How to Get Rid of Buck Teeth (Bunny Teeth): Causes, Treatment Options and Costs

Last updated on April 27th, 2026

Buck teeth, clinically called overjet, and widely known as bunny teeth, occur when the upper front teeth protrude noticeably beyond the lower set. Dentists measure overjet as the horizontal gap between the upper and lower front teeth; a gap of more than 2 mm beyond normal is considered clinically significant. The condition ranges from a mild cosmetic quirk to a more pronounced bite problem that affects chewing, speech, and long-term dental health. While some people view them as a harmless quirk, research shows a large overjet can raise the risk of dental trauma, speech impediments, and jaw pain, and may affect self‑esteem¹. Some informally refer to them as “goofy teeth” or “bunny teeth,” but the clinical focus is on correction.

The good news is that protruding teeth can be corrected at virtually any age, from childhood to adulthood, using a range of orthodontic and cosmetic options. This guide walks you through the causes of buck teeth, the health effects of leaving them untreated, the available treatment options, and how costs compare across Turkey, the UK, and the US.

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.

Quick Facts

Clinical term	Overjet (horizontal protrusion); Class II Malocclusion in skeletal cases
Normal range	Upper front teeth overlap lower by 1–3 mm horizontally
Average treatment time	12–24 months (orthodontic) · 4–6 weeks recovery (jaw surgery)
First evaluation	Age 7, per the American Association of Orthodontists
Most common causes	Genetics, thumb-sucking, tongue thrust, mouth-breathing, jaw size mismatch
Key treatment options	Braces, clear aligners, lingual braces, veneers, jaw surgery

What Are Buck Teeth, and Are They the Same as Bunny Teeth?

Yes, ‘bunny teeth’, ‘buck teeth’, and ‘protruding teeth’ all describe the same condition. The informal terms reflect the same clinical reality: the upper central incisors extend forward beyond the lower teeth to a degree that changes the appearance and, in some cases, the function of the bite.

It is worth distinguishing overjet (what most people mean by buck teeth) from overbite. An overbite is a vertical overlap — the upper teeth drop down over the lower teeth. An overjet is a horizontal protrusion — the upper front teeth stick out forward. The two can occur together, but they are not the same thing and may require different treatment approaches.

Term	Definition
Buck teeth / Bunny teeth	Informal names for visibly protruding upper front teeth (overjet)
Overjet	Clinical term: horizontal distance between upper and lower front teeth exceeds 2 mm
Overbite	Vertical overlap: upper front teeth cover too much of the lower front teeth
Malocclusion	Any misalignment of the upper and lower teeth or jaws

What Causes Buck Teeth?

Most cases of buck teeth have a genetic component; the shape and relative size of the upper and lower jaw are largely inherited. However, certain oral habits and medical factors can amplify or independently cause the condition.

Cause	How It Leads to Overjet
Genetic jaw discrepancy	Upper jaw grows faster or larger than the lower — a skeletal Class II pattern inherited from parents.
Thumb-sucking past age 3	Repeated forward pressure pushes upper incisors outward during tooth development.
Prolonged pacifier use	Same mechanism as thumb-sucking; risk rises the longer the habit continues past age 2.
Tongue thrusting	The tongue presses against front teeth during swallowing, gradually pushing them forward.
Mouth-breathing	Chronic mouth breathing alters jaw posture and may contribute to forward positioning of the front teeth over time.
Missing or crowded teeth	Gaps allow adjacent teeth to drift; crowding pushes front teeth outward.
Cysts or tumours	Rare — abnormal growths in the jaw can displace teeth; requires medical investigation.

What Happens If Buck Teeth Are Left Untreated?

Many adults live comfortably with mild overjet and choose not to treat it — that is entirely valid when the bite functions normally. However, a clinically significant overjet left untreated for years can increase the risk of several dental and general health problems.

Dental trauma: Protruding teeth are more likely to be exposed. A systematic review published in Dental Traumatology (Arraj et al., 2019) found that a larger overjet is associated with a significantly increased risk of front-tooth injuries, particularly in children and teenagers.
Difficulty chewing: When the upper and lower teeth do not meet properly, biting into harder foods becomes less efficient and can strain the jaw muscles.
Speech difficulties: Sounds such as ‘f’, ‘s’, and ‘th ‘ can be harder to produce cleanly when the tongue cannot position correctly against the front teeth.
Jaw pain and headaches: A misaligned bite places an uneven load on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which can contribute to facial soreness and chronic headaches.
Sleep-related breathing: A small or recessed lower jaw — common in skeletal Class II cases — can narrow the upper airway, contributing to snoring or mild obstructive sleep apnoea in some patients.
Gum damage: In pronounced overbite cases, the lower front teeth may repeatedly strike the upper palate or gum, causing localized tissue trauma over time.

