(HealthDay News) -- An overbite, which doctors call malocclusion, occurs when the top teeth extend too far over the bottom teeth.
The U.S. National Library of Medicine says risk factors for overbite include:
- A family history of the condition.
- Birth defects or injuries that affect the structure or size of the jaw.
- Childhood activities including use of a pacifier, sucking a thumb or using a bottle for too long.
- Abnormalities of the teeth.
- Dental or orthodontic treatments (such as braces, crowns or fillings) that don't fit well.
- A tumor in the jaw or mouth.
