Last updated: May 26, 2026
Braces can fix more than crooked teeth. The before-and-after photos you see online — the dramatic smile changes, the jaw alignment shifts, the closed gaps — are real, but they often gloss over what’s actually being corrected underneath. The transformation isn’t just cosmetic. It’s a specific clinical change to a specific bite problem, and which problem it is determines what the result looks like.
If you’re researching whether braces would help your situation, the most useful thing to see isn’t just the photos. It’s understanding which type of bite issue each transformation is correcting, and what that means for your case.
This guide walks through what braces can correct, with real transformation examples across every major bite type Tooth By Tooth treats. Each section links to a dedicated guide where you can read more about that specific condition.
What Braces Can Actually Fix
Braces correct the position of teeth and, in growing patients, can guide the development of the jaws. That covers most of what people think of as a “bad bite,” but it’s worth being specific about the categories:
- Overbite — upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth too far
- Underbite — lower front teeth sit in front of the upper teeth
- Crossbite — some upper teeth sit behind the lower teeth instead of in front
- Open bite — upper and lower teeth don’t meet when the mouth is closed
- Crowding — not enough room in the arch, teeth overlap or twist
- Spacing/gaps — too much space between teeth
- Midline shift — the center of the upper and lower teeth don’t align
Most patients have some combination of these, not just one. A treatment plan typically addresses multiple issues at once, which is why braces transformations can look so dramatic across the whole smile, not just one tooth or one area.
The sections below show what each correction actually looks like, with real cases from Dr. Patel’s practice in Cary.
Overbite Before and After
An overbite means the upper front teeth overlap the lower teeth more than they should. Some overlap is normal — in a healthy bite, upper teeth cover about 10 to 20 percent of the lower teeth. An overbite becomes a concern when that overlap is excessive, sometimes covering the lower teeth almost entirely or causing the lower teeth to bite into the gum tissue behind the upper teeth.
The transformation in overbite cases is often the most visually dramatic. Before treatment, the lower teeth may barely be visible when the patient smiles or speaks. After treatment, both rows of teeth are evenly visible, the jaw sits in a more relaxed position, and the profile of the face often changes too — especially in cases where growth modification appliances were used to guide jaw development.
What the photos don’t show: the distinction between a dental overbite (caused by tooth position, usually correctable with braces alone) and a skeletal overbite (caused by the relationship between the upper and lower jaw bones, sometimes requiring growth modification or, in severe adult cases, surgical correction). The treatment plan that produces the after photo depends heavily on which type was being treated.
For a deeper look at overbite treatment, the dental-vs-skeletal distinction, and detailed timeline expectations, see our full guide on overbite treatment with braces.
Underbite Before and After
An underbite is when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth instead of behind them. It’s less common than overbite but often more noticeable because it changes the appearance of the lower jaw and chin. In underbite cases, the lower jaw typically sits forward of where it should relative to the upper jaw.
Underbite transformations are particularly striking when treatment is done during the growing years. Growth modification appliances can guide the upper jaw forward and slow the lower jaw’s growth, producing changes in jaw position that aren’t possible later. The after photos in growth-modification cases often show changes to facial profile, not just the smile.
In adult patients, braces can improve a mild to moderate underbite by tipping teeth into better position. Severe adult underbites caused by significant skeletal mismatch may warrant an orthodontic-surgical conversation — not a common path, but one Dr. Patel will discuss directly when it’s the right option.
More on what underbite treatment involves, including growth-stage timing, on our underbite with braces page.
Crossbite Before and After
A crossbite happens when one or more upper teeth sit behind the corresponding lower teeth when the mouth is closed — the opposite of how a normal bite should align. It can affect the front teeth, the side teeth, or both, and it often pulls the lower jaw sideways during chewing, which causes uneven wear and sometimes jaw discomfort over time.
The transformation in crossbite cases is about restoring the correct upper-over-lower relationship across the whole arch. Treatment often involves widening the upper arch with an expander (especially in growing patients) and using braces to fine-tune the position of individual teeth. The after photos show teeth meeting in the correct relationship, the jaw centered properly, and — in patients who had functional shifts — the lower jaw resting in a more natural position.
