DEEP BITE

A deep bite or deep overbite is a vertical malocclusion characterized by excessive overlap of the maxillary incisors over the mandibular incisors in centric occlusion often exceeding one-third of the crown height of the lower incisors. It may be of dental origin resulting from overeruption of anterior teeth or infraocclusion of posterior teeth or skeletal origin associated with a reduced lower anterior facial height and a horizontal growth pattern of the mandible. Deep bite can lead to soft tissue trauma palatal impingement incisal wear and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Management depends on the etiology and severity and may involve orthodontic intrusion of anterior teeth extrusion of posterior teeth growth modification or orthognathic surgery in severe skeletal cases.