Braces for buck teeth vs deep bites: did you know they're not the same thing?

- Same here, didn’t realize deep bites were a thing until my ortho started pointing out wear patterns. I always thought “buck teeth” just meant your front teeth stuck out, but turns out bite issues are way more nuanced.
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It’s not just about straight teeth—it’s about protecting them long-term.

100% agree. I was all about aesthetics at first, but now I’m hyper-aware of how my bite affects enamel wear and even jaw tension.
- For me, it wasn’t obvious at all. My teeth looked “normal” to me—just a little crowded. But after my consult, I started noticing how my lower teeth pretty much disappeared when I bit down. Never realized that could cause gum recession and even headaches.
- Some stuff my ortho mentioned that stuck with me:
- Deep bite: upper front teeth cover too much of the lowers when you close your mouth.
- Buck teeth (overjet): upper front teeth stick out horizontally.
- Different mechanics to fix each one. Deep bite uses bite turbos or rubber bands sometimes, while buck teeth might need extractions or headgear (thankfully didn’t go that route).
- Honestly, cleaning behind the front teeth is such a pain now with all the wires and brackets. Floss threaders help, but it’s still awkward. On the plus side, my gums have never looked better since I started paying attention.
- One thing I wish I’d known sooner: deep bites can actually chip your bottom teeth over time. My ortho showed me tiny cracks I’d never noticed. Kinda freaked me out tbh.
- Didn’t really have any pain from the bite itself, but my jaw used to click sometimes—now it’s way less frequent since starting treatment.

Funny how you can go years without realizing something’s off until someone points it out… Now I notice everyone’s bite when they talk, which is probably weird but whatever.