What it is
The upper incisors hide most or all of the lower incisors. In severe cases the lower teeth touch the palate behind the upper teeth.
Malocclusion explained
Bite Problems Treatment in Dubai: Overbite, Underbite, Crossbite & Open Bite
A bite problem is about how the upper and lower teeth meet, not just how straight they look. Each type has different causes, and some need more than braces or aligners.
- Two specialist orthodontists
- Jaw joint checked as standard
- Written plan with alternatives
The first visit is a diagnosis. You leave with an explanation of your bite and the options, not a treatment already started.
Quick answer
How are bite problems treated?
Bite problems such as deep bite, underbite, crossbite and open bite are usually treated with orthodontics — fixed braces or, where the movement suits them, clear aligners — often with elastics, expanders or temporary anchorage devices. When the cause is the size or position of the jaws rather than the teeth, adults may need jaw surgery alongside orthodontics. At Creative Arts in Dubai, a specialist orthodontist diagnoses the bite type before recommending any appliance.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
At a glance
The four main bite problems compared
Many people have more than one of these patterns. Each is explained in its own section below.
| Bite type | What you notice | Common causes | Usual starting point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep bite | Upper front teeth cover most of the lower front teeth; lower teeth may bite into the gum behind the upper teeth | Jaw growth pattern, worn or short back teeth, inherited | Orthodontics; restorative work if teeth are worn |
| Underbite | Lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth; lower jaw may look prominent | Lower jaw longer or upper jaw smaller than usual, often inherited | Orthodontics if mild; jaw-surgery referral if skeletal in adults |
| Crossbite | Some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth, at the front or the side | Narrow upper jaw, crowding, a tooth erupting out of line | Expansion and orthodontics; early assessment in children |
| Open bite | Front teeth do not meet when the back teeth are together | Thumb sucking, tongue posture, mouth breathing, vertical jaw growth | Address habits, then orthodontics; surgery if skeletal |
Upper front teeth that stick forward ("buck teeth") are covered on our protruding teeth page, and crowding on our crooked teeth page.
Deep bite (overbite)
Deep bite: when the upper front teeth overlap too far
In dental terms, "overbite" is the vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower ones, and a little is normal. Deep bite means that overlap is excessive. In everyday speech, though, many people say "overbite" when they mean upper teeth that stick forward — dentists call that overjet, and it is explained on our protruding teeth page.
Why it happens
Usually a mix of inherited jaw growth, lower front teeth that have over-erupted, and back teeth that are short, worn or missing so the bite collapses.
When treatment may be needed
When the lower teeth damage the gum behind the upper teeth, front teeth are wearing quickly, crowns or veneers keep chipping, or there are jaw symptoms worth a TMJ assessment. A mild deep bite with no damage may simply be monitored.
Possible options
Fixed braces level the bite by intruding front teeth or allowing back teeth to erupt. Clear aligners can manage some deep bites. Temporary anchorage devices help in harder cases, and restoring worn teeth may be part of the plan.
Underbite (Class III)
Underbite: lower teeth in front of the upper teeth
Orthodontists call this a Class III bite. Whether it comes from the teeth or the jaws decides what orthodontics alone can achieve.
What it is
When you close, the lower front teeth sit ahead of the upper ones. It may involve one or two teeth, or the whole front of the mouth with a prominent chin.
Why it happens
A dental underbite comes from tipped teeth. A skeletal underbite comes from a lower jaw that has grown longer, or an upper jaw that is smaller or further back, than usual — often inherited and often continuing to change until growth finishes.
When treatment may be needed
Difficulty biting through food, wear or chipping of front teeth, receding gum on the lower incisors, or concern about the profile. Children with an underbite should be assessed early so growth can be monitored.
Possible options
Mild dental underbites are often corrected with braces, sometimes with elastics, and selected cases with clear aligners. In adults with a skeletal underbite, orthodontics may be combined with jaw surgery by a maxillofacial surgeon, to whom we refer.
Crossbite
Crossbite: front or back teeth biting on the wrong side
A crossbite can involve a single front tooth (anterior) or back teeth on one or both sides (posterior). Timing matters more here than for most bite problems.
What it is
Normally the upper teeth sit slightly outside the lower teeth all the way round. In a crossbite, some close inside them, and the lower jaw may shift sideways to fit.
Why it happens
Most posterior crossbites come from a narrow upper jaw, which can be linked to prolonged thumb sucking or mouth breathing. Anterior crossbites often come from a single tooth erupting behind its neighbours because of crowding.
Why early assessment matters
In children, a crossbite with a sideways shift can encourage uneven jaw growth and wear. An orthodontic assessment around age seven shows whether waiting or acting is more sensible; that decision is made case by case.
Possible options
Expanders widen a narrow upper jaw, which works most easily while a child is still growing. Braces or aligners correct tooth-level crossbites at any age. In adults, a wide skeletal discrepancy may need surgically assisted expansion through a maxillofacial surgeon.