If your overjet is causing any of the above, an orthodontic assessment is advisable regardless of age.

How To Fix Buck Teeth?

The right treatment depends on severity, age, and whether the cause is primarily in the teeth (dental overjet) or the jaws (skeletal overjet). Cosmetic dentistry options can address milder cases quickly; orthodontics corrects the alignment itself; surgery is reserved for significant skeletal discrepancies in mature adults

Treatment Pathways by Age Group

1. Ages 7 – 11: Interceptive Orthodontics

Early evaluation — recommended from age 7 — allows an orthodontist to guide jaw growth before it is complete. Options at this stage include:

Palatal expanders to widen a narrow upper jaw
Functional appliances (Twin-Block, Herbst) to encourage forward growth of the lower jaw
Partial (“phase I”) braces to correct flaring front teeth
Behavioral coaching to stop thumb‑sucking or tongue thrust

If your child has protruding teeth and you are unsure whether early treatment is appropriate, our guide on buck teeth in children covers when to act, when to wait, and how to break the habits that drive the problem.

2. Teens: Comprehensive Braces

During adolescence, when permanent teeth are in place, but jaw growth is still active, full fixed braces (metal, ceramic, or self-ligating) are the most efficient option. Treatment typically takes 18–24 months and may include elastics to correct the jaw relationship.

3. Adults: Full Range of Options

Treatment	Best for	Typical timeline	Key advantage	Key consideration
Fixed metal or ceramic braces	Mild to severe dental overjet	12–24 months	Most predictable full correction; handles complex cases	Visible; requires meticulous hygiene
Clear aligners (e.g. Invisalign)	Mild to moderate overjet	6–18 months	Nearly invisible; removable for eating	Less effective for large skeletal overjet; requires 22 h/day wear
Lingual (hidden) braces	Moderate overjet; discretion essential	12–24 months	Fully invisible in daily life	Higher cost; initial tongue irritation
Veneers / minimal-prep crowns	Cosmetic overjet ≤ 2 mm; functional bite	2–3 appointments (2–4 weeks)	Immediate aesthetic change; no long ortho commitment	Does not correct bite mechanics; irreversible enamel reduction
Orthognathic surgery + braces	Skeletal Class II; overjet > 6 mm in adults	18–30 months total; 4–6 weeks recovery	Definitive correction of jaw and facial profile	Clear aligners (e.g., Invisalign)

Can Veneers Fix Buck Teeth?

Porcelain veneers and composite veneers can address the appearance of mildly protruding teeth by reshaping the visible surface of the upper incisors. In a dental tourism context, this is often the fastest and most cost-effective solution for adults with a cosmetic concern rather than a functional bite problem.

However, there are clear limits to what veneers can achieve:

Appropriate for: Overjet of up to approximately 2 mm when the underlying bite is functional and healthy.
Not appropriate for: Skeletal overjet, severe protrusion, or cases where the bite relationship itself needs correction — in these situations, orthodontic assessment is required first.
Irreversibility: Placing veneers involves reducing a small amount of enamel; this is a permanent change to the tooth structure.

The video below shows a real case from Maltepe Dental Clinic: a patient from the USA with protruding, severely discolored, and misaligned upper front teeth. Rather than orthodontics, his case was treated with a combination of gum contouring and artistically crafted zirconium crowns — restoring both the alignment and appearance of his smile in a single treatment visit.

As this case illustrates, a cosmetic approach can produce a dramatic change when the underlying bite is functional — but the right treatment path depends entirely on an individual assessment. If your overjet is more pronounced or affects your bite, orthodontic options are the more appropriate starting point.

Can Buck Teeth Be Fixed Without Braces?

This is one of the most searched questions on this topic — and the honest answer depends entirely on the severity of the case.

For mild cosmetic overjet (≤ 2 mm): Yes. Porcelain veneers, composite bonding, or dental contouring can improve the appearance of protruding teeth without the use of an orthodontic appliance. These are the only non-brace options with clinical evidence of aesthetic improvement.
For moderate to severe overjet: No at-home method or ‘natural remedy’ will move teeth back into alignment. Applying unsupervised pressure on teeth — tongue exercises, DIY retainers, or rubber bands — risks permanent root damage, tooth loss, and worsening of the bite. If you have a significant overjet, a consultation with an orthodontist is the safest first step.
What about clear aligners? Clear aligner systems (Invisalign and similar) are technically ‘without braces’ and can be highly effective for mild-to-moderate dental overjet. They are removable, virtually invisible, and widely available.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix Buck Teeth?

