Overbite Treatment
Cincinnati, Fairfield, & West Chester, OH
 If your upper front teeth overlap your lower front teeth more than they should, Nelson R. Diers Orthodontics offers overbite treatment in Cincinnati, Fairfield, and West Chester, OH.
A deep overbite is one of the most common bite problems we see, and correcting it does more than improve your smile; it protects your lower front teeth from years of extra wear.
An overbite is one of several bite issues we correct, and it sits within the broader range of our orthodontic treatment.
This page explains what an overbite is, how it differs from an overjet, and how we correct it, so you understand your options before your first visit.
On This Page
What Is an Overbite?
 An overbite is how far your upper front teeth overlap your lower front teeth when you bite down. A small overlap is normal and even helps the teeth work properly. A deep overbite is when the upper teeth cover too much of the lowers, sometimes hiding them almost completely.
A deep overbite is usually inherited, tied to the shape and size of the jaws, and habits like thumb-sucking or grinding can make it worse. Left alone, it can wear down the lower front teeth, push the lowers into the gum or palate behind the upper teeth, and add strain to the jaw.
Overbite Versus Overjet
These two get mixed up constantly. An overbite is a vertical overlap, how far the uppers come down over the lowers. An overjet, often called buck teeth, is a horizontal gap, where the upper teeth stick out in front of the lowers. Many people have a bit of both, and we measure each one separately at your exam.
Signs of a Deep Overbite
A deep overbite gives off a few telltale signs:
- Hidden lower teeth – Your lower front teeth barely show when you bite down.
- Lower teeth hitting the gum – The lower edges touch the roof of the mouth or the gum behind the upper teeth.
- Worn or chipped lower teeth – Extra contact wears the lower front teeth down over time.
- Jaw discomfort – Tension or soreness from a bite that closes too deeply.
If these sound familiar, an exam can measure your overbite and show whether the cause is the teeth, the jaw, or both.
Your Orthodontist for Overbite Treatment
Dr. Nelson R. Diers is a Board Certified Orthodontist and a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics who has practiced for more than 45 years. He earned his dental degree from Northwestern University and a Master of Science in Dentistry from Indiana University, where he continues to teach on the orthodontic faculty.
Correcting an overbite is about more than straightening teeth; it is about changing how the upper and lower teeth meet over months of careful movement. Dr. Diers brings decades to that kind of bite work, and as part of the original team that designed the Damon bracket, he understands the precise tooth control a deep bite requires. He is also a member of the Schulman Study Group, drawn from the top 2 percent of orthodontic practices in the country. More about his background on his bio page.
How We Correct an Overbite
Correcting an overbite means moving the teeth and, in patients who are still growing, guiding the jaws so the bite closes to a healthier depth.
Planning the Correction
We start with an exam and digital imaging that measure exactly how deep your overbite is and show whether it comes from the teeth, the jaw, or both. Our orthodontist uses that to plan the correction, because a bite driven by tooth position is handled differently from one driven by jaw structure.
Moving the Teeth and the Bite
From there, braces or aligners move the teeth while small elastics help bring the upper and lower bite into a better relationship. In children who are still growing, we can guide that change more easily. Traditional metal braces and the Damon System give the most control over a deep bite, while Invisalign corrects many overbites with removable trays. Our orthodontist recommends the option that fits your bite.
Treatment and Retention
Over the following months the bite closes to a healthier depth, with short visits along the way. When treatment ends, a retainer holds it, which matters because deep bites can slip back without one, and our in-house lab makes that retainer on site. A small number of severe overbites rooted in jaw structure need a combined approach, and our orthodontist will tell you plainly if your case is one of them.
Benefits of Overbite Treatment
 The clearest benefit is protecting your lower front teeth. A deep overbite grinds those teeth against the uppers and the gum behind them, and easing the bite stops that wear before it chips or shortens them. Our orthodontist plans the correction around where your teeth actually make contact, not just how they line up.
A more balanced bite is also more comfortable. When the bite no longer closes too deeply, the strain it puts on the jaw eases, and our orthodontist checks how your teeth come together at each stage rather than only tracking how straight they look.
There is an appearance benefit too. Bringing a deep overbite into balance gives the lower face a more even, proportioned look, and patients across Cincinnati, Fairfield, and West Chester often notice the change in their profile as much as in their smile.
