Several types of braces can correct an overbite, including traditional metal braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, and clear aligners. The best option depends on how severe your overbite is, your budget, and how visible you want your treatment to be. Most overbite corrections take between 18 months and 2 years, though milder cases can wrap up in about 12 months.
What Counts as an Overbite
An overbite is a vertical overlap where your upper front teeth cover too much of your lower front teeth when you bite down. Anything beyond about 3 millimeters of overlap is generally considered excessive. This is different from an overjet, which is sometimes confused with an overbite. An overjet is a horizontal problem where the upper teeth angle outward, jutting forward past the lower teeth. With a true overbite, the upper teeth point straight down but simply cover the lower teeth too deeply.
The distinction matters because treatment strategies differ. Overbite correction focuses on leveling the bite vertically, often by pushing the front teeth upward into the jawbone or pulling the back teeth downward slightly. Your orthodontist will measure the overlap and determine whether your case is mild, moderate, or severe before recommending a specific type of braces.
Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces remain the most common and versatile option for overbite correction. They use stainless steel brackets bonded to each tooth, connected by a wire that your orthodontist tightens at regular appointments. Metal braces can handle every severity of overbite, from a few extra millimeters of overlap to a deep bite where your lower teeth nearly touch the roof of your mouth.
The main trade-off is appearance. Metal braces are visible when you smile. You can make them slightly less noticeable by choosing clear or tooth-colored elastic ties, or you can go the other direction and pick bright colors. In terms of cost, metal braces typically run between $3,000 and $6,000 in 2025, making them the most affordable option for most patients.
Ceramic Braces
Ceramic braces work exactly like metal braces, but the brackets, wires, and ties are tooth-colored so they blend in with your teeth. They’re still visible up close, but significantly less noticeable than metal at a conversational distance. For adults who want the reliability of traditional braces without the metallic look, ceramic is a popular middle ground.
The downside is durability. Ceramic brackets are more fragile than metal and more likely to crack or break, which can mean extra repair appointments. They also tend to cost slightly more than metal braces, though many practices price them in a similar range. For a deep overbite that requires heavy force over a long treatment, your orthodontist may steer you toward metal for its strength.
Lingual Braces
Lingual braces are metal brackets placed on the back surfaces of your teeth, facing your tongue rather than facing outward. They’re essentially invisible when you smile. This makes them appealing if appearance is your top priority, but they come with significant compromises.
Lingual braces are the most expensive orthodontic option, typically costing $8,000 to $10,000 or more. They can also irritate your tongue, affect your speech initially, and make oral hygiene more difficult since the brackets sit in a harder-to-reach spot. Not every orthodontist offers them, and they’re not ideal for all overbite cases.
Clear Aligners
Clear aligners like Invisalign can correct many overbites, though they work best for mild to moderate cases. The technology has advanced considerably in recent years. Modern clear aligner systems now include features specifically engineered for deep bite correction, using small tooth-colored attachments bonded to your premolars that help push back teeth downward while guiding front teeth upward into the jaw.
The aligners themselves also incorporate built-in features you won’t see. Pressure points on the inner surface of the trays redirect force through the front teeth to control how they move vertically. Small ramps molded into the upper aligners, up to 3 millimeters deep, temporarily separate the back teeth so they can shift into better position. These ramps are automatically customized to your bite at each stage of treatment.
Clear aligners cost between $3,500 and $7,500 in 2025. The big advantage is that they’re removable, so eating and brushing are easier. The big disadvantage is compliance: they only work if you wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. For severe overbites that need complex tooth movements, traditional braces may still be more predictable.
Rubber Bands and Auxiliary Appliances
Regardless of which braces you choose, your orthodontist will likely prescribe rubber bands (elastics) at some point during treatment. These small bands hook between your upper and lower braces or aligners to apply extra force that the braces alone can’t generate. For overbite correction, the elastics typically run diagonally from the upper front teeth to the lower back teeth, pulling the bite into better alignment.
Elastics come in different strengths, and your orthodontist will specify which type to use and how many hours per day to wear them. Consistent wear is critical. Skipping your elastics is one of the most common reasons overbite treatment takes longer than planned. If you notice your bite correcting faster than expected, contact your orthodontist before changing your elastic routine on your own.
In more severe cases, especially in children and teens whose jaws are still growing, additional appliances like a Herbst device or a palate expander may be used alongside braces. These fixed appliances modify jaw growth to address the skeletal component of an overbite, not just the tooth positions.
How Long Treatment Takes
The average overbite correction with braces takes 18 months to 2 years. Simpler cases with only a few millimeters of excess overlap can sometimes be resolved in about 12 months. Complex cases involving significant jaw discrepancy or crowding may push closer to 2 years or slightly beyond.
Several factors influence your timeline. The severity of the overbite is the biggest one, but your age matters too. Adults tend to have slightly longer treatment times because their jawbones are denser and less responsive to force than a teenager’s growing bone. How well you follow your orthodontist’s instructions, particularly with elastics and aligner wear, also directly affects how quickly your teeth move.
After Braces: Retainers
Once your braces come off or your final aligner tray is finished, you’ll transition to a retainer. This isn’t optional. Your jawbone needs time to rebuild the tissue that anchors your teeth in their new positions. Without a retainer, teeth tend to drift back toward their original alignment, and overbites are particularly prone to relapse.
Most orthodontists prescribe full-time retainer wear initially (removing it only for eating and brushing), then gradually tapering to nighttime wear only. The total duration varies, and many orthodontists now recommend indefinite nighttime retainer use to protect your results long-term. Retainers come in removable versions that look like clear aligners or traditional wire-and-acrylic trays, as well as fixed versions where a thin wire is bonded permanently behind your front teeth.
Choosing the Right Option
For mild overbites where appearance during treatment matters, clear aligners are a strong choice. For moderate to severe overbites, metal or ceramic braces give your orthodontist the most control. Lingual braces offer invisibility but at a premium price and with practical trade-offs. Your orthodontist will take X-rays, photos, and impressions to assess not just the tooth overlap but also the underlying jaw relationship before making a recommendation.
Cost often narrows the decision. If insurance covers orthodontics, it typically contributes $1,000 to $2,000 regardless of which type you choose, leaving you to cover the rest. Most orthodontic offices offer monthly payment plans that spread the remaining balance across your treatment period, making even higher-cost options more accessible.