The price can change depending on the treatment method. The following table shows several dental treatments’ average prices in Turkey, the UK, and the USA.

Procedure	Turkey (Istanbul)	UK (Private)	US (Private)
Metal braces (full course)	£1,100 – £1,900	£1,500 – £5,000	$3,000 – $7,000
Clear aligners (full course)	£1,500 – £2,700	£2,000 – £5,000	$3,000 – $8,250
Porcelain veneers (per tooth)	£200 – £450	£700 – £1,500	$900 – $3,000
Jaw surgery + orthodontics	£5,000 – £8,000	£8,000 – £15,500	$20,000 – $60,000

Remember these are averages and the actual cost can differ significantly based on your specific needs, the complexity of the treatment, where you have the procedure done, and your insurance coverage.

What Do Buck Teeth Look Like Before and After Treatment?

Before and after photographs and videos are the clearest way to understand the transformation possible with orthodontic or cosmetic treatment. Typical changes include: retraction of the upper incisors so they no longer visibly protrude; improved lip closure at rest; and a more balanced facial profile when viewed from the side.

How to Correct Buck Teeth At Home?

There are no proven home remedies to correct buck teeth. At-home remedies, such as tongue exercises or retainers, may help to improve the appearance of buck teeth, but they will not correct the underlying problem. You can choose not to take any action with your buck teeth unless you feel uncomfortable with them.

Correcting the alignment of the teeth requires planned pressure applied under the control of a medical professional. Putting pressure, pulling teeth, or adjusting your jawbone at home might create serious injury to the jaw or teeth. Therefore, you should see your dentist or orthodontist to address any possible treatment for buck teeth.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buck Teeth

Are buck teeth always genetic?

No — while a genetic jaw discrepancy is the most common cause, oral habits such as prolonged thumb-sucking, pacifier use past age two, or chronic mouth-breathing can also cause or worsen overjet even in people without a family history.

Are bunny teeth the same as buck teeth?

Yes. ‘Bunny teeth’, ‘buck teeth’, ‘protruding teeth’, and ‘overjet’ all describe the same condition — upper front teeth that protrude forward beyond the lower teeth. The clinical term is overjet.

Do buck teeth get worse with age?

In some cases, yes. A dental overjet caused by habits or missing teeth may gradually worsen if the underlying issue is not addressed. A skeletal overjet tends to remain relatively stable once jaw growth is complete, but associated problems (jaw pain, tooth wear) can accumulate over time.

Can clear aligners fix severe buck teeth?

Clear aligners work well for mild-to-moderate dental overjet. Severe skeletal cases — where the jaw relationship itself is significantly misaligned — usually require fixed braces combined with jaw surgery for a predictable result.

Is age seven really the best time to start?

Age seven is the recommended age for a first orthodontic evaluation — not necessarily for starting treatment. Early assessment allows the orthodontist to identify problems while jaw growth is still active, which can mean simpler and less expensive correction later. Buck teeth in adults, however, are equally treatable.

Does mouth-breathing cause buck teeth?

Bad habits, such as mouth breathing, can cause buck teeth. A study² published in Acta Otorhinolaryngologica Italica (Grippaudo et al., 2016) found associations between oral habits, including mouth-breathing and malocclusion. Breathing through the mouth repositions the tongue and jaw in ways that, over time, can contribute to forward movement of the front teeth.

Can dentures look like buck teeth?

Yes — poorly fitted dentures can result in an overly prominent upper lip or protruding front teeth appearance. This is avoidable with careful communication between patient and dentist at the fitting stage. If your dentures look like buck teeth, a reline or replacement set can correct the profile.

What is the medical term for buck teeth?

The medical term is overjet (or increased overjet) when referring to the horizontal protrusion. When the jaw relationship is the primary cause, dentists describe it as a Class II skeletal malocclusion. Both terms may appear in orthodontic assessment reports.

SOURCES

Arraj GP, Rossi-Fedele G, Doğramacı EJ. The association of overjet size and traumatic dental injuries—A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dent Traumatol. 2019; 35: 217–232. https://doi.org/10.1111/edt.12481 ↩︎
Grippaudo C, Paolantonio EG, Antonini G, Saulle R, La Torre G, Deli R. Association between oral habits, mouth breathing, and malocclusion. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2016 Oct;36(5):386-394. doi: 10.14639/0392-100X-770. PMID: 27958599; PMCID: PMC5225794. ↩︎