Buck Teeth Correction In Durham

Buck teeth can be corrected at almost any age, and for most people it takes braces or clear aligners rather than anything more involved. What orthodontists call buck teeth is usually overjet, where the upper front teeth sit too far ahead of the lower ones. At my Durham office I see it in seven-year-olds who still have baby teeth and in adults who’ve wanted to fix it for decades.

Kids with protruding teeth are more likely to chip them

If your child’s upper front teeth stick out, I’d book an exam sooner rather than later, and not just for looks. Teeth that sit forward take the hit in a fall, a collision on the soccer field or a bump against a water fountain. Studies have linked larger overjet with a higher rate of injuries to the front teeth in children. A mouthguard for sports helps in the meantime. Early treatment can bring the teeth back into a safer position while the jaws are still growing, which is one reason the American Association of Orthodontists suggests a first orthodontic check around age seven.

What actually causes it

Sometimes the teeth themselves are tipped forward. A long thumb habit can push them out, and so can a tongue that presses against them. Other times the teeth are fine and the jaws are the issue: the upper jaw sits forward, or more often the lower jaw is set back. Cleveland Clinic’s overbite page explains how genetics and habits both play a role. In adults especially, I often find a small lower jaw is doing most of the work, and that shapes how I plan.

Knowing which it is matters because it changes the tools. Tipped teeth can usually be pulled back with braces or aligners. A jaw difference in a growing child can sometimes be guided. In a grown adult, it may need camouflage or, rarely, surgery.

How I correct buck teeth

Children and early teens

When growth is still on our side, I can sometimes use early treatment to guide how the jaws develop and to tuck the front teeth back before the permanent teeth are all in. That doesn’t always replace braces later, but it can make the second phase shorter and simpler.

Teens

For most teens, braces or Invisalign Teen close the gap. Rubber bands between the upper and lower teeth help shift the bite, and wearing them as asked is often what decides how fast things go.

Adults

Adults have more options than they expect, including clear aligners, ceramic braces and InBrace, which hides the wires behind the teeth. If the jaws are far apart, I’ll talk through whether moving teeth alone gives a result you’ll be happy with. See our adult orthodontic treatment page for more.

Want to know which option fits? Book a free consult in Durham. Call (919) 403-0790 or request a free consultation online.

Before your first visit, fill this in

These questions help me spot habits, breathing issues and family patterns before I even see your x-rays.

Edge cases I watch for

Lips that don’t close comfortably over the teeth are a common one. If your child’s lips are apart at rest, the front teeth have no gentle pressure holding them back, and they can drift forward again after treatment. That’s why retention matters so much in buck teeth cases. Mouth breathing is another. Allergies or large tonsils can change how the face grows, and I’ll suggest a visit to your pediatrician if I suspect it. Finally, some adults have gum recession on the lower front teeth. In those cases I move teeth carefully and may ask your dentist to keep a closer eye on the gums.

Keeping the result

Once the teeth are back where they belong, a retainer keeps them there. I’ll explain the types of retainers we use and why some patients do best with a bonded wire plus a removable retainer at night. Wearing retainers well is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy for your smile.

What happens at your Durham consult

The first visit is free. We take digital x-rays and photos, and I measure how far the upper teeth sit ahead of the lower ones. I look at the lips, the profile and how the jaws relate from the side. You’ll leave knowing whether the problem is mostly teeth or mostly jaws, what I’d recommend, and roughly how long treatment would last. Our team explains insurance and payment options too, and we file most plans for you.

Braces or aligners for overjet?

This is the question I get most from Durham adults. Both can work. Aligners are easier to live with and nearly invisible, and they handle teeth that are simply tipped forward quite well. Braces give me more control when teeth need to move a long way back or when the bite needs strong elastics for many months. For a case where the upper teeth sit far ahead, I may lean toward braces for at least part of the treatment. Teens who play contact sports often do fine with either, though I’ll ask about mouthguards. Some families start with one and finish with the other, which is completely reasonable. The types of braces page shows the options we have in the office, including ceramic brackets that blend in with the teeth. Whatever you choose, the plan is built around how far your teeth need to travel and how consistently you’ll wear elastics, not around which option sounds easier. I’d rather pick the tool that gets you a stable result than the one that’s trendy. And if you have a strong preference, tell me at the start. I can often adjust the plan to fit it, and I’ll be honest about any trade-off that comes with that choice.

Who is writing this

My name is Dr. Clay VanderWall, and I’m an orthodontist with offices in Durham, Raleigh and Cary. I earned my DDS with honors from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry and was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon. I completed a three-year orthodontic residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and served on active duty in the U.S. Navy as a dentist. My bio page has more.

Ready to fix those front teeth? Call my Durham office. Call (919) 403-0790 or request a free consultation online.

Buck teeth questions I hear in Durham

Book a buck teeth consult in Durham

My Durham office is at 3518 Westgate Drive, Suite 405, close to Hope Valley and Southpoint. Your first exam is free, and I’ll show you what’s causing the overjet and the treatment that fits your age and goals.

Book your consult with VanderWall Orthodontics in Durham. Call (919) 403-0790 or request a free consultation online.