Buck Teeth in Children: Causes, When to Worry, and What to Do

Last updated on April 27th, 2026

If you have noticed your child’s upper front teeth sitting noticeably further forward than their lower ones, you are not alone — protruding front teeth, or overjet, are one of the most common orthodontic concerns parents raise at dental check-ups. The instinct to act immediately is understandable, but the right response depends entirely on your child’s age, which teeth have come through, and whether a habit is still driving the problem.

This guide explains what causes buck teeth in children, which childhood habits are most likely to create or worsen the condition, and when watchful waiting is appropriate and when early treatment genuinely makes a difference.

The information in this article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified dental professional before making any treatment decisions.

Age	What to expect	What to do
Under 3	Functional appliances, expanders if indicated by the orthodontist	Monitor; no orthodontic action needed
3–5	Habits (thumb, dummy) begin affecting jaw development if continued beyond this stage	Encourage habit cessation; ensure regular dental visits
6–7	Permanent incisors erupt; overjet becomes measurable and clinically relevant	First orthodontic evaluation recommended by age 7 (AAO)
8–11	Jaw growth is active; interceptive treatment is most effective during this window	Comprehensive braces or aligners, if required
12+	Most permanent teeth in; jaw growth slowing	Comprehensive braces or aligners if required

What Causes Buck Teeth in Children?

Most cases of childhood overjet have a genetic component; the relative size and growth rate of the upper and lower jaw are largely inherited. However, several environmental factors can create or significantly worsen the condition during the years when teeth and bones are still forming.

Genetics and Jaw Growth

If one or both parents have a prominent overjet, their children are more likely to develop one. Jaw shape, size, and growth pattern are strongly heritable. A skeletal Class II pattern, where the upper jaw grows faster or larger than the lower, is the most common genetic cause of buck teeth in children and cannot be prevented by changing habits.

Thumb-Sucking

Sucking a thumb is a normal reflex in infants and young children. Problems arise when the habit persists past the stage when permanent front teeth begin to erupt, typically around age 6. Sustained forward pressure from a thumb pushes the upper incisors outward while simultaneously pushing the lower teeth inward. A systematic review and meta-analysis by Doğramacı and Rossi-Fedele (2016), published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, confirmed that longer duration of non-nutritive sucking behavior is significantly associated with an increased risk of malocclusion, including increased overjet, with digit sucking (thumb or finger) showing a particularly strong association.

Dummy (Pacifier) Use

The British Dental Association recommends that dummy use is curtailed by 12 months to reduce the risk of associated oral health problems. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) sets a target of discontinuing non-nutritive sucking habits by 36 months, and notes that use beyond 18 months can begin to influence the developing orofacial complex.

It is worth noting that the relationship between dummy variables and overjet is more nuanced than that for thumb-sucking. The same systematic review by Doğramacı and Rossi-Fedele (2016) found that pacifier users are less likely to develop increased overjet than digit (thumb) suckers, although pacifier use is more strongly associated with posterior crossbite. The key principle remains: the earlier the habit stops, the better the chance that any effect on the dentition self-corrects as the jaw continues to grow.

Tongue Thrusting

Tongue thrust, where the tongue pushes against the back of the upper front teeth during swallowing, is normal in infants. When it persists beyond early childhood, the repeated pressure can cause the upper front teeth to flare forward. Tongue thrust often accompanies other habits and may benefit from myofunctional therapy alongside orthodontic treatment.

Mouth-Breathing

Children who habitually breathe through their mouths, often due to enlarged adenoids, allergies, or blocked nasal passages, rest their tongue in a different position than nose-breathers. This altered tongue posture can affect jaw development and contribute to forward positioning of the upper teeth. A study published in Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica (Grippaudo et al., 2016) found an association between oral habits, including mouth-breathing, and malocclusion.

Missing or Crowded Teeth

When a baby tooth is lost early, or permanent teeth are crowded, the remaining teeth can drift, sometimes pushing the upper front teeth further forward. Regular dental check-ups help identify these shifts early.

Will My Child’s Buck Teeth Correct Themselves?

This depends on the cause and the child’s age.

Habit-related overjet in young children (under 5) often reduces or resolves once the habit stops, provided the permanent teeth have not yet fully erupted. The jaw is still growing rapidly and has significant capacity for self-correction.
Mild genetic overjet does not self-correct, but may remain stable and manageable without intervention, depending on severity.
Significant skeletal overjet will not resolve on its own and may worsen as the child grows. This is where early evaluation and potentially early intervention make the biggest difference.

If you are unsure which category applies to your child, a consultation with an orthodontist is the most reliable way to find out.

What Is Interceptive Orthodontics?

