Jaw relationship
If the lower jaw is short or set back, or the upper jaw is forward, the upper teeth sit well ahead of the lower teeth. This skeletal pattern is often inherited and is the main question in any assessment.
Buck teeth & overjet
Protruding Teeth Treatment in Dubai
Front teeth that stick out can come from the teeth, the jaws or a habit. The cause decides the treatment, and in most cases that means moving the teeth rather than covering them.
- Two specialist orthodontists
- Braces and clear aligners
- Written plan with alternatives
The first visit is a diagnosis: we measure how far the teeth protrude and whether the jaws are involved.
Quick answer
How are protruding teeth fixed?
Protruding teeth are usually corrected with orthodontic treatment — fixed braces or, where suitable, clear aligners — which move the front teeth and their roots back into line. Some cases need space created by removing teeth, and adults whose upper and lower jaws are mismatched may need jaw surgery alongside orthodontics. At Creative Arts in Dubai, a specialist orthodontist measures the protrusion and its cause before recommending treatment.
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
Why it happens
Why do front teeth stick out?
Dentists measure protrusion as overjet: how far the upper front teeth sit ahead of the lower ones. In everyday speech this is often called an "overbite". It usually has more than one cause.
Thumb sucking and habits
Prolonged thumb, finger or dummy sucking pushes the upper front teeth forward and the lower ones back. A tongue that pushes forward when swallowing can have a similar effect.
Spacing and crowding
Small teeth in a large arch leave gaps that let front teeth fan forward. Crowding can do the opposite and push individual teeth out of line.
Lip posture and gum support
A lower lip that rests behind the upper teeth holds them forward. In adults, bone loss from gum disease can let front teeth drift outwards — a change that needs the gums treated first.
Does it matter?
When are protruding teeth more than a cosmetic concern?
Many people seek treatment for how their smile looks, which is a valid reason. These are the situations where there is also a functional case.
Reasons to have it assessed
- Upper front teeth that stick out noticeably are more likely to be chipped or broken in a fall or sports injury
- Lips that do not close comfortably at rest, so the mouth stays open and the teeth dry out
- The lower front teeth biting into the gum behind the upper teeth
- Front teeth that have started to protrude more in adulthood, which can signal gum problems
- A child whose front teeth stick out, especially if thumb sucking continues
Usually fine to plan calmly
- Mild protrusion that has been stable for years
- Teeth that look forward mainly because of their shape or angle
- Wanting improvement before an event many months away
Treatment options
Protruding teeth treatment options, from least to most involved
All of these are legitimate. They differ in whether they move teeth, change the jaws or only change appearance.
| Option | When it fits | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Monitoring and habit control | Children with mild protrusion, and stopping thumb sucking before any appliance | Removing the habit can let some teeth settle; it does not correct a jaw mismatch |
| Clear aligners | Mild to moderate dental protrusion, often with spacing. See Invisalign clear aligners | Need around 22 hours' wear a day; not every movement suits aligners |
| Fixed braces | Moderate to marked protrusion, larger root movements, or when elastics or anchorage are needed. See fixed braces | Full-time control; more visible and harder to clean around |
| Orthodontics with extractions | Crowding plus protrusion, where space is needed to pull the front teeth back. Teeth are removed only when the plan requires it | Creates room without moving the teeth further forward; the decision is made from records |
| Elastics and temporary anchorage devices | Used with braces or aligners when the back teeth must hold still while the front teeth move back | Small, temporary additions; they make some movements possible without extractions |
| Orthodontics with jaw surgery | Adults with a marked skeletal difference between the jaws | Surgery is carried out by a maxillofacial surgeon, to whom we refer; orthodontics comes before and after |
| Veneers or crowns | Only very mild cases where the teeth look forward because of their shape | Cannot move roots or change the bite; see below |
Comparing the two orthodontic routes? Read Invisalign vs braces.
