The Key Differences Between an Underbite vs. Overbite

When you’re considering cosmetic dental work, your dentist will often suggest correcting your bite. There are two types that you’re probably already aware of: underbite vs overbite.

It can feel irritating when your teeth aren’t perfectly aligned. It can cause jaw soreness, headaches, and can even lead to painful conditions such as TMJ. 

Believe it or not, your bite affects how you live your daily life. An overbite or underbite can alter your breathing, eating, and swallowing. 

Knowing whether you have an underbite vs. overbite can help you decide which service to ask your dentist about to correct your condition. 

RELATED: HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH PROPERLY

What Is An Underbite?

An underbite is when your lower teeth overlap in front of your upper teeth. Underbites are rare compared to overbites. Only 5-10% of the population develops an underbite vs. overbite patients at over 80%.

The sooner an overbite is corrected, the better. For example, if you notice your child has an underbite, talk to your dentist about this now. This prevents them from developing issues like speech impediments or crooked or overcrowded teeth.

What Causes Underbite?

An underbite is defined by a protruding jaw caused by an overdeveloped lower jaw bone or an underdeveloped top jaw bone. 

There are three leading causes for underbites:

1. Bad habits

It may look cute when your child is sucking on their thumb, but you don’t want this to become a habit after the age of two because it can lead to underbites.

Even mouth breathing can affect your child’s facial development and lead to them developing an underbite. Here’s why nose breathing is essential.

Pacifier use past the age of 4 and bottle feeding after 12-18 months can also cause a child’s underbite.

2. Genetics

Patients may find it silly to ask if underbites are genetic, but the answer may surprise you.

If someone in your family has an underbite, there’s a chance you or your child may develop one as well.

Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to prevent an underbite from genetics. Instead, bring up your concerns with your pediatric dentist to determine the best course of treatment in the coming years.

3. Injury 

Blunt force to the face or unforeseeable medical issues (such as tumors) can cause underbites. 

These injuries may become more noticeable over time. Some symptoms that indicate your bite may need medical treatment are:

• Trouble chewing or swallowing
• New teeth issues such as gum disease or tooth decay
• Jaw pain or headaches
• Speech impediments

Treatments for Underbites

Underbites are a bit more complicated to fix than overbites. Because childhood habits are the primary culprit for underbites, it’s vital to be proactive and stop those bad habits as soon as possible. 

Treatments such as braces or Invisalign can help reverse underbites. But remember: the sooner, the better. Invisalign clarifies that they can fix some underbites, but individual cases may require a mixture of Invisalign and surgery.

Your dentist may recommend palatal expanders if you have an underdeveloped upper jaw. These devices expand the roof of your mouth and widen your jaw. Removing some of your molars may also help and reduce overcrowding teeth. 

Adults and teens with fully-developed jawbones may need corrective jaw surgery. This procedure may include bone grafting, jaw repositioning, and shortening or lengthening the jaw bone.

RELATED: HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH BRACES

What Is An Overbite? 

An overbite is when your upper teeth overlap in front of your lower teeth. However, not everyone with an overbite needs to have it corrected.

In fact, most people have a slight overbite. 

Your dentist considers an overbite to be excessive if it protrudes roughly 4 to 10 millimeters over your bottom teeth.

Causes of Overbite

The causes of an underbite vs. overbite are not that different. Those same bad habits, genetics, and injury can also be why you have an overbite. 

Some other causes of overbites include:

1. Teeth Grinding

Studies show that teeth grinding or bruxism can lead to overbites. Whether you do this while you’re awake or asleep, this habit wears down your teeth which can cause your bite to misalign over time. 

According to Cleveland Clinic, grinding “affects about 10% of adults and up to 15% of children.” You might grind your teeth due to stress, sleep apnea, or because of the medicines you take. 

Even having too much caffeine can cause incessant grinding!

2. Overcrowding

You don’t completely lose all of your baby teeth until about 12 years old. Even then, some people won’t develop their molars until 17-25 years old. 

Depending on your childhood habits, genetics, and oral hygiene routine, you may find that your teeth become overcrowded as an adult. 

Overcrowding can lead to overbites because your teeth won’t be properly aligned. 

Misaligned teeth are the most significant contributors to overbites. When you can’t comfortably bite down, you will naturally adjust your bite to avoid pain or discomfort, thus leading to overbites.

3. Tongue Pressing

Pressing your tongue against your teeth and even excessive tongue thrusting can cause your teeth to misalign and cause overbiting. 

Pushing your tongue against your front teeth (while resting or eating) also pushes those front teeth forward. A tongue pressing habit at a young age can really affect how your teeth grow in; remember, your permanent teeth don’t fully develop until about age 25. 

Left untreated, overbites can cause:

• Jaw pain/headaches
• TMJ
• Breathing issues
• Cavities and tooth decay
• Changes to your facial structure

Treatments

Thankfully, overbites are easily treatable. Again, it’s ideal to stop bad habits like thumb sucking and mouth breathing at an early age to prevent overbites. 

At home, you can practice breathing exercises to stop mouth breathing and tongue pressing. Wearing a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding can also be an effective at-home treatment for overbites. 

Your dentist will likely recommend Invisalign or braces if the damage is already done. Here’s the difference between Invisalign vs. braces. 

For children, it’s best to wait until they’ve lost most of their baby teeth before investing in these options (age 12 or older).

Your dentist may also recommend tooth extraction to make more room for your teeth to correct the misalignment and overbite.

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Underbite vs. Overbite FAQs

Here are some additional questions our patients ask in regards to underbite vs. overbite:

1. Are underbites genetic?

Yes, underbites are genetic. If you or your partner have an underbite, it’s likely that your child will also develop one. Some ways to counteract this development include:

• Improve your child’s breathing habits with daily exercises
• Stop bottle feeding after 12 months
• Stop thumb sucking and pacifier use after 2 years old

2. Will Invisalign fix overbite?

According to studies, Invisalign can treat mild to moderate overbite cases. Dentists may recommend braces for children since their teeth and jaws are still developing. 

3. How much overbite is normal?

Overbites are common. A normal overbite will be about 1-3 mm, a deep overbite is 4-9 mm, and a severe overbite is 10mm or more.

Thining about getting Invisalign for your overbite or underbite? Schedule a FREE consultation with Dr. Lasry at Lasry Dental Clinic in Los Angeles, California.