What does overbite mean?
An overbite is a dental condition in which the upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth too deeply when the jaw is closed. The term is used especially in North American dentistry and orthodontics, where the vertical relationship between the upper and lower teeth is evaluated as part of the patient's bite or occlusion. A pronounced overbite can contribute to discomfort, tooth wear, or problems involving the gums, and it may be treated through orthodontics, including braces or aligners. The word can refer either to the condition itself or to the degree of overlap it involves, as in phrases such as “a deep overbite” and “correcting an overbite.” Although an overbite is sometimes discussed alongside the related term overjet, the two describe different dimensions of the bite: overbite concerns vertical overlap, while overjet concerns the horizontal projection of the upper teeth.
nounAn overbite is a dental condition in which the upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth excessively when the jaws are closed. It may also refer more generally to this excessive overlap of the teeth.
- Excessive vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower teeth when the jaws are closed.
"Her orthodontist used a brace to correct a pronounced overbite."
"The dental examination revealed a deep overbite that affected the patient's bite."
"Braces can gradually correct an overbite by repositioning the teeth and jaw."
The plural is used when referring to the condition in multiple patients or to several distinct instances of excessive tooth overlap.
"The orthodontist treated overbites in both the upper and lower dental arches."
An overbite is literally what happens when the upper teeth “overbite” the lower teeth.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of overbite
The word was formed by combining the prefix over- with the noun bite, following the established dental pattern of underbite and crossbite. Its dental sense developed from the ordinary meaning of biting over or overlapping another, and it became established in the early twentieth century.
Related word forms
How overbite is actually used
The term is used mainly in dentistry and orthodontics and is especially common in North American English. In clinical usage, it normally describes an excessive overlap rather than the normal, slight overlap that many people have.
Easily confused with overbite
An overbite describes the vertical overlap of the upper and lower front teeth, whereas an overjet describes how far the upper teeth project horizontally in front of the lower teeth.