Deep Bite: What It Is, Causes and Treatment

When you bite together, the upper front teeth normally cover the top fifth or so of the lower ones. In a deep bite they cover much more, and in a severe case the lower front teeth bite into the gum behind the upper teeth. Dentists often use the words deep bite and deep overbite for the same thing, and the vertical overlap is the key feature. In the usual meaning of overbite the teeth stick out forward; a deep bite is about vertical overlap.

It sits within the broad group of bite problems called malocclusion, and it is very common.

Causes include a jaw growth pattern inherited from parents, a short lower face, upper front teeth that have grown down too far, back teeth that are missing or worn so the bite has sunk, and some childhood habits. The problem is often a mix.

A mild deep bite may cause nothing. A more pronounced one can wear the edges of the front teeth, make the lower front teeth hit the gum behind the upper teeth, loosen teeth over the years and contribute to jaw joint discomfort. Gum damage from teeth biting into soft tissue is the reason many dentists recommend treatment.

Treatment, planned within braces and orthodontics, aims to reduce the overlap. With braces, the orthodontist can gently push the front teeth down into the jaw, lift the back teeth, or both, often with a bite plate or a special archwire. Aligners can treat mild cases, and attachments help them do the same job.

In a growing child, an orthodontist may guide jaw growth with an appliance. A severe deep bite in a fully grown adult with a skeletal cause may need jaw surgery alongside braces. If back teeth are missing, replacing them can stop the bite collapsing further. A related pattern is overbite treatment with braces, and your orthodontist can explain which fits.