Overjet Teeth: Causes of Upper Teeth Sticking Out and How They Are Treated

Overjet describes how far the upper front teeth sit in front of the lower ones, measured horizontally. A small distance is normal. When it is large, the upper teeth look prominent and the lips may not close comfortably over them.

It is a separate measurement from overbite, which is the vertical overlap; if you are not sure which you have, our guide on what an overbite is lays out the difference.

In childhood, long-term thumb sucking, dummy use and a habit of pushing the tongue forward can tip the upper teeth outwards. Genetics matter: a lower jaw that is smaller or set further back leaves the upper teeth looking prominent. The upper teeth themselves may also be tilted forward, which is covered in our guide on proclined teeth.

Teeth that stick out are more likely to be chipped or knocked out in a fall or while playing sport, so people with an increased overjet are advised to take care and, for contact sport, to ask about a mouthguard. Some find it hard to close the lips without effort, and the front teeth can feel on show. Some people simply dislike how it looks.

In a growing child, treatment may use appliances to guide jaw growth, followed by braces. In teenagers and adults the front teeth are moved back with braces, sometimes after removing a tooth on each side to make room. When the jaw difference is large in an adult, surgery may be discussed.

Veneers do not move teeth backwards. For how braces fix overlap and sticking-out teeth, read braces for overbite and the braces and orthodontics page. A first check around age 7 to 8 is advised in children.