Short answer: Protruding upper teeth, or increased overjet in medical terms, means the upper front teeth sit noticeably in front of the lower front teeth. The cause may be dental, skeletal, or habits such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. Appliances can be planned for children, braces or clear aligners for teenagers and adults, and surgically assisted treatment for advanced skeletal cases.
Upper front teeth that stick out when smiling are one of the common reasons that lead people to an orthodontic exam, both for appearance and for function. The medical term for this condition, commonly called protruding upper teeth, is increased overjet. In this article we explain what overjet is, its causes and the treatment options that can be applied in children and adults.
What is overjet, and what is the normal measurement?
Overjet is the measurement that shows how far the upper front teeth project horizontally relative to the lower front teeth when the mouth is closed. In a healthy bite, the upper front teeth sit slightly in front of the lower teeth, and this difference does not exceed a few millimeters. If the difference increases markedly, the upper teeth move away from the lower teeth; this is perceived as protruding upper teeth.
Overjet should not be confused with overbite, which describes the overlap in the vertical direction. You can better understand the difference on our deep bite page, which describes the vertical relationship of the teeth. Overjet is measured through the doctor's intraoral exam and, if needed, an X-ray examination. You can also look up the meaning of terms in our clear aligner glossary.
What causes protruding upper teeth?
The protrusion of the upper teeth cannot be explained by a single cause. In general it can be grouped into three categories:
- Skeletal causes: The lower jaw lagging behind the upper jaw, or the upper jaw developing forward. This type of bite is called Class II and is mostly related to a genetic predisposition. For information on a recessed lower jaw, you can look at our article on a recessed lower jaw.
- Dental causes: The upper front teeth tilting forward even when the jawbones are in harmony. The size of the teeth or the shape of the dental arch can lead to this.
- Habits: Prolonged thumb sucking, pacifier or bottle use, tongue thrusting, lip sucking and mouth breathing can push the upper front teeth forward or cause the lower teeth to lag behind.
More than one cause can be present in the same person. For this reason, in treatment the cause must first be identified and then the suitable method chosen. We also covered the effect of habits on the bite in our article on habit-breaking appliances.
Do protruding upper teeth cause problems?
A mild overjet is often only an aesthetic matter. A marked overjet, however, can lead to some consequences. Protruding teeth can break or be injured more easily in falls or sports injuries. If the lip cannot fully cover the teeth, it can cause dry mouth and gum irritation. Producing some sounds in speech can become harder. All of these vary from person to person, and not every overjet has the same outcome.
For some people the main reason is psychosocial discomfort; feeling shy about smiling is also a sufficient reason to seek treatment. The decision is made together with the doctor.
How are protruding upper teeth treated in children?
Because the jawbones are still growing in children, it is more possible to guide an overjet of skeletal origin. The timing of treatment is important and is mostly aligned with the growth spurt period. The main approaches are as follows:
- Stopping the habit: If there is thumb sucking or tongue thrusting, these habits are addressed first. If needed, intraoral habit-breaking appliances are used.
- Functional appliances: These are removable devices aimed at supporting the development of the lower jaw. For an example, you can look at our article on the Twin Block appliance; our page on functional appliances also helps for general information.
- Extraoral devices: To guide the growth of the upper jaw, headgear can be used in selected cases.
- Early-phase clear aligners: In children of a suitable age and stage of dental development, options such as Invisalign First may come up, depending on the doctor's evaluation.
Early treatment is not necessary for every child. In some cases a single-phase treatment is planned after all the permanent teeth have erupted. For the timing of the first exam, you can look at the article on the age-seven exam.
How are protruding upper teeth corrected in adults?
Because growth is complete in adults, it is not possible to guide the jaw structure. For this reason, treatment is carried out by moving the teeth or, in advanced cases, with surgery:
- Fixed braces: A method that has long been used to pull the upper teeth back and correct the bite. Orthodontic elastics are added when needed. For appliance types, you can look at our orthodontic appliances page.
- Clear aligners: Can be used in mild and moderate overjet cases. At our clinic, clear aligner treatment is carried out only with Invisalign. The space needed to move the upper teeth back can be obtained by methods such as enamel reduction between the teeth or tooth extraction. You can look at our page on clear aligners for protruding teeth on this subject.
- Tooth extraction: When space is needed to move the upper teeth back, a few premolars are often extracted. This decision is evaluated together with the facial profile and jaw structure.
- Mini-screw support: In selected cases it can be used to provide anchorage in the controlled backward movement of the upper teeth.
- Orthognathic surgery: If the overjet is clearly skeletal in origin and tooth movement alone is not enough, a treatment combining orthodontics with jaw surgery can be planned. For details, you can look at our article on orthognathic surgery.
In adult patients, gum and bone health are also evaluated. Although there is no age limit, oral health needs to be suitable before starting treatment. Details are on the page about Invisalign for adults.
What is evaluated at the exam?
For people who come with an overjet concern, the doctor first performs an intraoral and facial profile exam. The inclination of the teeth, the position of the jaws relative to each other, how the lips close and any habits are recorded. A panoramic X-ray and a lateral skull X-ray (cephalometry) help distinguish skeletal from dental causes. In light of this information, the doctor shares with the patient which method can be applied and within what limits. You can get information about the X-ray from our article on the cephalometric film. The decision process proceeds as a joint evaluation by the patient and the doctor; talking openly about your expectations and concerns helps the plan be set up correctly.
How long does treatment take, and how is the result maintained?
Treatment time varies according to the amount of overjet, its cause and the chosen method; it would not be right to state an exact time. A two-phase treatment may be involved in children. In adults, treatments based on tooth movement are in most cases completed over a process that ranges from months to years. After the exam, the doctor offers an individual estimate.
When treatment is completed, a retainer is needed to keep the teeth in their new positions. Especially if habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting have not been fully given up, the teeth can tilt forward again. For this reason, bringing habits under control is important for the permanence of treatment. You can get information on the retainer from the page on the retainer after clear aligners.
When should you apply in Ankara?
If you notice, for yourself or your child, protruding upper front teeth, difficulty closing the lips, frequent chipping of teeth or discomfort when smiling, you can have an orthodontic exam at our clinic in Park Oran Ofis, Çankaya. After the exam, the suitable options are shared; the cost of treatment is communicated in writing after planning. For contact details, you can use our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Can protruding upper teeth be corrected with clear aligners?
In mild and moderate cases, correction with clear aligners may be possible. In advanced skeletal cases it may not be enough on its own; this is determined after the exam and planning.
Does thumb sucking make the upper teeth protrude?
Prolonged and frequent thumb sucking can cause the upper front teeth to tilt forward and affect jaw development. Giving up the habit early helps prevent bite problems.
Is surgery needed for protruding upper teeth?
In most cases it is not. Surgical treatment together with orthodontics comes into question only in advanced skeletal cases where the discrepancy between the jawbones is marked.
At what age is treatment started in children?
The timing varies according to the child's dental and jaw development. The first orthodontic exam, done at around age seven, helps determine whether early treatment is needed.