Interceptive orthodontics (also called Phase I treatment) refers to early intervention during the mixed dentition phase, when a child has a combination of baby and permanent teeth, typically between ages 7 and 11. The goal is not to finish treatment, but to guide jaw growth and tooth eruption so that future treatment is simpler, shorter, or sometimes unnecessary.

The most commonly used interceptive appliances for children with overjet include:

Palatal expanders: widen a narrow upper jaw to create room for permanent teeth and correct the width discrepancy between upper and lower arches.
Functional appliances (Twin-Block, Herbst): encourage forward growth of the lower jaw. These are most effective when the child is actively growing.
Partial braces: sometimes used on specific teeth during this phase to correct severe flaring of the front teeth.
Habit-breaking appliances: fixed or removable devices that physically prevent thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting, used when behavioral approaches have not been successful.

Does My Child Need Interceptive Orthodontics?

Not every child with buck teeth needs interceptive treatment. For mild cases, monitoring until all permanent teeth have erupted and treating comprehensively in adolescence is equally valid. An orthodontist assesses whether the potential benefits of acting early outweigh the time and cost of a two-phase approach.

When Should I Take My Child to See an Orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. At this age, most children have their first permanent molars and incisors in place, enough for an orthodontist to assess jaw relationships and identify developing problems.

Consider booking a consultation earlier than age 7 if:

Your child’s upper front teeth are visibly protruding even when the mouth is closed at rest
Your child is still sucking a thumb or using a dummy past age 4–5
Your child breathes predominantly through the mouth, especially at night
Your child has had an early loss of baby teeth
Your child is self-conscious about their teeth

A first evaluation does not mean starting treatment. In many cases, the orthodontist will advise monitoring and set a review date 12–18 months later.

What About Cosmetic Dentistry for Teenagers with Buck Teeth?

For teenagers whose jaw growth has stabilized and whose overjet is mild to moderate, particularly where the bite is functionally sound, cosmetic dentistry options such as composite bonding or enamel contouring can address the appearance of slightly protruding teeth without orthodontic treatment. These are cosmetic adjustments and do not move teeth or correct bite mechanics.

For more pronounced overjet in teenagers, clear aligners are often the preferred option, as they are discreet, removable, and well-suited to the adolescent years. Porcelain veneers are generally not recommended until the teeth and jaw are fully developed, typically not before the late teens.

Families considering treatment abroad for a teenager should be aware that dental tourism works best for adults with a stable, fully erupted dentition, not for children or adolescents in active growth phases who require ongoing monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do buck teeth in children always need treatment?

No. Mild overjet that is not worsening, does not affect function, and does not cause the child distress is often monitored rather than treated immediately. The decision depends on severity, growth stage, and whether the cause is still active.

Will braces completely fix my child’s buck teeth?

In most cases, yes, particularly when braces are combined with elastics or functional appliances during the growth phase. Severe skeletal overjet in adults may ultimately require orthognathic surgery, but children treated during the growth phase generally achieve excellent outcomes with orthodontics alone. For a full overview of treatment options available to teenagers and adults, see our guide on how to get rid of buck teeth.

My child’s dentist says to wait — is that normal?

Yes, and often it is correct advice. For children under 7, or those with mild overjet and no active habit, monitoring is usually the appropriate approach. If you want reassurance, ask for an orthodontic referral — a second opinion does not commit you to treatment.

Can buck teeth in children cause speech problems?

A significant overjet can make it harder to produce certain sounds, particularly ‘f’, ‘v’, ‘s’, and ‘th ‘, because the tongue cannot position correctly against the front teeth. Speech difficulties are one of the clinical reasons an orthodontist may recommend earlier treatment.

Is it common for buck teeth to run in families?

Very. Jaw size, shape, and the relative growth rates of the upper and lower jaws are significantly influenced by genetics. If you or your partner had buck teeth as a child, it is worth having your child assessed around age 7, even if the overjet appears mild.

SOURCES

1. Doğramacı, E.J. & Rossi-Fedele, G. (2016). Establishing the association between nonnutritive sucking behavior and malocclusions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Dental Association, 147(12), 926–934. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2016.08.018 [PMID: 27692622]

2. Grippaudo, C., Paolantonio, E.G., Antonini, G., Saulle, R., La Torre, G., & Deli, R. (2016). Association between oral habits, mouth breathing, and malocclusion. Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica, 36(5), 386–394. https://doi.org/10.14639/0392-100X-770 [PMID: 27958599]

3. American Association of Orthodontists. (2024). The Milestone Visit: Why Age 7 is The Best Age For Orthodontic Treatment. AAO.org. https://aaoinfo.org/blog/when-should-my-child-see-an-orthodontist-age-7/

4. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. (2024). Policy on pacifiers. The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry. https://www.aapd.org/globalassets/media/policies_guidelines/p_on-pacifiers.pdf