Protruding Teeth

This is when your upper front teeth protrude over your lower front teeth more than ideal, (2 – 3 mm is considered normal). It is referred to as Class II bite pattern. It can be a result of various factors: childhood habits — thumb sucking, which can procline upper incisors, genetics — involving the jaws e.g. a small lower jaw. 

Protruding upper teeth can affect your facial aesthetics, contribute to poor self-esteem and increase risk of trauma. This can range from a minor chip on a tooth to non-vitality, to completely knocking a tooth out. It can also contribute to speech problems and biting difficulties.

The treatment of protruding upper teeth varies depending on the causes and severity. In mild to moderate cases, they will benefit from early treatment to modify the teeth and jaw positions during growth spurt (i.e. growth modification). This may involve wearing head gear, functional appliances, fixed Class II correctors, Herbst appliance etc. Hence, it is best that your child be assessed and diagnosed early by an orthodontist. On the other hand, if it is a severe case involving a severely retrusive lower jaw, then it may be best to defer treatment until after maturity to have a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery.