Are you or your child struggling with an underbite? This common orthodontic condition affects many people, but with the right treatment, you can achieve a healthier, more confident smile. The team at Taft Hill Orthodontics provide specialized underbite correction using the latest orthodontic techniques and technologies.
What Is an Underbite and How Does It Affect You?
An underbite (also called prognathism or Class III malocclusion) occurs when your lower jaw protrudes forward, causing the bottom teeth to extend beyond the upper teeth. This misalignment varies in severity, ranging from mild cases where the lower teeth slightly overlap the upper teeth to severe conditions where the teeth don’t make contact at all due to the gap.
Unlike a normal bite where the upper teeth comfortably fit over the lower teeth with molars snugly aligned, an underbite disrupts this natural alignment and can impact both your oral health and overall well-being.
Common Causes of Underbites
Understanding what causes an underbite is the first step toward effective treatment. At Taft Hill Orthodontics we see several common factors that contribute to underbite development:
Genetic Factors
Genetics plays a significant role in determining jaw and tooth development. If you have family members with an underbite, you may be more likely to develop one yourself. Inherited traits that can lead to underbites include:
- Jaw shape and size disparities
- Tooth shape and size irregularities
- Teeth growing too close together
- Impacted teeth
- Hypodontia (missing teeth)
- Irregularly shaped teeth
- Overjet issues
Childhood Habits That Influence Jaw Development
Several childhood behaviors can significantly impact jaw alignment and contribute to underbite formation:
- Persistent thumb sucking (which can also cause tongue thrust)
- Nail biting
- Extended pacifier use beyond age three
- Pushing teeth with the tongue
- Long-term bottle feeding
- Poor oral hygiene practices (which also leads to dental plaque and tooth decay)
Injury and Trauma
Severe injuries to the jawbones can result in permanent damage that affects alignment. Even after surgical repair and realignment, the jaws may not fit together properly, potentially leading to an underbite.
Tumors and Growth Issues
Tumors in the jawbones or mouth can cause abnormal growth patterns, pushing the jaw forward and creating an underbite condition.
Types of Underbites We Treat
The team at Taft Hill Orthodontics specializes in treating both types of underbites:
Dental Underbites
Dental underbites involve tooth misalignment, specifically a front crossbite rather than one on the sides of the mouth. While the teeth may protrude forward, the lower jaw itself doesn’t extend beyond normal positioning.
Skeletal Underbites
These more complex underbites result from jawbone malformation and are typically hereditary. Skeletal underbites often require more comprehensive treatment approaches than dental underbites.
How Underbites Impact Your Health: Beyond Appearance
An underbite is much more than just an aesthetic concern. According to the American Dental Association, more severe underbites increase the risk of several oral health issues:
- Chewing Difficulties – Misaligned teeth make proper food breakdown challenging
- Speech Problems – Underbites can affect pronunciation and clarity of speech
- Facial Pain – Malocclusion often leads to mouth and facial discomfort
- Sleep Apnea – Improper jaw alignment can contribute to breathing issues during sleep
- Enamel Wear – Abnormal tooth contact causes excessive tooth enamel erosion
- Breathing Issues – Many underbite patients develop chronic mouth breathing habits
- Bad Breath – Mouth breathing and difficulty cleaning teeth properly can lead to halitosis
Top Underbite Treatment Options
We offer personalized underbite correction using cutting-edge technology and proven techniques. When your permanent teeth have erupted but remain misaligned, our treatment options can help. Here’s how our team approaches underbite correction:
Braces for Underbite Correction
Braces remain the most common and effective treatment for many underbites. We offer several options:
- Traditional Metal Braces: Highly effective for correcting underbites of various severities
- Clear Ceramic Braces: A less visible option with similar effectiveness to metal braces
- KLOwen Braces System: Our prefabricated, modular bracket system that can straighten teeth faster and more comfortably than traditional braces
Clear Aligners for Underbite Treatment
For mild to moderate underbites, we offer Invisalign® clear aligner therapy. These removable, nearly invisible aligners gradually shift your teeth into proper alignment. We use our iTero intraoral scanner to create precise 3D digital models of your teeth for custom aligners.
Specialized Orthodontic Appliances
For more complex underbites, we may recommend specialized appliances:
- Reverse Full Facemask: Similar to orthodontic headgear, this device attaches metal bands to the upper back teeth, gently pulling the upper jaw into alignment.
- Upper Jaw Expander: This screw-in device fits over the upper jaw’s rear teeth to increase upper jaw width, expand the dental arch, and reposition teeth within the bone.
Advanced Orthodontic Approaches
For challenging cases, we might recommend:
- Tooth Extraction: Strategic removal of certain teeth can eliminate crowding and allow for more natural bite alignment.
- TAD Orthodontics: Temporary Anchorage Devices provide fixed points to apply force from different angles.
- Surgical Options: In severe cases where other treatments aren’t sufficient, we may coordinate with oral surgeons for orthognathic surgery (jaw surgery) to reposition the jawbone.
Benefits of Underbite Treatment
Correcting your underbite offers multiple benefits:
- Easier teeth cleaning and maintenance
- Reduced risk of gum disease and other oral health issues
- Less strain on the jaw, teeth, and facial muscles
- Decreased risk of dental abscesses, tooth breakage, and tooth loss
- Lower likelihood of developing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders
- Improved appearance and self-confidence
- Better speech clarity and chewing function
Understanding the Difference: Underbite vs. Overbite
Many patients confuse underbites and overbites. Here’s how they differ:
Overbite
Occurs when your top teeth excessively overlap your bottom teeth when your mouth is closed. This is typically associated with a smaller jaw or shorter lower jaw compared to the upper jaw.
Underbite
Occurs when your lower jaw sits in front of your upper jaw when your mouth is closed. This often creates the appearance of a protruding chin, though this may be less noticeable in milder cases.
If you’d like to learn more, book an appointment here.