Why Choose Our Team for Overbite Treatment
What sets the care here apart is a focus on the bite, not just the teeth. Correcting an overbite is about how the jaws meet, and our orthodontist helped design the Damon bracket, which gives the fine tooth control a deep bite needs.
That is backed by more than 45 years of judgment, including the call on whether an overbite is driven by the teeth or the jaw, because that single distinction shapes the whole treatment plan. Our in-house lab keeps retainers and appliances moving quickly, and as a single-doctor practice, the same orthodontist sees you through across our Cincinnati, Fairfield, and West Chester offices.
We are also honest about the rare case. Most overbites correct well with orthodontics alone, and on the uncommon occasion a bite is rooted deep in the jaw structure, we say so directly. Overbites can also develop or worsen in adulthood, and adult orthodontics covers correction later in life.
Overbite Treatment Cost and Financing
Cost matters, and we will give you straight answers. The price of overbite treatment depends on how deep the bite is, whether the cause is the teeth or the jaw, which appliance you choose, and how long treatment takes. After your exam, you get a clear written estimate before you commit.
Orthodontic insurance usually provides a lifetime maximum that applies to bite correction the same as any other treatment. Our front desk works with all insurance companies, and our insurance information covers the basics while we verify your specific benefits.
Cost should not be what keeps you from fixing your bite. We offer flexible payment plans, a discount for paying in full, and FSA and HSA options, with the details laid out on our finance options page. Call (513) 829-4400 for an estimate built around your treatment plan.
Schedule Your Overbite Consultation
The first step is an exam to measure your overbite and find the right way to correct it. Call us at (513) 829-4400 to book a visit. We see patients at all three offices in Cincinnati, Fairfield, and West Chester. Our main office is at 1251 Nilles Rd, Suite 14, Fairfield, OH 45014-7205. You can also contact us with any questions before you schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a small overbite normal?Yes. A slight overlap of the upper teeth over the lowers is normal and actually helps your teeth function. Treatment is only needed when the overbite is deep enough to wear the lower teeth, irritate the gums, or strain the jaw.
What is the difference between an overbite and an overjet?An overbite is vertical and an overjet is horizontal, with the upper teeth sticking out in front, what people call buck teeth. The part worth knowing is that having one does not mean you have the other, and correcting an overbite will not automatically pull back protruding teeth, so a patient with both needs a plan that addresses each. We check for both at the exam.
Can braces fix an overbite, or do I need surgery?Most overbites are corrected with braces or aligners, often with small elastics that ease the bite into place, and surgery is reserved for the rare overbite rooted deep in the jaw structure. The dividing line is whether the cause is the teeth or the jaw, and our orthodontist tells you which you have at the exam.
Can Invisalign correct an overbite?Invisalign corrects many overbites, especially those driven by tooth position rather than jaw structure. Deeper or skeletal cases sometimes need the added control of braces. Which one fits depends on the cause of your overbite, and our orthodontist makes that call at the exam.
What happens if an overbite is left untreated?A deep overbite usually gets slowly worse rather than better, and the lower front teeth pay for it, chipping and wearing down over the years. The harder part is what comes next: once teeth are worn, straightening the bite later may not be enough on its own, and rebuilding worn teeth can mean added restorative work. Treating the overbite earlier protects the teeth before it reaches that point.
Is overbite treatment only for kids?No. Guiding a bite is easiest while a child is still growing, but adults correct overbites routinely with braces or aligners, since the teeth still move at any age. Our adult orthodontics covers what treatment looks like later in life.
How long does overbite treatment take?Most overbite cases run between eighteen and thirty months, with milder bites driven by tooth position finishing on the shorter end. The timeline depends on how deep the bite is and how much the upper and lower teeth need to change relative to each other.
Why choose Nelson R. Diers Orthodontics for overbite treatment?Bite correction is where experience shows. Our orthodontist has spent more than 45 years on how teeth and jaws come together and helped design the Damon bracket that gives a deep bite the control it needs. Nelson R. Diers Orthodontics is a single-doctor practice with an in-house lab and three offices in Cincinnati, Fairfield, and West Chester, so the same orthodontist sees your bite through from start to finish. |