Open bite
Open bite: front teeth that do not meet
With an anterior open bite, there is a vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are closed.
What it is
You may not be able to bite through food with the front teeth, and the tongue may show between them when you swallow or speak.
Why it happens
Long-term thumb or dummy sucking, a tongue that rests forward or pushes between the teeth when swallowing, mouth breathing linked to airway problems, and a vertical jaw growth pattern that is largely inherited.
When treatment may be needed
When biting and chewing are affected, back teeth are overloaded and wearing, speech is affected, or the gap is growing. Jaw-joint changes can also open the bite in adults, so the joint is examined.
Possible options
Stopping the habit comes first. Braces or aligners close many dental open bites, and temporary anchorage devices can help by intruding back teeth. Skeletal open bites in adults may need jaw surgery. Open bites tend to relapse, so long-term retainers matter.
Edge-to-edge and scissor bites
In an edge-to-edge bite the front teeth meet tip to tip, which tends to chip and wear them. In a scissor bite, upper back teeth close completely outside the lower ones and do not grind food properly. Both are assessed on the same principles as above.
Does it need treatment?
When is a bite problem worth treating?
Not every imperfect bite needs correcting.
Signs worth an assessment
- Front or back teeth wearing, chipping or cracking faster than expected
- Lower teeth biting into the gum behind the upper teeth
- Difficulty biting or chewing certain foods
- Jaw clicking, pain or limited opening alongside the bite problem
- A child whose lower jaw shifts to one side on closing
Often fine to monitor
- A mild deep bite with no gum contact
- A minor crossbite on one tooth with no shift or recession
- Jaw pain alone — it has many causes, and the bite is not always the reason
Your first visit
How a bite assessment works
The appliance is chosen after the diagnosis.
Examination
The orthodontist checks how the teeth meet, how the jaw moves, the jaw joints, gums and any wear. Gum disease or decay is treated first.
Visit 1Scan and records
An intraoral 3D scan, photographs and the X-rays your case needs show whether the problem is dental, skeletal or both.
Visit 1Diagnosis and options
You hear which bite type you have and what braces, aligners, auxiliaries, restorative work or a surgical referral could each achieve.
ReviewWritten plan
An itemised plan sets out the timeline, cost, retention and alternatives before you commit. Our orthodontic cost guide explains what drives the figure.
Before treatment
Who treats you
Who treats bite problems at Creative Arts
Bite cases are diagnosed and treated by the two specialist orthodontists of our orthodontic team. Dr. Valeriia Kozachenko has a particular focus on jaw function.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Is deep bite the same as overbite?
Strictly, overbite is the normal vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower ones, and deep bite is when that overlap is excessive. In everyday use, people often say overbite when they mean upper teeth that stick forward, which dentists call overjet. The two can occur together, and the orthodontist will measure both.
Can clear aligners fix an underbite?
Clear aligners can correct some mild underbites where the problem lies in the position of the teeth, often with elastics. They cannot change the size of the jaws, so a skeletal underbite is a different matter. Whether aligners or fixed braces suit your case is decided after records show what is causing the underbite.
Do adults need jaw surgery for an underbite?
Not always. Many adults with a mild or moderate underbite can have it improved with orthodontics alone by moving the teeth to compensate. When the lower jaw is markedly longer or the upper jaw markedly smaller, the bite and profile may only be fully corrected by combining orthodontics with jaw surgery, carried out by a maxillofacial surgeon.
At what age should a child's bite be checked?
An orthodontic assessment around age seven is a sensible time, because the first permanent molars and front teeth are coming through and problems such as crossbites and jaw shifts become visible. Most children seen at that age need no treatment yet; the check decides whether monitoring or earlier action makes sense, case by case.
Can a bad bite cause jaw pain?
Sometimes it contributes, but jaw pain has many causes, including clenching, grinding, stress and joint changes, and many people with marked bite problems have no pain. A TMJ assessment looks at the joint and muscles before anyone assumes the bite is responsible.
How long does bite correction take?
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment typically takes around 12 to 24 months. Simpler tooth-level problems can be quicker; skeletal cases, expansion or combined surgical treatment usually take longer. Your written plan gives an estimate once records have been reviewed.
Will my bite move back after treatment?
Teeth can drift after any orthodontic treatment, and open bites and deep bites are among the more relapse-prone corrections. Retention with a bonded wire, a removable retainer or both is therefore planned from the start and continued long term.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
OrthodonticsOrthodontics in DubaiSpecialist orthodontic care for adults and teenagers.ConditionProtruding teethBuck teeth, overjet and the options for correcting them.Jaw jointTMJ assessmentChecking jaw pain, clicking and limited opening.RetentionRetainers after treatmentKeeping a corrected bite where it belongs.CostBraces and orthodontic costWhat sets the cost of bite correction in Dubai.ConditionCrooked and crowded teethStraightening crowded teeth and when bonding or veneers fit.
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Tell us what you would like to change. The clinic replies within working hours with an appointment time.
- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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