Protruding Teeth Treatment in Bangalore
Front teeth sticking out too far? Discover effective treatments to correct protruding teeth, improve your profile, and protect your smile.
What Are Protruding Teeth?
Protruding teeth, commonly called "buck teeth," occur when the upper front teeth stick out significantly beyond the lower teeth. This condition—clinically known as overjet—affects both appearance and function.
Protrusion can range from mild (slight forward positioning) to severe (teeth that stick out prominently and prevent lip closure). The condition may involve just the teeth being angled forward, or it may involve the entire upper jaw positioned ahead of the lower jaw.
At Curve Orthodontics in Bangalore, Dr. Garima Gupta (MDS Orthodontics) provides comprehensive protruding teeth treatment. Correcting protrusion not only improves your smile but also protects your front teeth from injury and improves facial balance.
Signs of Protruding Teeth
Front Teeth Stick Out
Upper front teeth visibly project forward, creating a prominent appearance when smiling or at rest.
Difficulty Closing Lips
Lips don't close naturally over the teeth, requiring effort to keep the mouth closed or causing a gap at rest.
Increased Injury Risk
Protruding teeth are more exposed and vulnerable to chips, cracks, or fractures during falls or sports.
Mouth Breathing
Difficulty closing lips often leads to habitual mouth breathing, which can affect oral and overall health.
Lip Strain
Constantly trying to cover protruding teeth causes tension and discomfort in the lip muscles.
Profile Concerns
Protruding teeth affect facial profile, making the upper jaw appear too forward relative to the chin.
What Causes Protruding Teeth?
Understanding the cause helps determine the best treatment approach:
Genetics Inherited jaw size and position are primary factors. You may inherit a smaller lower jaw or a more forward upper jaw, creating protrusion.
Childhood Habits Prolonged thumb sucking, pacifier use, or tongue thrusting pushes front teeth forward over time. These habits are especially impactful during jaw development.
Mouth Breathing Chronic mouth breathing (often due to allergies or enlarged adenoids) affects jaw development and can contribute to protruding teeth.
Crowding Severe crowding can push front teeth forward as they compete for space in the dental arch.
Loss of Back Teeth Missing molars can cause remaining teeth to shift forward, affecting the position of front teeth.
Risks of Untreated Protruding Teeth
Trauma Risk Protruding front teeth are significantly more likely to be damaged during accidents, sports, or falls. Studies show protrusion increases fracture risk substantially.
Lip Incompetence Difficulty keeping lips closed leads to dry mouth, increased decay risk, and gum problems.
Speech Issues Severe protrusion can affect pronunciation of certain sounds.
Self-Esteem Many people with protruding teeth feel self-conscious about their appearance, affecting confidence in social and professional settings.
Jaw Problems The abnormal bite relationship can strain the jaw joint over time.
Treatment Options for Protruding Teeth
Metal Braces
Highly effective for correcting protrusion, especially moderate to severe cases. Provide precise control for retracting front teeth.
Ceramic Braces
Same effectiveness as metal braces with a more aesthetic appearance. Popular choice for adults correcting buck teeth.
Clear Aligners
Can treat mild to moderate protrusion effectively. Require good compliance and may use attachments for optimal tooth control.
Invisalign
Advanced clear aligner system with features designed for effective incisor retraction in appropriate cases.
How Protruding Teeth Treatment Works
Correcting protrusion involves moving the front teeth backward (retraction) and may require creating space:
Assessment We evaluate the severity of protrusion, whether it's dental (teeth angled forward) or skeletal (jaw position), and how much retraction is needed.
Creating Space To move front teeth back, space is often needed. This may involve:
- Expansion: Widening the arch if it's narrow
- IPR: Removing tiny amounts of enamel between teeth
- Extraction: In moderate to severe cases, removing premolars to create significant space
Retraction Phase Braces or aligners gradually pull the front teeth backward. This phase requires careful control to achieve the right amount of retraction without over-correcting.
Profile Changes As front teeth move back, your lip position and facial profile improve. Many patients notice significant changes in their side profile.
Expected Timeline
| Protrusion Severity | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Mild (2-4mm overjet) | 12-18 months |
| Moderate (4-6mm) | 18-24 months |
| Severe (6mm+) | 24-30 months |
Results depend on individual factors and treatment compliance.
Protruding Teeth FAQs
Can protruding teeth be fixed without braces?
For true correction, orthodontic treatment (braces or aligners) is necessary to move the teeth back. Veneers can cosmetically mask very mild protrusion but don't address the underlying problem. Surgery may be needed for severe skeletal cases where the jaw itself is too far forward.
Do I need surgery to fix protruding teeth?
Most protrusion cases can be corrected with braces or aligners alone. Surgery (orthognathic surgery) is only needed in severe skeletal cases where the jaw position itself needs correction—this is less common. During consultation, we'll determine whether your case is dental or skeletal in nature.
How long does it take to fix protruding teeth?
Treatment typically takes 18-24 months for moderate cases. Mild protrusion may be corrected faster (12-18 months), while severe cases may take longer (24-30 months). The timeline depends on how much the teeth need to move and whether extractions are involved.
Is fixing protruding teeth just cosmetic?
No, it's also functional and protective. Protruding teeth are more prone to trauma and fracture. The abnormal bite affects chewing efficiency and can cause jaw strain. Difficulty closing lips leads to dry mouth and increases decay risk. So while appearance improves, there are significant health benefits too.
What causes buck teeth in the first place?
The main causes are genetics (inherited jaw/tooth position), childhood habits (thumb sucking, pacifier use), mouth breathing, and tongue thrust. Often it's a combination of factors. Understanding the cause helps us plan treatment and address any contributing habits.
Will my face look different after treatment?
Yes, in a positive way. As front teeth move back, your lips will rest more naturally, your profile will look more balanced, and your smile will appear less prominent. Many patients are pleased with the facial changes that accompany protrusion correction.
Concerned About Protruding Teeth?
Schedule a consultation to understand your options for correcting protruding teeth and achieving a more balanced smile and profile.
Protruding Teeth Treatment Near You in Bangalore
Curve Orthodontics is conveniently located on Haralur Main Road, serving patients from Sarjapur Road, Bellandur, HSR Layout, Electronic City, Kudlu, and Silver County Road.
Clinic Hours: Monday to Saturday, 11am - 8pm
Address: 1st Floor, SSK Arcade, Haralur Main Rd, Bengaluru, KA 560102
Dr. Garima Gupta (MDS Orthodontics) provides expert buck teeth correction for patients of all ages. Learn about other conditions we treat →