If you have an overbite, or your kid does, you probably want to know one thing before you commit to treatment: what will it actually look like when it is done? A before and after is really a question about the finish line. What changes, how much, and does it hold. Here is an honest, plain-language description of what an overbite before and after involves, from a Genesee County orthodontist. If you first want to know whether your overbite even needs treating, start with our guide to normal vs severe overbites, then come back here for what correcting it looks like.
What does an overbite before and after show?
An overbite before and after shows the upper front teeth going from overlapping too much of the lower teeth to a normal, healthy overlap of roughly 2 to 4 millimeters.
The change is part cosmetic and part functional. In a typical before and after you can expect:
- Upper front teeth covering less of the lower teeth, so the bite looks balanced
- A smile that shows the lower teeth more naturally when talking and laughing
- Lower teeth that no longer hit the roof of the mouth or the gums in deep cases
- Less wear on the front teeth over time, because they meet correctly
- In some cases, a subtle change to lip support and profile
The changes, described
Here is what actually shifts between the before and the after.
The overlap. This is the headline change. A deep bite where the top teeth swallow the bottom ones is reduced to a normal overlap. Straight-on, the smile looks more balanced; from the side, the bite closes evenly instead of the lower teeth disappearing behind the top.
The smile. As the overlap normalizes, more of the lower teeth show when you talk and smile, which reads as a fuller, more even smile rather than a top-heavy one.
The function. The quiet win that does not photograph: teeth that meet correctly wear evenly, chew better, and stop biting into gum tissue. In deep bites this is the part that actually protects your teeth long term.
Mild vs severe: how different the before and after looks
A mild overbite correction is subtle, a few millimeters of change that mostly matters for function and long-term wear. A severe or deep-bite correction is more dramatic, both in how the smile looks and in how much better the bite works. The starting point sets the finish, which is why comparing your case to someone else’s before and after is not useful. What counts as normal vs severe is measured, not guessed, and we walk through those exact numbers in our overbite guide.
How the change happens
Overbites are corrected with braces or Invisalign, often using small elastics to guide the bite, and in growing kids sometimes with a growth-guiding appliance. The right tool depends on your case and whether the overbite is from the teeth or the jaw. We keep the how-to-fix detail in the overbite guide so this page can focus on the result, but the short version: most everyday overbites are very treatable without anything dramatic, and treatment usually runs somewhere around 18 to 24 months. You can compare the paths in our look at how long Invisalign takes, and see the braces option too.
The honest part: the after only lasts with a retainer
Here is the part before-and-afters almost never mention. Bite corrections, overbites included, can relapse if nothing holds them. Teeth and jaws have a memory. The finished result is protected by wearing a retainer as directed, usually long term. This matters even more for deep bites, which are among the corrections most likely to drift back without retention. Commit to the retainer and the after you see is the after you keep. Our retainer program is built to make that easy.
Bite Correction at Wax Orthodontics
Want to know what your own overbite result could look like?
Dr. Wax will measure your bite, tell you honestly whether it needs treating, and walk you through the realistic before and after for your case, at a free consult across Linden, Flushing, and Highland. No pressure, no guesswork.
Overbite treatment in Linden, Flushing, and Highland
Overbite correction is planned and monitored by Dr. Wax across our three Genesee County offices, with the same doctor from the first measurement to the finished bite. Whether it is your smile or your child’s, a free consult gives you a straight answer on how much change is realistic and how it would get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to fix an overbite?
Most overbite corrections run about 18 to 24 months, though it depends on how deep the bite is, whether the cause is dental or skeletal, and the treatment used. Simpler cases can be shorter.
Can you fix an overbite without surgery?
Most overbites are corrected without surgery, using braces or Invisalign, often with elastics. Surgery is reserved for a small number of severe skeletal cases in adults whose jaws are no longer growing. An exam tells you which category you are in.
Does fixing an overbite change your face?
Sometimes, subtly. Correcting a deep overbite can slightly change lip support and how the lower face looks when the bite closes evenly. For most people the change is modest and natural, not dramatic.
Do overbite results come back after treatment?
They can if you skip retention. Overbites are among the corrections most likely to relapse, so wearing your retainer as directed, usually long term, is what keeps the result. With consistent retainer wear, the after holds.
About the Author
This article was written by Dr. Nicole Wax, DDS, MS (Orthodontics), founder of Wax Orthodontics caring for families across Genesee County, Michigan since 2014. A specialist and a mom of four, Dr. Wax earned her DDS from The Ohio State University and her MS in Orthodontics from the University of Detroit Mercy. Learn more about Dr. Wax and the team here.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Nicole Wax, DDS, MS.