Left untreated, crossbites can contribute to asymmetric jaw growth in children and to TMJ stress in adults. Earlier intervention typically produces simpler treatment.
For the full picture of crossbite correction, including the difference between dental and skeletal crossbites, see our crossbite braces guide.
Open Bite Before and After
An open bite is when the upper and lower teeth don’t meet when the mouth is closed — typically a vertical gap between the upper and lower front teeth even when the back teeth are touching. It’s caused by a combination of factors: jaw structure, tongue position, and in some cases, long-term habits like prolonged thumb sucking or tongue thrusting.
Open bite transformations are some of the most satisfying to document because the change is so functional. Before treatment, the patient may struggle to bite into certain foods, may have speech effects, or may experience the lips not closing comfortably at rest. After treatment, the teeth meet correctly across the whole arch, and those functional issues typically resolve.
What makes open bite treatment tricky is the multifactorial cause. If a tongue thrust pattern is contributing, that habit may need to be addressed alongside braces — sometimes with myofunctional therapy — to prevent the bite from reopening after treatment. The after photo is the result of treating the cause, not just the tooth position.
More detail on open bite causes and treatment options on our open bite with braces page.
Crowding Before and After
Crowding is the most common reason patients seek orthodontic treatment. It happens when there isn’t enough room in the dental arch for all the teeth to fit in proper alignment, so they overlap, rotate, or get pushed out of position. Mild crowding might be a single tooth slightly turned. Severe crowding can involve teeth pushed completely out of the arch.
The transformation in crowding cases looks the most like what people picture when they think “braces.” Crooked teeth become straight. Overlapping teeth move into proper position. Rotated teeth turn into correct orientation. The before-and-after contrast is often dramatic, and it’s the visible smile change most patients are most excited about.
What the photos don’t show: in some crowding cases, treatment plans include creating space by either expanding the arch or, less commonly, removing teeth. Dr. Patel evaluates whether space can be created without extractions before recommending any tooth removal. Modern orthodontic techniques rely on extractions less often than they used to, but in cases of severe crowding combined with a constricted arch, extractions sometimes produce a better final result than trying to fit all teeth into insufficient space.
Adult Braces Before and After
Adult orthodontic patients are the fastest-growing segment of Dr. Patel’s practice, and the before-and-after results for adults are often more meaningful than people expect. The misconception that braces are only for teenagers is one of the most persistent in orthodontics, and it’s wrong.
Adult treatment differs from teen treatment in two specific ways: jaw growth is complete, so growth modification appliances are off the table; and teeth move through bone that’s more set in its position, so cases often take slightly longer than equivalent teen cases. But the underlying mechanics work the same way. Crowding, spacing, mild-to-moderate bite issues — all respond well to braces in adult patients.
What the after photos show in adult cases is often a more confident smile after years of self-consciousness, plus the functional benefits of a corrected bite that prevents the long-term wear, jaw stress, and gum recession problems that come with untreated bite issues.
For the full picture of adult treatment, including cost ranges, timeline expectations, and what to expect from the consultation, see our adult braces cost guide.
What Realistic Transformation Timelines Look Like
Bottom Line
The before-and-after photos that pulled you to this page are real — but they’re not random. Each one represents a specific clinical correction to a specific bite problem. Knowing which type of correction your case would involve is the most useful thing to figure out before you spend time comparing photos online.
A single evaluation answers that question. Dr. Patel will tell you what type of issue is present, what treatment would actually involve, and what your before-and-after would realistically look like — not the photos from someone else’s case, but the result that applies to yours.
Ready to see what your transformation could look like? Schedule a free consultation and get a straight answer from the doctor who’ll actually do the work.
About the Author
Dr. Nishant Patel, DDS, MS — Orthodontist & Founder, Tooth By Tooth Orthodontics
Dr. Patel earned his DDS from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, graduating at the top of his class, and his MS with orthodontic certificate from the University of Minnesota. His research was published in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. After eight years practicing in the Chicago suburbs, he founded Tooth By Tooth Orthodontics in Cary, NC, where he sees every patient personally, every visit.
