“Bunny teeth” is the colloquial term for overjet, a type of malocclusion where the two upper front teeth (central incisors) noticeably protrude beyond the lower teeth. The clinical term for this horizontal overlap is overjet. While a small amount of horizontal overlap, typically between 1 and 3 millimeters, is considered normal, an excessive overjet measures 4 millimeters or more. This dental protrusion can cause both aesthetic concerns and functional health issues, but it is a common condition that is highly treatable through modern dental and orthodontic procedures.
Why Teeth Become Prominent
Prominent teeth develop from a combination of genetic and environmental factors affecting jaw alignment and tooth positioning. Genetic predisposition plays a significant role, as individuals may inherit a jaw size or shape discrepancy, such as a lower jaw that is naturally set back relative to the upper jaw. This underlying skeletal condition is often classified as a Class II malocclusion, causing the upper teeth to jut forward.
Certain childhood habits can also physically push the upper teeth into a protruded position. Prolonged thumb or finger sucking, especially past the age of three, exerts continuous pressure against the back of the upper incisors, forcing them outward. A tongue thrusting habit, where the tongue presses against the front teeth during swallowing, also contributes to forward drift. Addressing these habits early often prevents a mild protrusion from worsening as the child grows.
Straightening the Teeth with Orthodontics
Orthodontic treatment is the most comprehensive method for correcting excessive overjet by repositioning teeth and establishing a proper bite. The principle involves applying continuous, controlled mechanical force to move the teeth through the jawbone. This movement gradually retracts the upper incisors backward to reduce the horizontal overlap and align the upper and lower arches.
Traditional metal or ceramic braces use brackets bonded to the tooth surface and connected by archwires, which are periodically adjusted to guide the teeth. Ceramic braces function identically but use clear materials for a less noticeable appearance. For many patients, treatment involves using elastics—small rubber bands worn between the upper and lower jaws—to help bring the arches into the correct front-to-back relationship.
Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, are a more discreet option, consisting of custom-made, removable plastic trays that incrementally shift the teeth. Clear aligners are highly effective for mild to moderate dental protrusions, offering both aesthetic benefits and convenience. They require high patient compliance to be worn for approximately 20 to 22 hours per day. Treatment duration typically ranges from 12 to 30 months, depending on the severity of the case.
After active treatment, a retainer is necessary to prevent relapse (teeth shifting back). Retainers, which can be removable or permanently bonded, stabilize the new alignment while bone and soft tissues adapt. Consistent retainer wear is often a lifelong commitment to ensure the long-term stability of the orthodontic result.
Cosmetic Reshaping and Restoration
Cosmetic procedures refine the smile in minor protrusion cases or when overjet is corrected but size or shape discrepancies remain. These fixes alter the tooth surface appearance without moving the root structure, suitable for aesthetic enhancement rather than major bite correction. Dental bonding involves applying a tooth-colored composite resin directly to the tooth, where it is sculpted into the desired shape and hardened with a specialized light.
Bonding is minimally invasive, often completed in a single visit, providing a quick and affordable solution for small chips, gaps, or misshapen teeth. While effective, the composite resin is less durable than porcelain and may be prone to staining over time, typically requiring replacement or touch-ups every three to ten years.
Porcelain veneers offer a more substantial, long-lasting correction, involving bonding thin, custom-made porcelain shells to the front surface of the teeth. Veneers are highly stain-resistant and mimic the light-reflecting qualities of natural enamel, providing a superior aesthetic result for more significant cosmetic flaws. The procedure is considered irreversible because a small amount of natural enamel, usually about 0.5 to 0.7 millimeters, must be removed to prepare the tooth surface and ensure a non-bulky fit.
Veneers require multiple appointments and are a larger investment, but they offer greater durability, often lasting 10 to 25 years with proper care. Both bonding and veneers are generally not appropriate for correcting severe skeletal or functional bite issues, which require orthodontic or surgical intervention first.
Addressing Severe Skeletal Issues
For complex cases where protrusion stems from a major discrepancy in jaw size or position, a combined approach using orthodontics and orthognathic surgery is necessary. This treatment is reserved for adult patients with severe skeletal Class II malocclusion that cannot be fully corrected by tooth movement alone. Orthognathic surgery, commonly referred to as jaw surgery, physically repositions the jawbones to achieve a balanced facial profile and functional bite.
The process begins with pre-surgical orthodontics, using braces or aligners to move the teeth into the correct position relative to their respective jaws. This “decompensation” phase often temporarily makes the protrusion look worse before the surgery, as it eliminates any camouflage that the teeth may have developed over time. The surgery itself may involve advancing the lower jaw, setting back the upper jaw, or both, depending on the specific skeletal issue.
For severe dental protrusion, space must sometimes be created within the dental arch to allow the front teeth to be fully retracted. This is sometimes achieved through the strategic extraction of certain teeth, most commonly the first premolars, to provide the necessary room for the incisors to move backward. This overall treatment is an interdisciplinary effort requiring consultation with an oral surgeon to ensure the best functional and aesthetic outcome.