Is a 2-3mm overjet normal?

Question

I just had a consultation with an orthodontist about getting Damon braces. I have crooked lateral incisors which overlap with my front teeth. My orthodontist recommended I get the braces to straighten my four front teeth, but warned me that this is likely to give me an overjet of 2-3mm (my current overjet is just 1mm). Should I go for the treatment, or will a 2-3mm overjet make me look buck-toothed? Is 2-3mm normal?

Eugene Wee, BDS, MDS · Answer

Hi ellebelle4,Hmm, without proper clinical photos, it is very hard to give proper advice. Nevertheless, I will hazard a guess.If you say that your current overjet is 1mm (which is very minimal), I would venture to say that your overbite (that is, the vertical overlap) of your incisors is very minimal. Again, I do not know what your exact treatment plan involves (with or without extractions), but my guess is that people like to avoid extractions when using Damon braces.My caution for you would be not so much the overjet, if my assumptions about your clinical picture and treatment plan are correct, but rather, if you would still have a decent overbite after aligning the front teeth. This is a very common problem encountered, especially if a non-extraction plan is followed, given the assumptions already mentioned. The problem you should worry about is whether your front teeth will meet together properly after such treatment.Once again, I have not examined you before, and we are making a lot of assumptions.

Is a 2-3mm overjet normal?

Answers (1)