Can You Get Veneers with an Overbite?
Dental veneers fix several issues like chipped, cracked, gapped, and discolored teeth. However, can veneers also fix overbites? Many patients inquire because they think veneers fix minor orthodontic problems with a non-surgical procedure. Therefore many patients ask whether they can get veneers for an overbite to correct the imperfections with their teeth.
Overbite Teeth: What Are They?
If you are affected by an overbite, you have a dental problem characterized by your upper teeth overlapping your lower teeth. The percentage difference between the overlapping is about 30-50 percent to determine the overlap is harmful and requires correction. You can have a vertical or a horizontal overbite, which needs modifications. If a vertical overbite affects you, your top teeth overlap the bottom teeth. However, if you have a horizontal overbite, the teeth in the upper jaw protrude over your lower teeth.
You may think your overbite teeth are not a concern until you begin developing severe jaw pain, worn tooth enamel, TMJ disorders, and tooth decay. Unfortunately, the problem also causes psychological issues such as low self-esteem. Traditional braces help correct an overbite, but the treatment needs time requiring you to endure a mouthful of metal for three years or more. Fortunately, dentists have discovered another remedy to correct overbites with help from dental veneers.
Veneers Before and After an Overbite
Unlike traditional braces remaining on your teeth for three years or more, the veneer treatment enhances the appearance of your teeth and smile the way you desire in two to three dental visits. However, if you want the enhancement to remain with you for a lifetime, you can choose to have permanent veneers over the teeth by consulting the cosmetic dentist near you.
Permanent veneers made from porcelain are ultra-thin surfaces bonded to your front teeth. Porcelain veneers are incredibly durable and remain on your teeth for over two decades with proper dental hygiene. They are expensive but worth the investment because they give you an even smile by hiding the dental imperfections affecting you. If you accept your dentist’s suggestion to have porcelain veneers over your teeth, you must schedule at least two to three appointments with the professional to have your teeth prepared for the veneers.
Porcelain veneers require tooth enamel removal past the dentin to accommodate them over your teeth. The procedure does cause some discomfort, but the professional treating you provides local anesthesia to make you comfortable. After tooth preparation, the dentist impressions your teeth for veneer fabrication by a dental laboratory and gives you temporary veneers to protect your teeth.
The dental lab requires three weeks to fabricate your veneers, after which you can revisit the dentist to have them bonded to your teeth with special dental cement. The placement of porcelain veneers hides the overlapping teeth giving you a beautiful smile that you will proudly show off.
If you think the porcelain veneer process is challenging to endure or beyond your financial circumstances, dentists offer you a similar alternative giving you Lumineer® teeth. The alternative option doesn’t require tooth enamel removal or temporary veneers. However, two visits are essential even to get Lumineer teeth because the surfaces are fabricated by the manufacturers DenMat laboratory after your provider sends them impressions of your teeth for creating your customized placements. Lumineers are less expensive than porcelain veneers. However, they also help hide your overlapping teeth. Unfortunately, they are not as permanent as porcelain veneers and need replacements every 5-7 years. Therefore if you are considering hiding your overlapping teeth with surfaces, you must weigh your options carefully before selecting an option.
What If You Don’t Want the Veneers on Your Teeth Later?
If you decide you don’t want the veneers over your teeth later and instead wish to undergo orthodontic treatment, your options with permanent veneers are limited. The enamel removal process compels you to have porcelain veneers over your teeth because your tooth enamel doesn’t regenerate. Fortunately, if you select Lumineers instead of porcelain veneers, you invest in a removable solution that permits you to have them removed for orthodontia. Therefore you must weigh your options carefully by discussing the remedy with highly experienced professionals.
If you want to decide between Lumineer teeth and porcelain veneers in Danbury, we suggest you schedule an appointment with Danbury Smiles – George L Landress, DDS, MAGD, for an expert opinion on your specific situation. The professional helps you overcome the challenges to hide your overlapping teeth as best possible.
FAQs
Cosmetic dentists will examine how much the upper front teeth overlap the lower ones (vertically or horizontally), check your bite dynamics, jaw movement, and whether there’s damage from the overbite (e.g. worn lower teeth or jaw strain). They may take X-rays or use models to see how the veneers will interact with your bite. If the overbite is mild, veneers may be possible; if moderate or severe, they might recommend orthodontic treatment first.
Yes, there is a higher risk of damage if veneers are placed on teeth that take excessive force due to overbite. In Danbury, dentists often use stronger materials (like porcelain) and design veneers with proper thickness to withstand bite forces. They may also adjust the bite or perform minor tooth reshaping to reduce harmful contact.
For patients in Danbury, undergoing veneer treatment when you have an overbite usually still takes about 2 to 3 dental visits. First visit is for consultation and planning, second for tooth preparation and impressions, and final visit for fitting and bonding the veneers. Sometimes there’s a need for additional adjustments because of overbite-related bite alignment concerns.
No — veneers are cosmetic and improve appearance, shape, or color, but they don’t reposition the jaw or fully correct bite alignment (malocclusion). For functional issues like jaw pain, difficulty chewing, or speech problems, an orthodontist might need to be involved. In Danbury, many dentists prefer combining orthodontic treatment first then adding veneers for smile enhancement.
Good maintenance is especially important: brush gently with non-abrasive toothpaste, floss daily, avoid biting on hard objects, and attend regular checkups in Danbury to monitor veneer edges and how your teeth come together. Night guards may be advised if you grind your teeth or exert strong bite force, to protect the veneers. Keeping an eye out for early chips or loosening helps catch trouble before big issues.
A skilled cosmetic dentist can design veneers that look natural even with an overbite, by customizing shape, thickness, color, and positioning of veneers to match your overall facial structure. Sometimes they reduce the visible overlap slightly, contour the edges of lower teeth, or modify how upper and lower teeth meet. In Danbury practices, dentists often use digital smile design tools to help preview and plan for natural aesthetics.
Yes. Factors like the health of your gums, bone support, presence of cavities, and the stability of your bite all matter. Younger patients whose jaws are still growing may be advised to wait or to get orthodontics first. Also, conditions like severe teeth grinding (bruxism) or untreated gum disease might need to be managed before veneers are considered in Danbury.