Difference Between Overbite and Overjet

Around 20% of the population are estimated to have malocclusion which is the misalignment of our teeth.

It is common to say that malocclusion has one classification but it had been proved scientifically that there are two types of malocclusion which are overbite and overjet.

Generally, it is assumed that both overbite and overjet are common but they vary in many parameters.

Overbite vs Overjet

The difference between overbite and overjet is that overbite deals with the upper teeth extended towards the straight while overjet deals with the upper teeth extending horizontally. The main difference between overbite and overjet will be the angle at which the upper teeth extend. But both overbite and overjet share similar structure formation.

Overbite refers to the upper teeth extending straight down more than lower teeth by more than 3mm. It is more like a vertical extension of the upper teeth which causes congestion to the lower teeth and results in pain.

Although, the problem of overbite is common and can be cured easily when appropriate measures are taken at the child stage of the teeth.

Overjet refers to the upper teeth extending sideways and causing problems to the neighboring teeth. It is more like a horizontal extension of the upper teeth and causes congestion and pain to the neighboring teeth.

It is highly advisable to get it cured in childhood or when the problems become noticeable.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Overbite	Overjet
Definition	Vertical extension of the upper teeth than the lower teeth.	The horizontal extension of the upper teeth and congestion with the adjoining teeth.
Treatment	Overbite can be cured easily as compared to overjet using braces, veneers, or crowns, etc.	Overjet is a little complicated to be cured but yet it is curable using Invisalign & bonding etc.
Causes	Improper childhood habits like thumb sucking or using feeding bottles, etc.	Hereditary issues are considered to be the main cause of overjet.
Problems	They cause pain in the lower teeth due to the congestion between the upper & lower teeth.	They cause pain to the neighboring teeth as it extends horizontally.
Difficulty	It results in difficulty in chewing, damage of gums or causes trouble sleeping, etc.	It results in difficulty in eating, infection of gums, or fractured teeth.

What is Overbite?

Overbite is the extension of upper teeth straight down which causes congestion to the lower part of the teeth and causes pain. It is known as the vertical extension of the teeth. Overbite is quite common these days among kids and less complicated to be cured.

The main causes of overbite are due to improper childhood habits.

It is very common for babies to suck their thumbs and drink milk from feeding bottles as they have no teeth but it is not healthy for the teeth to continue the same habits after a certain age or after the growth of a child’s teeth.

Excessive sucking of the thumb by the child pushes the upper teeth straight down and prolonged bottle feedings do the same to the upper teeth. Hence, these are the common causes of an overbite, and highly advisable to prevent these habits during childhood.

Overbite can be cured easily when it is noticed at the beginning and appropriate measures are taken. It is not a complicated problem and hence can be cured by the traditional methods of wearing braces.

However, if the severity is a little higher, it can be cured by using veneers or crowns, etc, and treatment may differ according to the severity of the issue.

What is Overjet?

Overbite is the extension of upper teeth sideways which causes congestion to the neighboring or adjoining teeth and causes pain. It is known as the horizontal extension of the teeth.

Overjet is a little complicated to be cured and highly advisable to get it cured at the early stages.

Overjet is mainly caused by hereditary problems. A hereditary problem is known as some problem or disease which runs in our family generation over generation.

But hereditary alone isn’t the cause of overjet. Overjet can be caused by other issues like improper childhood habits mentioned before.

Overjet causes problems or difficulty in chewing, eating, damage, or infection in gums and even leads to the fracturing of teeth. They also cause trouble while sleeping or when it is severe, we may find problems in closing our mouth too.

The horizontal extension of the teeth shouldn’t extend over 3mm.

Overjet can be cured without any complication when it is noticed at the early stages and appropriate measures are taken. It gets complicated when it is left untreated.

Overjet can be cured by using the traditional method of wearing braces. However, the treatment of the overjet can be complicated depending on the severity of the issue.

Main Differences Between Overbite and Overjet

1. The difference between overbite and overjet is that overbite is the vertical extension of the upper teeth while overjet is the horizontal extension of the upper teeth.
2. Overbite can be cured easily while curing overjet is a little complicated.
3. Both overbite and overjet appear the same but their differences lie in the angle of the extension of the upper teeth.
4. Overbite is caused due to improper childhood habits while overjet is caused due to hereditary problems.
5. Overbite causes pain in the lower teeth while overjet causes pain in adjoining teeth and results in damaging of the teeth.

References

1. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/000294167790121X
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/088954069170079C