A bite plate is a custom-made orthodontic appliance that fits against the roof of your mouth and sits behind your upper front teeth. Its primary job is to correct a deep overbite, where your upper teeth overlap your lower teeth too much. You’ll typically wear one alongside braces for 6 to 12 months, usually at the beginning of treatment.
How a Bite Plate Corrects Your Bite
When you have a deep overbite, your upper front teeth cover too much of your lower front teeth when you close your mouth. Over time this can cause discomfort, wear down your teeth, and create other oral health problems.
A bite plate works by creating a flat acrylic ledge behind your upper front teeth. When you bite down, your lower front teeth land on this ledge instead of closing all the way. This does two things at once: it prevents your front teeth from overlapping further, and it creates a small gap between your back teeth. With that gap in place, your back molars are free to gradually erupt (grow slightly taller) over time, which levels out the bite and reduces how deeply the front teeth overlap. Research comparing different overbite correction methods has found that bite plates are effective specifically because they encourage this back-tooth eruption rather than pushing the front teeth upward into the gums.
What a Bite Plate Looks Like
Most bite plates have two parts: an acrylic (plastic) piece that covers the roof of your mouth and small metal clasps or wires that hook around your teeth to hold it in place. The acrylic portion extends forward to create the flat biting surface just behind your upper front teeth. The whole appliance is custom-molded to fit your mouth, so it sits snugly against the palate.
The most common version is removable, meaning you can pop it out for cleaning and put it back in. Some orthodontists use a fixed version that stays cemented in place for the duration of treatment. Your orthodontist will choose one based on the severity of your overbite and how much correction is needed.
Bite Plates vs. Bite Turbos
You might also hear about bite turbos, which serve a similar purpose but look completely different. Bite turbos are small blocks of dental material bonded directly to the back of your upper front teeth (or sometimes on the biting surface of your back teeth). Because they’re glued in place, you don’t have to remember to wear them or take them out for cleaning.
Bite turbos work well when the upper and lower front teeth are relatively close together so the lower teeth can contact the turbo material. If your upper front teeth protrude significantly further forward than your lower teeth, turbos won’t make proper contact, and a traditional bite plate is the better option. Your orthodontist will assess your specific bite alignment to determine which appliance fits your situation.
What the First Few Days Feel Like
Expect an adjustment period. The bite plate takes up space on the roof of your mouth, and your tongue isn’t used to working around it. Most people notice a slight lisp or difficulty pronouncing certain sounds for the first few days. In most cases, speech improves noticeably within three to four days as your tongue adapts to the new shape of your palate.
Eating feels different too, especially at first. Because the bite plate prevents your back teeth from fully touching, chewing harder foods can be awkward or uncomfortable. Sticking to softer foods during the initial adjustment helps: mashed potatoes, pasta, yogurt, smoothies, scrambled eggs, and soft meats are all good options. As you get used to the appliance, you’ll gradually return to a more normal diet, though very hard or sticky foods should still be avoided since they can damage or dislodge the plate.
Some mild soreness or pressure on the teeth is normal in the first week. This is a sign that the appliance is doing its job, repositioning how your teeth meet when you bite down.
How Long You’ll Wear It
Most patients wear a bite plate for 6 to 12 months, though the exact timeline depends on how deep the overbite is. Bite plates are almost always used during the early phase of orthodontic treatment. Once the overbite has been reduced enough, your orthodontist will discontinue the bite plate while your braces continue working on tooth alignment.
If you have a removable bite plate, consistent wear matters. Leaving it out for long stretches slows progress and can extend your treatment time. Your orthodontist will tell you whether to wear it full-time (including while sleeping) or only during certain hours.
Keeping Your Bite Plate Clean
Plaque and tartar build up on a bite plate just like they do on your teeth. After every meal or snack, remove the appliance and place it in the palm of your hand. Brush it gently with your toothbrush and toothpaste using cool water. Hot water can warp the acrylic and ruin the fit. Check the appliance daily for any cracks, loose wires, or buildup you might have missed.
When the bite plate is out of your mouth, avoid biting down fully with your teeth. This sounds counterintuitive, but without the plate in place, your deep bite is still present, and clenching can put uneven pressure on teeth that are actively being moved by braces. Clean the appliance, pop it back in, and carry on.