Overbite

Also known as a Class 2 Malocclusion, an overbite can be a painful misalignment of teeth in your dog.

What you need to know…

- The lower canine teeth are striking the roof of the mouth or palate.
- It can happen to both puppies and adult dogs.
- The goal is to provide a comfortable and functional bite for your pet as he/she matures.

How an Overbite may look:

Overbite palate contact — An overbite in a puppy where there is palate contact

Overbite Labrador — An overbite in a 6-month-old Labrador

Possible Therapy / Treatment:

extraction lower incisors — Puppies under 3 months of age: Extraction of lower incisors & canines to reduce pain and allow jaw growth

capping orthodontics — An incline Plane (bite plate) orthodontics designed to tip the tooth outward

crown reduction — Crown reduction (shortening) to remove palate contact

Schedule an appointment to have your pet evaluated by clicking on the “Get In Touch with Us” button.

LEARN more about overbite:

An overbite or class 2 malocclusion results in the lower canine teeth striking the roof of the mouth or palate. This is a painful condition. Dental therapy should be performed as soon as possible with the goal to provide a “comfortable and functional bite”.

Extraction therapy of puppy teeth is recommended as young as possible (6-9 weeks of age), to relieve the pain of tooth-to-palate contact as well as to allow the lower jaws to grow to their genetic potential. Unfortunately, most lower jaws will remain too short. Therefore, these pets must be re-evaluated at 5.5 months of age to select the best therapy: orthodontic therapy, extraction of the lower canine teeth or crown reduction (shortening the teeth) and pulp capping.