Why Getting Rid of 'Buck Teeth' Is Easier Than You Thought

Buck teeth is a term used for an overbite. This is a type of malocclusion (teeth misalignment) in which the upper front teeth protrude over the lower front teeth. 

Overbites are often caused by genetics, but they can also be related to childhood habits like thumb sucking or pacifier use. 

Overbites are very common, and very minor overbites may not require treatment. More prominent overbites, however, can impact your appearance as well as your oral and overall health. 

While major overbites may require braces, orthodontic appliances, or even surgery, those with minor to moderate overbites or “buck teeth” may be candidates for clear aligner treatment, which is a much more convenient and affordable treatment option.

What are Buck Teeth?

Buck teeth refers to the look of teeth with an overbite. It is a condition in which the upper front teeth sit too far in front of the lower front teeth. 

Note that with a properly aligned natural bite, the upper teeth do sit comfortably on the lower front teeth. An overbite is present when there is too much of an overlap of the upper teeth over the lower.

Buck teeth is a term most used to describe noticeable cases of overbite. The upper front teeth may also appear to be protruding outward. Buck teeth are also called overjet teeth.

Causes of Buck Teeth

Most of the time, buck teeth are hereditary. If your parents had buck teeth, you are more likely to have them yourself.

Besides genetics, some habits can cause buck teeth. You might have buck teeth if you:

• Sucked your thumb: While many babies and young toddlers suck their thumbs, the practice can cause problems, including buck teeth, if it continues beyond age 3 or so.

• Used a pacifier: Some parents encourage their toddlers to use pacifiers, thinking that they can avoid the buck teeth associated with thumb sucking. Unfortunately, pacifier use can also cause buck teeth. While there are some brands of pacifiers that claim to be “orthodontic pacifiers,” any pacifier use should be discouraged beyond age 3.

• Have alignment issues: Whether you have crowded teeth or impacted teeth, these alignment issues can sometimes create buck teeth.

• Are missing teeth: Similarly, missing teeth can cause teeth to shift over time, contributing to buck teeth.

• Have a tongue thrust: This means that your tongue pushes against your front teeth too much, often every time you swallow. Since the tongue is so strong, it can gradually push the teeth forward over time, resulting in an open bite and even buck teeth.

Buck Teeth: Easier to Fix than you Thought

Prominent front teeth, or buck teeth, may appear in childhood. They are often corrected with a course of braces in the early teenage years. 

In some cases, the shape of your jaw, genetic potential, and lifestyle habits like tongue thrusting may make buck teeth appear later in life. As more adults pursue orthodontic treatment to improve their smiles, more people are seeking treatment for buck teeth. 

You may feel self-conscious about your buck teeth and wonder if it is even possible to fix them. The good news is that you can treat malocclusions like these. Some overbites require braces, but many people can easily fix this issue with just a few months of clear aligners.

You can absolutely fix buck teeth in adulthood. Many treatment approaches are simple and fast. First, you need to determine the severity of your malocclusion. An orthodontist can evaluate this in person, or an aligner company will assess your impressions to diagnose the severity. 

There are three categories of malocclusion.

1. Class 1: This is the most common form of misalignment. The person has a normal bite, but the upper teeth somewhat overlap the bottom teeth. This may still create the appearance of buck teeth.

2. Class 2: This is also called retrognathism or overbite. It happens when the upper jaw and teeth seriously overlap the lower ones.

3. Class 3: Typically called an underbite or prognathism, this is when the lower jaw and teeth jut forward and overlap the upper jaw and teeth.

If you have a serious malocclusion like buck teeth or an overbite, you may have a hard time biting and chewing. You may have trouble properly cleaning your teeth, and you may even have an abnormal appearance to your face.

Even people with mild cases of buck teeth often feel very self-conscious with this slight misalignment. Thankfully, there are various treatments that can correct an overbite with relative ease.

Treating Buck Teeth

Treatment for buck teeth and teeth misalignment is available at any age. Which types of treatment are available to you will depend on how severe your buck teeth are as well as other factors, like your overall oral health and whether or not you have any skeletal jaw issues.

Common treatments for buck teeth (overbite) include the following.

Fixing Buck Teeth Does Not Have to Take Years

Each treatment for overbite or buck teeth takes a different amount of time. Depending on your underlying medical needs, you could have a long-term plan spanning about two years. 

For example, braces, surgery, and other appliances in combination can take several months or even years each. But if your malocclusion is serious enough that your oral health is at risk, spending the time on this process is important. 

Some people benefit from using clear aligners to treat buck teeth. If your problem is mild, more cosmetic, and causes few health issues, you can get a series of doctor-monitored, at-home aligners. These aligners push teeth into place much like braces, but they can work faster and look better. Sometimes, clear aligners are called invisible braces because they are not noticeable. 

In some cases, clear aligners may be recommended after jaw surgery, tooth extraction, or a shorter course of treatment with braces. 

To determine if aligners can get rid of your buck teeth, you’ll need to take at-home impressions of your teeth. You’ll then mail those to the aligner company, and a doctor will assess whether aligners can work for you. 

If you learn your case is too severe for aligner treatment, visit an orthodontist to determine what will work best for your situation.

Risks of Untreated Buck Teeth

A healthy mouth has teeth that fit together perfectly when your mouth is closed. While buck teeth can be unsightly, they can also lead to serious health consequences. Treating them could improve both the way you look and your overall oral health.

Consequences of untreated buck teeth can include the following:

Poor Dental Hygiene

Among people ages 12 to 19, more than half have had a cavity in at least one permanent tooth. Among people 20 and older, at least 90% have had at least one cavity. Dental disease like this can be prevented with appropriate oral care, such as brushing and flossing. Buck teeth can make cleaning tough.

Protruding teeth may have gaps that collect food or gum pockets that harbor disease. Buck teeth may also be tender and sore, leading people to avoid cleaning them properly.

Speech Impediment

Among children ages 3 to 17, 5% have a speech disorder that lasts a week or longer. Sometimes, these conditions are caused by things like illnesses or disease. Sometimes, they’re caused by tooth position.

 Buck teeth force your tongue to come forward in your mouth when making hard consonant sounds. That added space can lead to speech delays or lisping. Sometimes, ill-fitting teeth can allow saliva to build up in your mouth, so you must swallow often while speaking.

Oral Injuries

Teeth that don’t fit together properly can click and clack together. Sometimes, that causes tiny cracks in the edges of teeth. In severe cases, teeth can splinter or crack into pieces.

Broken teeth are very sharp, and they can easily cut sensitive structures like the tongue and cheeks. Chipped teeth can also be very sensitive, and repairing them could be critical to prevent decay and more pain.

Breathing Issues

Researchers say there’s a close connection between breathing issues (like open-mouth breathing) and buck teeth. They’re so closely connected, in fact, that it’s hard to determine if the breathing causes the improper tooth placement or if the teeth cause the breathing issues.

Breathing issues like this can cause teasing, as it’s a habit people associate with low intelligence. However, people who breathe this way may also seem listless or inattentive, and that’s likely due to sleeping problems. It’s hard to get enough oxygen at night due to poor breathing habits.

Chewing Problems

When teeth don’t meet properly, it’s difficult to do things like take a clean bite of pizza. The teeth don’t come together like scissors, so it’s difficult to break off a piece of food into the mouth. People with a severe case of buck teeth may need to cut all types of food into small pieces with knives and forks, as they can’t use their teeth for this critical task.