What is an Underbite?

What is an Underbite?

An underbite is when the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth when the jaw is closed. It can interfere with both overall appearance and oral function in adults and children.

It’s one of the most common dental misalignments, and can vary in complexity from mild cases to moderate and more severe instances.

Read on to understand what causes the misalignment, how to fix an underbite and how to choose the right treatment pathway for you or your child.

Key Summary

• An underbite is a misalignment where the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth.
• It can be caused by genetics, childhood habits or jaw growth.
• Underbite treatments include braces, Invisalign and, in severe cases, surgery.
• Early intervention (ages 7-10) in children can simplify the treatment.
• Adults can treat an underbite even at a later stage in life.

What causes an underbite?

There are many potential causes attributed to underbite teeth:

• Genetics and inherited traits like the size and shape of your jaw and teeth
• Jaw growth if the lower jaw grows larger or longer than the upper jaw
• Childhood habits such as prolonged thumb sucking or dummy use
• Congenital issues like a cleft lip or palate
• Injury or trauma that forces bones to heal or grow out of alignments

Dental vs skeletal underbite

There are two main types of underbite, and understanding the difference between the two is helpful to starting your treatment journey. 

Dental is the more common type of underbite, where the teeth are misaligned. It’s exhibited as the lower front teeth sticking out past the upper front teeth.

Skeletal is a more complex type of underbite, caused by the jaw itself. This is a structural issue where the lower jaw has grown larger than the upper jaw.

A specialist orthodontist will be able to provide guidance around the complexity and severity of your underbite, and this will help inform what treatment they recommend. 

Do underbites need to be treated?

Some mild cases may not require treatment, if it is a dental underbite that does not demonstrate as a complex case.

However, once detected, it’s important to seek advice and treatment for an underbite. If left untreated, an underbite can contribute to a number of issues including:

• Difficult with chewing and speech
• Uneven tooth wear
• Jaw strain

If you think you or your child has an underbite, it’s helpful to consult a specialist orthodontist to find out whether you need treatment. 

How is an underbite corrected?

Braces, aligners for milder cases, expanders and growth guidance in children, surgical referral for severe skeletal cases in adults. Link each treatment.

• Invisalign: For more mild cases of misalignment, Invisalign clear, removable aligners may be able to correct the overbite. The patient is required to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day.
• Braces: In many cases, metal or ceramic braces provide accurate, gradual alignment to correct an overbite. The small brackets hold wire in place to apply controlled pressure that slowly shifts the teeth.
• Expanders & growth guidance: Early intervention in children allows time to correct an overbite with palate expanders. The metal framework is attached to the back teeth to widen the jaw to create structural balance before adult teeth come through.
• Surgical referral: For more severe or skeletal cases, your specialist orthodontist may recommend a surgical procedure. This will treat the jaw itself.

Treating underbite in children

As is the case with many dental issues, timing is everything when it comes to treating an underbite. 

Early intervention gives you a head start in treating the issue before it can develop. If you notice an underbite in your child, it’s ideal to start treatment between the age of 7-10 years old. This is because you can intervene before adult teeth come through, making it easier to adjust.

Can adults fix an underbite?

Even if the time for early intervention has passed, an underbite can still be treated. In many mild or moderate cases of adult underbite, the issue can be fixed with Invisalign aligners or braces. If the issue is skeletal, you may be referred for surgery before orthodontic treatment to ensure appropriate adjustments.

If you want to explore your treatment options for yourself or your child, book an appointment with our team of specialist orthodontists, or give us a call on 02 7803 7803 to ask any questions and arrange a consultation.or give us a call on 02 7803 7803 to ask any questions and arrange a consultation.

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• Braces