At Upstate Orthodontics in Clemson and Seneca, Dr. McInnis and our team correct overbites every day with solutions that fit real life. We use metal braces, ceramic braces, and nearly invisible clear aligners like Invisalign®. Each option moves you or your child’s bite into the sweet spot. Chewing should feel easy, and your smile will look natural. In this post, we’ll look at Class II (overbite) correction—from growth-guiding appliances to surgical solutions—so you can see every path to a balanced bite.
What Is an Overbite?
An overbite happens when your upper front teeth drop too far over your lower front teeth. A tiny bit of overlap is normal and even helps you bite into food. Trouble starts when that overlap grows. In a deep bite, your top teeth can cover half (or even all) of the lower ones. You may see lower teeth hitting the roof of your mouth or wearing down unevenly..
Not all overbites are alike. A dental Class II means the teeth themselves drift forward or back while the jaws line up fine. A skeletal Class II goes deeper. It’s usually caused by a smaller lower jaw, a larger upper jaw, or both. Knowing which type you have helps us determine whether to focus on tooth movement, jaw growth, or a combination of both.
What Causes Overbites?
Several factors can cause your top teeth to stick out too far. Genetics tops the list. You may inherit the same jaw shape if your parents have a deep bite. Early childhood habits also contribute to it. Thumb-sucking, pacifier use after age three, or long-term bottle feeding can push your child’s baby teeth forward and set the stage for an overbite once adult teeth arrive.
Sometimes, your upper jaw grows faster than your lower jaw, or your lower jaw remains too small. This inherited size difference leaves the top teeth sitting far ahead of the bottom ones
Tongue thrusting adds more pressure to the teeth. Each time you swallow or talk, your tongue presses against your front teeth, slowly moving them outward. Teeth grinding or clenching can also shorten enamel and change the way your jaws fit together, making the upper teeth overlap even more.
Skeletal vs. Dental Class II—Why It Matters
Not every overbite has the same root cause. A dental Class II involves teeth that are tipped or shifted forward while the upper and lower jaws remain unchanged. In that case, braces or clear aligners can reposition the teeth alone. A skeletal Class II reflects an underlying size mismatch—typically a smaller lower jaw, a larger upper jaw, or both. Some younger patients may benefit from appliances that stimulate lower-jaw development; adults sometimes need orthodontics combined with corrective jaw surgery. Identifying the right category helps Dr. McInnis design the most precise, lasting treatment plan.
Metal Braces
Stainless‑steel brackets and archwires remain the gold standard for correcting moderate to severe overbites. Because the hardware stays on your teeth 24/7, our doctors can apply steady, precise forces that other systems can’t match. Elastics stretch from the top to the bottom brackets, gently pulling upper teeth backward and lower teeth forward until the overlap is right where it should be.
Class II elastics hook from an upper canine (the long, sharp ones in the corner) bracket to a lower molar (the wider ones toward the back) bracket. The elastics pull the top arch back and the lower arch forward at the same time. For tougher cases, we can anchor the upper molars to tiny TADs (temporary anchorage devices) and slide them back without flaring the lower front teeth.
Clear (Ceramic) Braces
Ceramic braces give you the strength of metal braces with far less “metal” in your smile. The tooth‑colored or transparent brackets blend into your enamel, so most people won’t notice them in everyday conversation or photos. They work the same way as metal braces—wires, elastic ties, and sometimes rubber bands. Ceramic braces use the same Class II elastics and can pair with TADs or power-arm attachments to direct forces low on the tooth root, limiting unwanted tipping while we correct the bite.
Invisalign®
If you’d rather skip fixed hardware altogether, Invisalign clear aligners offer a nearly invisible path to a balanced bite. After our Upstate Orthodontics team does a 3‑D scan, we design a series of snug plastic trays that move your teeth in small, calculated steps. You’ll wear each set 20–22 hours a day, trading up to the next pair about once a week. Tiny, tooth‑colored attachments give stubborn teeth extra grip, and discreet rubber bands can fine‑tune jaw position. Remove the trays to eat and brush. Just put them back in afterward to keep your progress on schedule.
Growth-Guidance & Functional Appliances
When kids still have growth on their side, we can adjust the jaws—not just the teeth—into better positions. Herbst®, Twin-Block, MARA, and even mandibular-advancement Invisalign trays ease the lower jaw forward 24/7, which helps bones to grow in that new position. Cervical or high-pull headgear can slow an overactive upper jaw. Most functional appliances stay in for 6–12 months during a peak growth spurt, then we fine-tune with braces or aligners.
Problems With Intraoral Class II Appliances
- Lower-incisor flaring: Overuse of elastics can kick lower front teeth forward and, if unchecked, swing the bite too far the other way.
- Upper-molar tipping or open bite: Some appliances tip the upper molars back, opening space between front teeth.
- Compliance counts: Functional devices and elastics only work when worn exactly as prescribed.
- Regular monitoring: Dr. McInnis checks root angles and jaw growth at every visit to prevent trading one bite problem for another.
Overhaul Your Overbite With Upstate Orthodontics
Whether your overbite is dental or skeletal, Upstate Orthodontics offers proven Class II solutions. We can help address any overbite issues you may have in Clemson and Seneca. Go here to schedule your free consultation with Dr. McInnis.
