Buck Teeth: Causes, Fixes and Costs
Medically reviewed by MyDentalFly Clinical Team
Updated 28 March 2026 · Fact-checked for accuracy
Protruding teeth affect 15% of people. Braces, Invisalign, or veneers? Here's which fix actually works for your type of overjet — and what each costs.
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You've had buck teeth your whole life and you're finally ready to do something about it. But the options are confusing — braces, veneers, surgery? And the costs range from £500 to £15,000 depending on who you ask. Here's the real breakdown.
What Causes Buck Teeth?
Buck teeth — also called protruding teeth, an overjet, or bunny teeth — occur when the upper front teeth extend further forward than the lower teeth. The causes are usually one of these:
Skeletal: The upper jaw (maxilla) is positioned further forward than the lower jaw, or the lower jaw is underdeveloped. This is a structural issue, not just a tooth position problem.
Dental: The teeth themselves are angled outward, even if the jaw position is normal. Often caused by childhood habits like thumb-sucking, prolonged dummy/pacifier use, or tongue thrusting.
Genetics: Jaw shape and tooth size are largely inherited. If a parent had buck teeth, there is a reasonable chance their children will too.
Understanding which type you have matters — because it changes which treatment will actually work.
5 Treatment Options for Buck Teeth
1. Metal Braces
Traditional braces use brackets and wires to gradually reposition teeth over 18 to 36 months. For dental-origin buck teeth (where the issue is tooth angle rather than jaw position), braces are one of the most effective long-term fixes.
They work on complex cases, including severe overjets, and are often the only option for teenagers whose jaws are still developing.
2. Invisalign (Clear Aligners)
A series of removable clear trays that shift teeth incrementally. Invisalign can correct mild to moderate overjets effectively — the technology has improved significantly and many cases that once required braces can now be treated with aligners.
The tradeoff: you need to wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. Discipline matters.
3. Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are thin shells bonded to the front surface of teeth. They can make protruding teeth appear more uniform and improve the cosmetic appearance of your smile.
Honest caveat: Veneers do not move your teeth or correct your bite. If your overjet is causing bite problems, veneers alone will not fix them — and may even require significant enamel removal to accommodate the new shape. They are a cosmetic option, not an orthodontic one.
For mild cases where the protrusion is minor and bite function is unaffected, veneers can produce a dramatic aesthetic result — particularly popular alongside a hollywood smile transformation in Turkey.
4. Dental Crowns
Crowns cover the entire tooth and can reshape how a tooth sits visually. Like veneers, they are a restorative and cosmetic solution, not an orthodontic one. Crowns are more commonly considered when there is existing damage or decay to the tooth alongside the protrusion.
5. Orthognathic (Jaw) Surgery
For severe skeletal cases — where the jaw itself is significantly misaligned — surgery may be the only option that produces a functional result. Typically combined with braces before and after.
This is major surgery with a significant recovery period. It is reserved for cases where non-surgical options cannot achieve a stable, functional bite. Your orthodontist and oral surgeon would assess this together.
What Each Treatment Costs (UK, USA vs Turkey)
| Treatment | UK Cost | USA Cost | Turkey Cost | Saving vs UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metal Braces (full course) | £2,000–£3,000 | $3,000–$7,000 | £700–£1,400 | Up to 77% |
| Invisalign (full course) | £3,500–£5,500 | $3,000–$8,000 | £1,400–£2,500 | Up to 60% |
| Porcelain Veneers (per tooth) | £900 | $1,200–$2,500 | £220 | Up to 75% |
| Composite Veneers (per tooth) | £400 | $400–$1,000 | £100 | Up to 75% |
Turkey prices are indicative ranges across verified clinics. Hungary offers similar savings to Turkey on orthodontics and is popular with patients from Germany and the Netherlands.
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Which Treatment Is Right for You?
The answer depends on two things: the cause of your overjet and the severity.
If your bite is affected (teeth don't meet properly, you have jaw pain, or chewing is difficult): you need orthodontic treatment — braces or Invisalign. Veneers will not fix this.
If your bite is fine and your concern is purely cosmetic: veneers or composite bonding may achieve the result you want faster and with less disruption to daily life.
If you have a significant skeletal jaw discrepancy: a consultation with an orthodontist or oral surgeon is the starting point. Online assessments can only go so far — jaw position needs clinical evaluation, often with a CBCT scan.
"I spent two years assuming I just needed veneers because that's what I kept seeing on Instagram. When I finally did the MyDentalFly assessment and uploaded my photos, Pearl flagged that my overjet might need orthodontic review first. I ended up doing Invisalign in Turkey for £1,800 — total cost including flights and hotel was still less than braces in London." — Emma R., Manchester
Getting Buck Teeth Fixed Abroad
Orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry are both well-suited to dental tourism — particularly in Turkey and Hungary, which have strong orthodontic training and established international patient programmes.
A few practical realities to understand:
Invisalign abroad works well — clinics send you home with your full set of trays, and check-ins can often be managed remotely or with your local dentist.
Braces abroad require more visits — if you need wire adjustments, you'll either need to return or arrange a local orthodontist to manage the ongoing treatment. Some patients do the initial fitting in Turkey and manage ongoing adjustments at home.
Veneers are the most straightforward for a single trip — the prep, fitting, and final placement typically happens within 5 to 7 days.
Most directories will show you a list of clinics and prices. What they don't tell you is which clinics have the specific orthodontic experience for complex overjet cases, or whether veneers are even appropriate for your situation.
MyDentalFly's approach is different. You complete an interactive dental chart marking which teeth are affected, answer a short health and dental assessment, and Pearl — our intelligent review layer — flags whether your case looks cosmetic or functional before you receive your Dental Health Report. Clinics then review your full case, not just a photo you sent via WhatsApp.
You can then compare treatment plans side by side across verified clinics in Istanbul, Antalya, Budapest, and other destinations — with prices shown in your home currency.
For a detailed breakdown of veneer options and costs, see our guide on how much veneers cost in Turkey in 2026, and if you're weighing veneer types, the veneers vs Lumineers comparison covers the key differences.
Next Steps
Not sure which fix is right for your teeth? The free dental health check maps your teeth in 2 minutes and recommends the right treatment. The savings calculator shows what it costs at verified clinics abroad vs UK prices.
Next Steps
The free dental health check maps your teeth in 2 minutes and recommends the right treatment for each one. The savings calculator shows verified clinic prices vs home costs.
We've verified every clinic on our platform. Your dental tourism consultant ensures the clinic follows the right treatment plan and manages the whole process — from patient file to deposit protection.
Key Takeaway
Before you book anything, get a dental health check. Knowing exactly what treatment you need — and what it should cost — protects you from surprise bills, unnecessary procedures, and clinics that don't match your needs.
Know what you may need before you fly
The most common concerns we hear from patients:
- •“The price changed when I arrived — they said I needed extra work”
- •“I didn't know which clinic was right for my situation”
- •“I had no way to compare — every clinic quoted different things”
We built MyDentalFly to solve these problems. Not by replacing clinics, but by making sure you understand what you may need before any clinic gets involved.
Our interactive dental health check lets you map your teeth, answer a few health questions, and get a free report showing what treatment you may need and what it could cost. It's interactive, easy to understand, and designed for people without a dental background.
From there, we match you with clinics based on your actual dental situation — not every clinic suits every case. Some cases need experienced surgeons, some need specific equipment. You compare real treatment plans side by side and decide when you're ready.
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