Overbite Vs Underbite: Expert Guide In Arlington, MA

How to Tell Them Apart, Why Each One Matters for Your Health, and How They Are Corrected

If you have ever looked in the mirror and thought your top teeth stick out too much, or that your lower jaw seems to be pushing forward, you may be noticing a bite issue called a malocclusion, which is a mismatch in how the upper and lower teeth (and sometimes the jaws) fit together. Malocclusions are extremely common in kids, teens, and adults, and two of the most talked-about types are overbite vs underbite. Here is how they differ, what causes them, and what treatment looks like in Arlington, MA.

An overbite is when the upper front teeth (or upper jaw) sit too far forward or down over the lower teeth, while an underbite is when the lower front teeth (or lower jaw) sit too far forward past the upper teeth. They have different causes, different effects on your health, and usually need different mechanics and timing to correct.

This article is written and clinically reviewed by Dr. Yajun Cui, DMD, PhD, an orthodontist in Arlington, MA at Sweet Smiles Orthodontics.

Many Arlington patients first ask about bite correction for cosmetic reasons, but the bigger story is long-term oral health. Both bite types can cause real functional damage over time, not just a visual imbalance.

The sections below cover the signs, causes, and health effects of each bite, how severity is diagnosed, the best ages to treat, and the treatment options available locally.

Smiling woman with blonde hair, green scarf, and braces for her overbite at Sweet Smiles Orthodontics in Arlington, MA, amid fall leaves - Overbite vs Underbite in Arlington, MA

What Is a “Normal” Bite?

Before comparing overbites and underbites, it helps to know what orthodontists consider a healthy bite. A normal bite usually has:

Upper front teeth that overlap the lower front teeth slightly, by just a few millimeters.
Upper back teeth that sit a bit outside the lower back teeth.
Even contact across the teeth, which spreads chewing forces smoothly.

A small amount of vertical overlap is natural. Bite issues arise when that overlap becomes excessive or reverses direction.

What Is an Overbite?

An overbite, often called a deep bite, happens when the upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much vertically. As Dr. Latoya Callahan, an orthodontist at Bespoke Orthodontics in Burtonsville, MD, explains, a deep overbite can lead to jaw soreness and damage if not treated early. In more severe cases, the lower teeth can bite into the roof of the mouth, or the upper teeth may contact the lower gum tissue.

Typical overbite signs

Upper front teeth appear to “hide” the lower front teeth when you smile.
The lower teeth may not show much even when you speak.
Top teeth wear down quickly or chip.
Lower gums may feel sore behind the upper teeth.
In some patients, the lower face has a “shorter” look.

Overbites range from mild (mostly cosmetic) to severe (functional and damaging).

What Is an Underbite?

An underbite is the reverse pattern. The lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth, often because the lower jaw is positioned forward or the upper jaw is underdeveloped. Jaw growth issues are a common reason some people get underbites.

Typical underbite signs

Lower teeth or jaw look prominent in profile.
Front teeth meet edge to edge or cross over.
Chewing feels awkward or “off.”
Speech differences, such as a lisp.
Jaw joint fatigue or discomfort.

Underbites are less common than overbites, but they can cause bigger functional problems when they are skeletal in origin.

The Big Difference: Teeth vs. Jaw Direction

The simplest way to remember it:

Overbite: the top teeth (or upper jaw) sit too far forward or down over the lower teeth.
Underbite: the bottom teeth (or lower jaw) sit too far forward past the upper teeth.

Both are bite misalignments, but they usually need different mechanics and timing to fix.

Why Overbites and Underbites Happen

Most bite problems come from a mix of genetics and environment. Some children inherit jaw size and shape patterns from their parents, while others develop bite issues because of habits or interrupted growth.

Common causes of overbite

Genetics. A small lower jaw, a larger upper jaw, or a tooth size mismatch.
Childhood habits. Long-term thumb sucking, pacifier use beyond age 3 to 4, or tongue thrusting.
Early or late loss of baby teeth. This can cause front teeth to tip or back teeth to drift.
Excess vertical growth patterns. Some children develop a deep bite because the front teeth erupt too far down or the back teeth do not erupt enough.

Common causes of underbite

Genetics. There is a strong family link, and the lower jaw tends to grow more than the upper jaw.
Upper jaw underdevelopment. This can create a “reverse” bite even when the lower jaw is normal.
Crossbite-related jaw shifts. If the bite forces the jaw forward or sideways during growth, an underbite can worsen.
Trauma or growth disturbances. Less common, but a jaw injury or a condition affecting development can contribute.

