Management of deep incisor overbite

A normal incisor overbite is important for incising food, but also allows anterior guidance and disclusion of the posterior dentition in anterior excursion, which may help protect the posterior teeth from tooth wear and cuspal fracture. Deep incisor overbite problems may result either from an upward and forward rotation of the mandible during growth, or from excessive eruption of the incisor teeth, notably the mandibular incisors. The dental movements required to reduce a deep anterior overbite may include one or more of the following: relative intrusion of the incisors, absolute intrusion of the incisors, and proclination of the incisors. The chapter presents information on appliances and techniques for overbite reduction that include removable appliances, functional appliances, fixed appliances (continuous arch mechanics), fixed appliances (segmented arch mechanics), auxiliaries, headgears, absolute anchorage, orthognathic surgery, and segmental surgery. The stability of overbite reduction depends on a number of factors that must be considered from the treatment planning stage.