The Difference Between Deep Bite and Open Bite, Clearly Explained

Hello.

I’m Oh Su-hwan, the chief dentist at Smile D Dental Clinic and a 19-year orthodontic specialist.

Have you ever thought something like this?

👉 “Are my teeth just a little unusual?”

👉 “My lower teeth are barely visible. Is that okay?”

👉 “My front teeth don’t touch, so it’s hard to bite through food...”

These are questions we actually hear often during dental consultations.

So today, among the types of malocclusion, I’ll make the often-confusing

“deep bite” and “open bite” really easy to understand.

What Is a Deep Bite?

Deep Bite

Simply put, a deep bite means

👉 the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth too much.

A normal bite is

✔ a condition where the upper teeth cover the lower teeth by about 2–3 mm

But in a deep bite,

👉 the overlap goes deeper than 4 mm

In other words, when you look in the mirror,

👉 “Where did my lower teeth go?”

is something you may start to suspect.

Why Does a Deep Bite Occur?

✔ Skeletal issues (genetic influence)

→ When the upper jaw is large or the lower jaw has not developed enough

✔ Molar-related issues

→ When the molars wear down or are lost, lowering the chewing height

✔ Habit-related issues

→ Teeth grinding, clenching your teeth

⚠️ Deep Bite: Problems If Left Untreated

👉 It’s not just a cosmetic issue.

✔ Temporomandibular joint pain & clicking sounds ✔ Tooth wear / fracture ✔ Gum damage (upper front teeth poking into the gums) ✔ A face that looks short and compressed

In particular,

👉 “My jaw feels tight”

👉 “It clicks when I open my mouth”

If you have symptoms like these, it’s worth checking.

✅ Deep Bite Self-Check

✔ My lower teeth are barely visible ✔ From the side, it feels like the upper teeth are biting down too deeply ✔ When biting food, it feels like it touches the gums

👉 If two or more apply, please visit a dental clinic for a detailed examination.

What Is an Open Bite?

Open Bite

An open bite is the exact opposite of a deep bite.

👉 Even when you close your mouth, the upper and lower teeth do not touch.

In particular, a gap forms between the front teeth,

and it is often the case that the tongue shows or air leaks through.

Why Does an Open Bite Occur?

✔ Thumb sucking (a childhood habit) ✔ Tongue thrusting ✔ Mouth breathing ✔ Rhinitis / nasal congestion

👉 In other words, this is a bite problem that is greatly influenced by habits.

⚠️ Open Bite: Problems If Left Untreated

You can feel this directly in daily life.

✔ Difficult to bite through food with the front teeth → Ramen, cold noodles, sandwiches 😭

✔ Speech issues → Slurred pronunciation of “s,” “z,” and “t”

✔ Dry mouth & increased bad breath

✔ Excess load on molars → added stress on the jaw joint

👉 You can think of it as “a bite that makes daily life inconvenient.”

✅ Open Bite Self-Check

✔ There is a gap between the front teeth ✔ Food cannot be bitten through with the front teeth ✔ Speech sounds air-leaky or slurred ✔ Wrinkles form at the chin when closing the mouth

👉 If even one applies, a check is needed.

The Key Difference Between a Deep Bite and an Open Bite

👉 To put it in one line ✔ Deep bite = biting too deeply ✔ Open bite = not touching at all

The two are complete opposites, but they share one thing in common.

❗ If left untreated, both the jaw joint and teeth health can worsen.

How Is Treatment Done?

These days, technology has advanced a lot, so ✔ clear aligners (Invisalign) ✔ mini-screw orthodontics ✔ non-surgical orthodontic treatment 👉 In many cases, improvement is possible without surgery.

But the important thing is 👉 whether your condition is a structural issue or a habit issue 👉 whether it is a skeletal issue or a tooth alignment issue An accurate diagnosis comes first.

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For These People, Please Be Sure to Check

✔ My lips and mouth look cramped in photos ✔ My jaw hurts often ✔ Eating is uncomfortable ✔ I feel like my speech is slurred

👉 If even one applies, I recommend visiting a nearby dental clinic for an accurate diagnosis or consultation.

In Closing Today, I organized the difference between Deep Bite vs. Open Bite, which many people find confusing.

✔ Deep bite, where the bite is too deep and causes problems ✔ Open bite, where the teeth do not touch and cause problems

Both are different in nature, but they share the same point: if left untreated, they can both lead to functional problems.

If, while looking in the mirror, 👉 “Oh? This sounds like me?” has crossed your mind, don’t worry about it alone. I recommend visiting a dental clinic and getting an accurate diagnosis first. Thank you for reading. 😊

※ This post is not intended to guarantee specific treatment results or to recommend any procedure, but is content provided for general informational purposes.