How These Bites Affect Your Health, Not Just Your Looks

Overbite consequences

Tooth wear and chipping: the upper teeth take too much force.
Gum recession: the lower gums can be traumatized by the upper teeth.
Jaw joint strain: deep bites can push the jaw back in a way that stresses the TMJs.
Higher cavity risk: crowded or overlapped teeth are harder to clean.

Underbite consequences

Chewing inefficiency: the front teeth do not “slice” correctly, and the back teeth may not contact evenly.
Speech issues: especially “s” and “f” sounds.
Enamel breakdown: severe underbites create edge-to-edge wear.
Jaw discomfort: skeletal underbites can overload the joints.

How Orthodontists Diagnose the Severity of a Bite Problem

At an Arlington-area orthodontic consultation, you will typically have:

Digital photos
3D intraoral scans
A panoramic X-ray
Often a lateral ceph (a side-view skull X-ray) to evaluate how the jaws relate to each other

The orthodontist then checks how far the teeth overlap vertically (overbite), how far the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth (underbite), whether the problem is dental, skeletal, or both, and what role airway, habits, and growth stage play, especially in kids. A perfectly straight smile can still hide a deep overbite or a mild underbite, which is why imaging matters.

The Best Age to Treat an Overbite or Underbite in Arlington, MA

Kids (Ages 7 to 10)

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7. That does not mean every child needs braces at 7. It means this is the best time to catch growth-based issues early, especially underbites.

Overbites can often be reduced by guiding tooth eruption and jaw position.
Underbites, if skeletal, are much easier to influence during growth than after puberty.

Teens (Ages 11 to 17)

This is the most common window for comprehensive correction. Growth is still active enough to help jaw relationships, while full-arch alignment can happen at the same time.

Adults (18 and Older)

Adults in Arlington increasingly seek bite correction for TMJ symptoms, visible tooth wear, aesthetic balance, and pre-restorative dental work. Adult treatment works well, but severe skeletal underbites may require orthodontics combined with jaw surgery.

Treatment Options for Overbite in Arlington

Your plan depends on whether the overbite is dental or skeletal and how deep it is.

1. Braces (Metal or Ceramic)

Braces remain the most predictable tool for correcting significant deep bites, especially when back-to-front tooth movement and vertical control are needed. To fix an overbite, braces can:

Intrude the upper incisors (move them slightly up)
Extrude the molars (move them slightly down)
Correct torque and angulation
Use elastics when needed

2. Invisalign and Clear Aligners

Invisalign can correct many mild-to-moderate overbites, especially in adults and motivated teens, often with attachments and elastics.

3. Growth-Guidance Appliances (Kids)

For younger patients, tools like functional appliances or bite-opening devices help guide jaw development and tooth eruption.

Treatment Options for Underbite in Arlington

Underbites need special attention because many are tied to jaw growth.

1. Early Orthopedic Correction (Children)

When an underbite is caught early, orthodontists may use appliances that encourage upper jaw development and improve the bite relationship, which reduces the chance of surgery later.

2. Braces or Aligners With Elastics

For dental or mild skeletal underbites, orthodontic treatment can reposition the teeth and use elastics to guide bite correction.

3. Surgical Orthodontics (Severe Adult Cases)

When the lower jaw is significantly forward (a true skeletal Class III), adult correction may require orthognathic surgery combined with braces or aligners. This is not most cases, but for the right patient it can be life-changing for chewing, facial balance, and joint comfort.

Typical Treatment Timelines

These are ballpark ranges commonly quoted for bite correction. Your orthodontist will give you a specific estimate based on your growth stage and the mechanics involved.

Mild dental overbite: 8 to 14 months
Moderate overbite: 12 to 24 months
Early underbite correction: 6 to 12 months for Phase I, with a possible Phase II later
Comprehensive underbite in teens: 18 to 30 months
Adult skeletal underbite (non-surgical): 18 to 30 months, depending on limitations
Surgical cases: usually 24 to 36 months in total, including pre- and post-surgical orthodontics

