# Overbite

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Overlap of the maxillary central incisors over the mandibular central incisors

For the Overbite browser project, see [Gopher (protocol)](/source/Gopher_(protocol)).

Medical condition

Overbite Specialty Orthodontics

Overjet or horizontal overlap.

**Overbite** is the extent of vertical ([superior-inferior](/source/Anatomical_terms_of_location)) overlap of the [maxillary central incisors](/source/Maxillary_central_incisor) over the [mandibular central incisors](/source/Mandibular_central_incisor),[1] measured relative to the incisal ridges.[2]

The term overbite does not refer to a specific condition, nor is it a form of [malocclusion](/source/Malocclusion). Rather an absent or excess overbite would be a malocclusion. Normal overbite is not measured in exact terms, but as a proportion (approximately 30–50% of the height of the mandibular incisors) and is commonly expressed as a percentage.

## Other terms confused with "overbite"

class 2 div 2 Deep bite

Overbite is often confused with [overjet](/source/Overjet), which is the distance between the maxillary anterior teeth and the mandibular anterior teeth in the anterior-posterior axis.

"Overbite" may also be used commonly to refer to Class II [malocclusion](/source/Malocclusion) or [retrognathia](/source/Retrognathia), though this usage can be considered incorrect. This is where the mesiobuccal cusp of the maxillary first molar is situated anterior to the buccal groove of the mandibular first molar; in other words, the mandible (lower jaw) appears too far behind the maxilla. A person presenting with Class II malocclusion may exhibit excessive overbite as well, or may have the opposite problem, which is referred to as openbite (or apertognathia). In the case of apertognathia, and the teeth do not overlap enough or at all—the upper teeth protrude past the lower teeth. An open bite is a condition where the upper and lower teeth do not meet or bite in the correct position. Unlike an overbite or underbite, there is no overlapping of teeth, giving an impression of the teeth appearing "open". A mild case of open bite can be treated with Invisalign, a popular orthodontic treatment using clear aligners. Orthodontists often recommend Invisalign to correct mild forms of open bites. However, severe open bite cases may require alternative treatments, such as surgery or other orthodontic methods.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Changing human dentition

American [anthropologist](/source/Anthropologist) [C. Loring Brace](/source/C._Loring_Brace) has brought forth a theory that the human overbite of Europeans is only about 250 years old and was the result of the widespread adoption of the [table knife](/source/Table_knife) and [fork](/source/Fork). Before the use of [cutlery](/source/Cutlery), Europeans would often clamp their teeth on a piece of meat and cut off a piece with a knife. When Europeans started using forks and knives, the cutting was done on the plate and the overbite became much more common. Brace also researched the [Chinese](/source/Chinese_people), who had adopted [chopsticks](/source/Chopsticks) 900 years earlier and found the instances of overbites increased about the same time the new eating method was introduced.[3] Others further speculate [labiodental consonant](/source/Labiodental_consonant) sounds in human speech were predicated on the development of the overbite.[4][5]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Okeson, J.P. (2008) Management of Temporomandibular Disorders and Occlusion. Sixth Edition.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Overbite"](https://web.archive.org/web/20090628224336/http://www.mercksource.com/pp/us/cns/cns_hl_dorlands_split.jsp?pg=/ppdocs/us/common/dorlands/dorland/six/000076854.htm) at *[Dorland's Medical Dictionary](/source/Dorland's_medical_reference_works)*

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Twilley, Nicola. ["Freedom from food"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151110134650/http://aeon.co/magazine/health/would-we-opt-out-of-food-if-given-the-chance/). Aeon Media Ltd. Archived from [the original](http://aeon.co/magazine/health/would-we-opt-out-of-food-if-given-the-chance/) on 2015-11-10. Retrieved 2014-10-06.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Moran, Steven; Bickel, Balthasar (14 March 2019). ["Softer, processed foods changed the way ancient humans spoke"](https://theconversation.com/softer-processed-foods-changed-the-way-ancient-humans-spoke-113599). *[The Conversation](/source/The_Conversation_(website))*. Retrieved 20 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Perth Invisalign](https://top10orthodontist.com.au/invisalign/)

## External links

Classification D ICD-10: K07.2 ICD-9-CM: 524.29 MeSH: D057887

v t e Dental disease involving the jaw General Jaw abnormality malocclusion Orthodontics Gnathitis Size Micrognathism Maxillary hypoplasia Maxilla and Mandible Cherubism Congenital epulis Torus mandibularis Torus palatinus Other Jaw and base of cranium Prognathism Retrognathism Dental arch Crossbite Overbite Temporomandibular joint disorder

v t e Orthodontics Diagnosis Bolton analysis Cephalometric analysis Cephalometry Dentition analysis Failure of eruption of teeth Little's irregularity index Malocclusion Pont's analysis Scissor bite Tooth ankylosis Tongue thrust Conditions Bimaxillary protrusion Condylar hyperplasia Condylar hypoplasia Crossbite Dental crowding Dental spacing Maxillary hypoplasia Mouth breathing Obligate nasal breathing Open bite Overbite Overjet Overeruption Prognathism Retrognathism Temperomandibular dysfunction Appliances ACCO appliance Adams clasp Archwire SureSmile Activator appliance Braces Clear aligners Invisalign Orthoclear Damon system Elastics Facemask Frankel appliance Headgear Herbst appliance Lingual arch Lip bumper Lingual braces Moyer's mixed dentition analysis Orthodontic technology Palatal lift prosthesis Palatal expander list Pendulum Quad helix Retainer Self-ligating braces Spacer Splint activator Twin block appliance Procedures Anchorage Cantilever mechanics Fiberotomy Interproximal reduction Intrusion Molar distalization SARPE Serial extraction Materials Beta-titanium Ceramic Composite Elastic Elgiloy Nickel titanium Stainless steel TiMolium Notable contributors C. Philip Adams L. F. Andrews Edward Angle Spencer Atkinson Clifford Ballard Raymond Begg Hans Peter Bimler Samir Bishara Arne Björk Charles B. Bolton Holly Broadbent Sr. Allan G. Brodie Archie B. Brusse Charles J. Burstone Peter Buschang Calvin Case Harold Chapman David Di Biase Jean Delaire Terry Dischinger William B. Downs John Nutting Farrar Rolf Fränkel Sheldon Friel Thomas M. Graber Charles A. Hawley Reed Holdaway John Hooper Joseph Jarabak Harold Kesling Albert Ketcham Juri Kurol Craven Kurz Benno Lischer Herbert I. Margolis James A. McNamara Birte Melsen Robert Moyers Hayes Nance Ravindra Nanda George Northcroft Dean Harold Noyes Frederick Bogue Noyes Kevin O'Brien Albin Oppenheim Häns Pancherz Herbert A. Pullen Earl W. Renfroe Robert M. Ricketts Alfred Paul Rogers Ronald Roth Frederick Lester Stanton Earl Emanuel Shepard Cecil C. Steiner David L. Turpin Charles H. Tweed Katherine Vig Edmund H. Wuerpel Won-Sik Yang Organizations American Association of Orthodontists American Board of Orthodontics British Orthodontic Society Canadian Association of Orthodontists Indian Orthodontic Society International Orthodontic Congress Italian Academy of Orthodontic Technology Society for Orthodontic Dental Technology (Germany) World Federation of Orthodontists Journals American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics The Angle Orthodontist Journal of Clinical Orthodontics Journal of Orthodontics Institution Angle School of Orthodontia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Overbite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overbite) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overbite?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.