affect lip closure and speech. Correcting either protects the teeth and improves how your bite works, not just how it looks.
How overbite and overjet are fixed
The workhorses are braces and clear aligners, usually paired with elastics that guide the upper and lower teeth into the right vertical and horizontal relationship. In growing children, we can use growth-guiding appliances to steer the jaws while there's still developmental runway, which is why an early check matters. Most cases are handled without surgery; only rare, severe skeletal discrepancies in adults call for combining orthodontics with jaw surgery. An exam, photos, and X-rays let us measure exactly how much overbite or overjet you have and map the fix.
Overbite or overjet on your mind?
We'll measure it precisely and lay out your options at a free consultation.
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Why families trust Elate Orthodontics
With over 1,000 five-star reviews across three locations, Elate Orthodontics is led by Dr. Kevin Baharvand, DMD, MS, a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, whose clinical work was recently selected for the cover of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, the most prestigious peer-reviewed journal in the field, and a national speaker on clear aligner treatment. Alongside Dr. Julia Kang, DMD, MS, both Boston University graduates and members of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon national honor society, our husband-and-wife team has been recognized as D Magazine Best Dentist 2026, Living Magazine Readers' Choice 2026 Best Orthodontist in Frisco & Plano, Readers' Choice Best Orthodontist in The Colony, Best New Business by the Chamber of Commerce, Nextdoor Neighborhood Favorite, and featured in Orthotown and Authority Magazine.
We serve families through three convenient offices in West Frisco, North Frisco, and The Colony, each staffed by the same trusted team, equipped with advanced technology, and committed to the personalized approach that consistently helps patients finish treatment sooner than expected. From braces and clear braces to Angel Aligners, we offer treatment for every age and every stage of life. We stay in-network with most insurance plans and offer flexible financing to make exceptional orthodontic care accessible for every family we serve.
Need general and family dentistry too? Our sister practice, Tribute Family Dentistry, provides dental care for all ages.
