Protruding Teeth
Protruding upper front teeth — sometimes called buck teeth or an increased overjet — stick forward of the lower teeth. Beyond appearance, they're far more likely to be chipped or knocked out in a fall or sports impact.
Ready to book your appointment?
Send us your details and we'll be in touch — usually within one working day.
Protrusion is a trauma risk.
Research consistently shows that a large overjet significantly increases the chance of front-tooth injury, particularly in children and anyone playing contact sport. A mouthguard helps; correcting the position helps more.
Protrusion is also frequently linked to lips that can't close comfortably, which dries the gums and worsens inflammation at the front of the mouth.
Signs of an increased overjet.
The signs vary, but most people notice one or more of these:
- 01Upper front teeth clearly ahead of the lowers
- 02Lips that don't close together at rest
- 03Chipped or previously repaired front teeth
- 04Dry, inflamed gums at the front
- 05Difficulty biting cleanly
- 06Self-consciousness in photos
Where it comes from.
The most common culprits:
Don't wait it out.
Speak to your our practice dentist if you're experiencing any of the following — book an appointment as soon as you can:
- —Your front teeth have been chipped before.
- —You play contact sport.
- —Your lips don't meet comfortably.
- —Your child's front teeth stick out noticeably.
In discomfort right now?
Protruding teeth are usually painless. A newly chipped or loosened front tooth after a knock is urgent — contact us the same day.
A plan, not a quick fix.
We measure the overjet, assess lips and habits, and discuss aligners or braces to retract the teeth, plus a custom mouthguard for sport in the meantime.