Overbite vs. Underbite at a Glance

	Overbite	Underbite
What it is	Upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much vertically	Lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth
Common signs	Lower teeth hidden when you smile, worn or chipped top teeth, sore lower gums behind the upper teeth	Prominent lower teeth or jaw in profile, edge-to-edge or crossed front teeth, awkward chewing, lisping
Common causes	Genetics, thumb sucking or pacifier use past age 3 to 4, tongue thrusting, early or late baby tooth loss, vertical growth patterns	Genetics, upper jaw underdevelopment, crossbite-related jaw shifts, trauma or growth disturbances
Health risks	Tooth wear and chipping, gum recession, jaw joint strain, higher cavity risk	Chewing inefficiency, speech issues, enamel breakdown, jaw discomfort
Treatment options	Braces, Invisalign for mild to moderate cases, growth-guidance appliances for kids	Early orthopedic appliances for kids, braces or aligners with elastics, jaw surgery plus orthodontics for severe adult cases

When Braces or Aligners Alone May Not Be Enough

Most overbites and underbites can be corrected with braces or aligners, but a few situations call for more. Invisalign works well for many mild-to-moderate overbites, while significant deep bites are better handled with braces, which give the most predictable vertical control. For adults with a true skeletal underbite, where the lower jaw sits significantly forward, braces or aligners alone may not be enough, and orthognathic surgery combined with orthodontics may be the right path. Non-surgical treatment for an adult skeletal underbite is possible in some cases, but it depends on the limitations of the individual bite.

On the other end of the range, a mild overbite may be mostly cosmetic. Which category your bite falls into is exactly what an exam is for.

What a Self-Check Can (and Can’t) Tell You

This quick checklist is not a diagnosis, just a clue list before you book a consultation.

You might have an overbite if:

Your top teeth cover most of your bottom teeth.
Your bottom teeth barely show when you smile.
You have noticed chipping or wear on your top front teeth.
Your lower gums feel irritated.

You might have an underbite if:

Your lower front teeth sit in front of your upper teeth.
Your chin or jaw looks strong or forward in profile.
You bite edge to edge with your front teeth.
Chewing feels like your back teeth do not match up evenly.

Either way, a proper exam is the only way to know how severe your bite is and which approach fits best. A mirror cannot tell you whether the cause is in the teeth, the jaw, or both. If you have questions about your own bite, you are welcome to contact Sweet Smiles Orthodontics directly.

The bottom line for Arlington families is simple. For kids, get an orthodontic evaluation around age 7 to catch growth patterns early. For teens and adults, do not wait for pain or severe wear, because bite correction is easier earlier but still very possible later.

What to Look for in an Orthodontist in Arlington, MA

When choosing care for an overbite or underbite, look for:

An AAO-certified orthodontist, since specialty training matters for bite and jaw relationships.
Experience treating both adult and pediatric bite issues.
Access to growth-based appliances, which is important for young underbite cases.
Digital scans and bite simulation, which help you visualize your results.
Clear explanations of whether your bite issue is dental or skeletal.

Sweet Smiles Orthodontics offers a free orthodontic consultation, which is a good way to ask these questions and compare treatment approaches before you decide.

FAQs: Overbite vs. Underbite

What is the main difference between an overbite and an underbite?

With an overbite, the upper front teeth (or upper jaw) sit too far forward or down over the lower teeth. With an underbite, the lower front teeth (or lower jaw) sit too far forward past the upper teeth. They are opposite patterns, and they usually need different mechanics and timing to correct.

Is an overbite or an underbite more serious?

Neither is automatically worse. Overbites range from mild and mostly cosmetic to severe and damaging, while underbites are less common but can cause bigger functional problems when they are skeletal in origin. Left untreated, both can lead to tooth wear, gum problems, and jaw discomfort.

At what age should a child be checked for a bite problem?

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic check by age 7. That does not mean every child needs braces at that age. It is simply the best time to catch growth-based issues early, especially underbites.

Can Invisalign fix an overbite?

Invisalign can correct many mild-to-moderate overbites, especially in adults and motivated teens, often with attachments and elastics. Significant deep bites are usually better handled with braces, which offer the most predictable vertical control.

Can an underbite be corrected without surgery?

Often, yes. Early orthopedic appliances can guide jaw growth in children, and braces or aligners with elastics can correct dental or mild skeletal underbites. Surgery combined with orthodontics is mainly reserved for severe skeletal underbites in adults.

Sources. Standard orthodontic references on malocclusion, jaw growth, and bite correction, and American Association of Orthodontics guidance on a first orthodontic check by age 7, stated qualitatively. Clinical observations from Sweet Smiles Orthodontics, Arlington, MA.

A smiling man with braces, shown from the shoulders up at Sweet Smiles Orthodontics in Arlington, MA - Overbite vs Underbite in Arlington, MA

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Overbite vs Underbite in Arlington, MA