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Dentist Disaster

Crooked teeth & bite

Overbite and sticking-out front teeth

Routine6 treatment options

Top teeth that stick out or overlap the bottom ones too deeply. What counts as normal, why it matters, and how braces can help.

How urgent is it? Routine

Not an emergency, but ask for an orthodontic assessment for a child with noticeably prominent teeth - early treatment may reduce the risk of the front teeth being injured.

What it is

People use the word 'overbite' for two slightly different things. Orthodontists call the distance the top front teeth stick forward past the bottom ones the 'overjet', and the amount the top teeth cover the bottom teeth vertically the 'overbite'. A little of both is normal: an NHS England orthodontic guide gives an average overjet of about 2 to 4mm, with the top teeth covering roughly a third to a half of the lower front teeth.

Prominent upper front teeth are common - a Cochrane review notes they affect around a quarter of 12-year-olds in the UK - and they are more likely to be knocked and damaged. A very deep bite can mean the lower front teeth bite into the gum behind the upper teeth.

How much the overjet or overbite is increased is one of the measurements used to decide whether a child qualifies for NHS braces. Treatment usually involves a fixed brace, sometimes combined with a functional appliance that works on both jaws while a child is still growing.

Signs and causes

Common signs

  • Upper front teeth that stick out noticeably
  • Lips that do not close easily over the front teeth
  • Lower front teeth hidden behind the upper teeth when you bite
  • Lower teeth biting into the gum behind the upper front teeth

Usual causes

  • The way the upper and lower jaws have grown relative to each other
  • The angle at which the front teeth have come through
  • Habits such as prolonged thumb or finger sucking in childhood

Ways to fix it

The options a dentist may discuss with you, and when each one tends to be used. Which one suits you depends on an examination.

  1. Metal braces

    The most common NHS treatment for an increased overjet or deep bite, often after or alongside other appliances.

    Sometimes on the NHSOrthodontics

  2. Clear aligners

    Milder cases in adults, where the problem is mainly the position of the teeth rather than the jaws.

    Usually private onlyOrthodontics

  3. Ceramic braces

    As for metal braces, when you want less visible brackets.

    Usually private onlyOrthodontics

  4. Lingual braces

    Selected cases where a hidden fixed brace suits the bite.

    Usually private onlyOrthodontics

  5. Sports mouthguards

    To protect prominent front teeth during contact sports while you wait for, or instead of, treatment.

    Usually private onlyPreventive

  6. Retainers

    To hold the corrected bite once treatment finishes.

    Sometimes on the NHSOrthodontics

What you can do now

  • Wear a mouthguard for contact sport, as prominent front teeth are more easily damaged
  • Encourage children to stop thumb, finger or dummy sucking - an NHS England orthodontic guide suggests doing so before around age 5

Preventing it

  • Have a child's bite checked at routine dental visits so they can be referred at the right age
  • Keep wearing retainers after treatment

Common questions

Is it better to treat sticking-out teeth early?

A Cochrane review found that starting treatment between about 7 and 11 years old, then treating again in adolescence, reduced injuries to the upper front teeth compared with a single course of treatment in the teens, but found no other clear advantages of the two-phase approach. The evidence was mostly low quality.

What is the difference between overbite and overjet?

Overjet is how far the top front teeth stick forward; overbite is how much they overlap the bottom teeth vertically. Both are measured when deciding whether treatment is needed.

Can I get braces on the NHS?

Children and teenagers under 18 can be assessed for NHS orthodontic treatment, and it is provided free when their need scores highly enough on a standard index called the IOTN. Adults usually pay privately, although NHS treatment is possible in some complex cases, such as when jaw surgery is needed through a hospital service.

Products that may help at home

These support good daily care; they don’t replace treatment from a dentist. Some links may be affiliate links.

OPRO Gold mouthguard for braces

A self-fit sports mouthguard shaped to sit over fixed braces. Braces can change fit over time, so check with your orthodontist –…

Features & who it suits

TePe Bridge & Implant Floss

Pre-cut spongy floss with stiff ends that thread under wires, bridges and around implants – handy for anyone with fixed braces.

Features & who it suits

TePe Compact Tuft

A single-tuft brush for precision cleaning where a normal brush struggles – around brackets, along the gumline, crowded teeth…

Features & who it suits

Sources we used

Checked September 2026. Guidance changes, so always follow the advice of your own dental team. About our sources.