How to Fix an Underbite Without Surgery

Woman Smiling with White Teeth

An underbite is not just an aesthetic problem affecting your self-esteem.

Left untreated, it can also lead to health problems like chronic headaches, speaking and eating difficulties, jaw pain and tooth decay from excessive wear of your tooth enamel.

But just because you have an orthodontic problem, it doesn’t mean that it’s untreatable.

Today orthodontics professionals are using cutting edge technology and innovation to make incredible improvements to your confidence and smile.

And underbite correction is no longer as invasive, tedious or painful as it used to be.

Surgical intervention is only necessary when there is a more serious skeletal problem responsible for the bad bite. In many cases, you can correct your underbite without surgery.

What Is an Underbite?

 

An underbite, also known as prognathism, is a malocclusion or bad bite that occurs when your lower teeth overlap the upper teeth.

Underbite before orthodontic care

You can have a mild underbite, where the two rows of teeth almost meet; and a more severe case wherein the teeth don’t meet at all.

What Causes an Underbite?

 

There are several factors that can cause a person to develop an underbite.

These include:

  • Genetics (some people are born with misalignment of the lower jaw)
  • Bad childhood habits (these include thumb sucking, pushing teeth with the tongue, long-term bottle feeding)
  • Injury (these include severe injuries to the face and broken jawbones)

How to Correct an Underbite Without Surgery?

 

To correct an underbite without surgery in kids and adults, there are 2 main options:

  1. Braces
  2. Invisalign

The earlier an underbite is addressed, the better. Kids from the age of 7 can start seeking corrective orthodontic treatment.

Correct Your Underbite with Braces

 

Braces are used to correct mild to severe cases of underbites by moving the teeth into their proper alignment.

Depending on the severity of the underbite, extracting one or more teeth from the lower jaw may also help improve the appearance of an underbite.

Don’t worry, the process is completely painless. A dental specialist will apply a local anaesthetic to the area of the tooth to be pulled. You won’t feel anything beyond a slight pressure.

You may also be prescribed to use the upper jaw expander or the “reverse-pull” face mask at night to either widen the upper jaw or pull the lower jaw back into the correct alignment.

Our specialist will help to find the right option for you.

Correct Your Underbite with Invisalign

 

While metal braces are more commonly used for moderate to severe underbites, clear braces such as Invisalign may also be an option for milder underbite problems.

Hand Holding Clear Aligner

Invisalign shifts your teeth into better alignment over time using transparent aligners or retainers.

You will need to wear these aligners for at least 22 hours per day for up to one year to slowly correct your underbite.

Invisalign is often used with dental elastics. These elastic bands are attached to “buttons” on the Invisalign aligners and provide more force to improve how your teeth fit together.

Summary

 

Determining the right underbite correction method begins with a consultation at Hampstead Orthodontic Practice, where our orthodontists assess the severity of your underbite.

We will then develop a personalised correction plan and go over the best strategies to give you the results you are looking for.

Schedule your consultation with one of our doctors here to determine the correct plan for you.

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