Veneers, honestly
Can veneers fix protruding teeth?
Rarely, and only in a limited way. A veneer is a thin ceramic shell bonded to the front surface of a tooth. When a tooth protrudes, the problem is the position of the whole tooth and its root, and a veneer sits on top of that same tooth, so it cannot bring it back.
To make a forward tooth look further back with veneers, the dentist would have to cut the front of it away heavily. That can go through the enamel and close to the nerve, weakens the bond and may lead to root canal treatment. The bite and lip support stay as they were.
Where teeth look slightly forward mainly because of their shape, porcelain veneers can be a reasonable camouflage, decided with a mock-up. For genuine protrusion, orthodontics comes first; veneers may follow if you also want to change colour or shape.
Timeline
How long does it take to fix protruding teeth?
Every estimate depends on the case; these are typical ranges.
- Assessment and records
- Examination, 3D scan, photographs and X-rays as needed
- Comprehensive orthodontics
- Typically 12–24 months
- Simpler dental protrusion
- Often shorter
- Extraction or anchorage cases
- Often towards the longer end
- Combined jaw surgery
- Usually longer, with orthodontics before and after surgery
- Retention
- Long term, with a bonded wire, a removable retainer or both
Your written plan gives a time estimate for your case. See retainers after treatment for why retention continues.
Protruding teeth in children
An orthodontic assessment around age seven helps decide whether anything needs doing yet. Many children simply need monitoring until more permanent teeth arrive; any decision about timing is made case by case. Because protruding front teeth are more easily injured, a mouthguard for contact sports is sensible in the meantime.
Who treats you
Who treats protruding teeth here
Protrusion cases are diagnosed and treated by our two specialist orthodontists, who also assess the wider bite and jaw joints.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Can veneers fix protruding teeth?
Only very mild cases where teeth look forward mainly because of their shape. Veneers cannot move a tooth or its root, so correcting real protrusion with them means removing a lot of tooth structure, sometimes close to the nerve, without changing the bite. Orthodontics is the usual first step, with veneers afterwards only if you also want a change of colour or shape.
How long does it take to fix protruding teeth?
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment typically takes around 12 to 24 months. Mild dental protrusion can be quicker, while cases needing extractions, anchorage or combined jaw surgery usually take longer. Retainers are then worn long term to hold the result. Your written plan includes an estimate once records have been reviewed.
Is an overbite the same as protruding teeth?
In everyday speech, yes — people usually mean upper teeth that stick out. Dentists call that overjet, and use overbite for the vertical overlap of the front teeth. The two often occur together. Deep bite and other bite types are explained on our bite problems page.
Can protruding teeth be fixed without braces?
Clear aligners can correct many mild to moderate cases without brackets and wires. Composite bonding and veneers cannot move teeth back and only help where the issue is tooth shape. Marked protrusion, especially with a jaw mismatch, usually needs fixed braces and sometimes surgery.
Will I need teeth removed to fix protruding teeth?
Not necessarily. Space can sometimes be created by closing gaps, slightly reshaping tooth contacts or using temporary anchorage devices. Where there is crowding as well as protrusion, removing two or more teeth may give the most stable result. The orthodontist explains both routes before you decide.
Can adults fix protruding teeth?
Yes. Teeth move at any age, so adults can have protrusion corrected with braces or aligners. What changes with age is that the jaws have stopped growing, so a marked skeletal difference in an adult may need jaw surgery for a full correction. Gum health is checked first, as gum disease can cause teeth to drift forward.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
ConditionBite problemsDeep bite, underbite, crossbite and open bite explained.BracesFixed bracesHow fixed braces control larger tooth movements.AlignersInvisalign clear alignersRemovable aligners and the cases they suit.CostOrthodontic treatment costWhat sets the cost of braces and aligners in Dubai.ChildrenChildren's dentistryDental care and check-ups for children.ConditionGaps between teethWhy spaces appear and the options for closing them.
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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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