When how your teeth meet matters more than you think.
A bite problem is not just about appearance. Overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites affect how you chew, speak, and how your teeth wear over time. Specialist orthodontic training is what makes the difference in complex cases.
Understanding the different bite presentations.
Overbite
An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth excessively in the vertical direction. A deep overbite can cause the lower teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth or wear down excessively against the upper teeth. It is one of the most common bite problems seen at our Claremont practice and can be addressed with braces, aligners, or bite-opening mechanics depending on severity.
Underbite
An underbite describes lower front teeth that sit in front of the upper front teeth when biting. It can stem from the position of the teeth alone (dental underbite) or from a skeletal discrepancy in jaw size and position. In growing children, jaw growth can be guided to reduce the severity. In adults, the available correction depends on the degree of skeletal involvement. Dr Denize will explain clearly what is achievable in your case.
Crossbite
A crossbite occurs where one or more upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when biting. Posterior crossbites often cause the jaw to deflect to one side on closing, creating asymmetric loading of the jaw joints. Anterior crossbites can cause accelerated wear of the lower front teeth. Crossbites in growing children are generally addressed with palatal expansion or early braces. In adults, correction can still be achieved with orthodontic mechanics in many cases.
Open bite
An anterior open bite is where the upper and lower front teeth do not contact each other when the back teeth are together. It can interfere with biting into food, affect speech, and place excessive load on the back teeth. Causes include habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrust, and skeletal jaw patterns. Treatment approaches include habit correction, myofunctional therapy, and orthodontic mechanics — or in skeletal cases, orthognathic surgery combined with orthodontics.
Bite correction is where specialist training makes the most difference.
Straightening teeth is one thing. Correcting a bite involves managing the relationship between the upper and lower jaws in three dimensions, often in combination with ongoing facial growth in younger patients, and sometimes in conjunction with surgical planning in adults.
Dr Stewart Denize completed his specialist orthodontic training at King's College London and has spent over 15 years managing complex bite cases at Claremont Orthodontics. Patients from across Perth's western suburbs — Nedlands, Dalkeith, Subiaco, Cottesloe — and from Karratha attend this practice specifically for complex bite correction that requires specialist-level planning.
Bite assessment includes clinical examination, photographs, X-rays, and in some cases study models to plan treatment accurately.
Braces, aligners, functional appliances, and surgical referrals are all part of the toolkit depending on the type and severity of bite problem.
Dr Denize has managed complex bite cases throughout his specialist career at Claremont Orthodontics.
Frequently asked questions about bite correction.
What is the difference between an overbite and an overjet?
An overbite refers to how much the upper front teeth vertically overlap the lower front teeth when the back teeth are closed. A deep overbite means the upper teeth cover the lower teeth excessively. Overjet refers to the horizontal distance between the upper and lower front teeth — a large overjet means the upper teeth protrude significantly forward. Both can occur together or separately, and both can be addressed orthodontically. Dr Denize will measure and explain both at your Claremont consultation.
Can an underbite be corrected without surgery?
In growing children and teenagers, an underbite can often be addressed with orthodontic appliances and bite correction mechanics that harness jaw growth. In adults, where growth has ceased, the degree of skeletal discrepancy determines whether orthodontics alone can achieve a stable result. Mild to moderate underbites are often manageable without surgery; significant skeletal underbites may require combined orthodontic and surgical treatment. Dr Denize will assess this honestly at your consultation in Claremont.
What is a crossbite and why does it matter?
A crossbite occurs when one or more upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when biting, rather than outside. A posterior crossbite (at the back teeth) can cause the jaw to shift to one side when closing, which places uneven load on the jaw joints and muscles over time. An anterior crossbite (at the front teeth) can accelerate wear on the lower teeth. Both types are worth addressing, and correction during childhood is significantly more straightforward than after growth is complete.
What causes an open bite, and how is it treated?
An open bite is where the upper and lower front teeth don't make contact when the back teeth are closed. Common causes include prolonged thumb or finger sucking, tongue thrusting habits, and skeletal jaw patterns. Treatment depends on the cause — habit correction and myofunctional therapy may be needed alongside orthodontic mechanics. In adults with a skeletal open bite, treatment planning may involve orthognathic surgery in addition to orthodontics. Dr Denize has the specialist training to navigate these more complex cases.
Why does bite correction need a specialist orthodontist rather than a general dentist?
Bite correction — particularly for overbites, underbites, and open bites — involves managing three-dimensional tooth and jaw relationships, often in conjunction with ongoing facial growth. The training that separates a specialist orthodontist from a general dentist who offers orthodontics includes years of post-graduate study specifically in this area. Dr Denize completed his specialist training at King's College London and has been practising as a specialist for over 15 years. Patients from across Perth and from Karratha travel to Claremont Orthodontics for complex bite correction precisely because specialist planning matters most in these cases.
Concerned about your bite? Let's assess it properly.
Take our free 3-minute assessment or call our Claremont practice to arrange a consultation with Dr Denize. Complex bite cases are always assessed by the specialist.