What is underbite?

Underbite is a dental condition where your lower front teeth protrude beyond your upper front teeth. This can happen when your lower jaw overtakes your upper jaw. An underbite is a Class III malocclusion. Malocclusion is a term that healthcare providers use to describe misaligned teeth.

If your teeth are aligned, your front teeth should move slightly ahead of your bottom front teeth. This position allows the molars (back teeth) on your upper and lower jaw to meet when you close your mouth.

If you have a mild underbite you may not notice problems. In more severe cases, misalignment can affect your appearance and cause symptoms.

How common are underbites?

About 5% to 10% of people have an underbite. This includes people with a minor underbite that does not require treatment and people with more noticeable misalignment.

What are the symptoms of underbite?

A mild underbite may not cause problems. A severe underbite can make your jaw noticeable. Misalignment can cause symptoms, including:

Difficulty opening or closing your mouth completely.

1. Discomfort or pain while speaking or chewing.

2. Biting the inside of your mouth.

3. Difficulty in breathing.

4. Jaw pain.

5. Bad breath (bad breath).

What are the complications of underbite?

Over time, an underbite can lead to additional problems, such as:

1. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders: This condition occurs when there is a problem with the joint that connects your upper and lower jaw and the surrounding tissues. It causes symptoms like headache, ear pain and facial pain.

2. Dental problems:- A wrong bite gives more space for bacteria to hide, increasing your risk of infection. This can lead to dental problems like tooth decay, cavities and gum disease. This can cause your teeth to break or get damaged.

3. Sleep apnea:- Sleep apnea is a sleeping disorder due to which you stop breathing during sleep. A temporary pause in breathing starts to wake you up. Lack of sleep causes fatigue, drowsiness and irritability.

What are the causes of underbite?

Your lower jaw may be larger than your upper jaw, or your upper jaw may be underdeveloped. Sometimes, an underbite is caused by the position of your teeth rather than the shape or placement of your jaw.

Regardless of anatomy, you are more likely to have an underbite if anyone in your family has an underbite. Certain behaviors and conditions may also play a role.

Reasons include the following:-

1. Genetics:- The genes you inherit from your family determine the size and shape of your jaw and teeth. Most people with teeth misalignment inherit these symptoms.

2. Prolonged childhood behavior:- Activities that repeatedly put pressure on your teeth while they are still forming can cause underbite. These actions include prolonged thumb sucking, bottle feeding, or use of a pacifier. Nail biting and tongue thrusting, which includes pressing your tongue between your teeth while speaking or chewing, can also cause underbites.

3. Injury:- An injury to your face or jaw can cause underbite. Even with surgery, sometimes the jaw bones do not align perfectly.

4. Tumor:- A tumor in your mouth or jaw can cause an incorrect bite.

How is underbite diagnosed?

Your dentist will perform a physical examination. They can take dental x-rays to find the exact spots where your teeth are misaligned.

Depending on the severity of your underbite, you may need to see an orthodontist or oral surgeon. An orthodontist specializes in aligning your bite and straightening your teeth. An oral surgeon performs surgery on oral structures such as your teeth and jaw.

At what age should you correct an underbite?

It is best to get treatment in childhood, between the ages of 7 and 10, when the jaw bones are still developing. It is very easy to modify the bone structure at that time without surgery.

What are the treatments for underbite correction?

Treatment options depend on the severity of your underbite and your age. In general, treatments that gradually change bone structure are more common in children and teens, whose bones are still growing. Adults often need surgery.

Braces and Retainers

Braces are fit over your teeth and gradually moved into alignment. You may need braces on all of your teeth or just those affected by your underbite. Some braces are clear and blend in naturally with your appearance. Later, you may need to wear a retainer. Retainers keep your teeth in the correct position after the braces are removed.

Tooth Extraction

A healthcare provider may need to remove teeth if too many (crowded teeth) contribute to your underbite. You may have to have teeth removed before getting braces. This creates more space for your healthcare provider to position your remaining teeth correctly.

Palate expanders and other growth modification devices

Children whose bones are still forming may benefit from appliances that gradually align their bite. Your child may need to wear these appliances for several weeks or months to correct the underbite.

1. Palate expanders fit into the roof of your child’s mouth and gradually widen their upper jaw to more perfectly align with their lower jaw.

2. A chin cap is a chin strap that keeps your child’s jaw from moving forward.

3. Reverse pull headgear attaches to your baby’s upper jaw and pulls him forward.

Operation (surgery)

Surgery to correct jaw misalignment is more common in adults than in children. If other, less invasive options don’t work and your underbite is severe, you may need reconstructive surgery to align your bite.

How can I prevent an underbite?

You can’t prevent genetics-related underbites. But parents and caregivers can limit certain behaviors that may cause a child to develop an underbite.

Prevention strategies include:-

1. Weaning your baby from bottles by the age of 1 year.

2. Scheduling dentist visits by age 1.

3. Discouraging thumb sucking after 3 years of age.

4. Discouraging pacifier use after age 3.

Note, do not take any medicine without doctor’s advice. Self-medication is life-threatening and can lead to serious medical conditions.