What Is An Underbite & How Do I Treat It?
A type of malocclusion (misalignment), an underbite occurs when the lower teeth overlap your upper teeth. This causes the lower jaw and teeth to appear more prominent. An underbite can not only impact your confidence, but also your general health. Underbites may lead to issues such as jaw pain, tooth decay and painful temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders. Luckily, there are many treatments on offer to help align teeth and perfect your smile. Skip to:
What Are The Causes Of An Underbite?
An underbite can be attributed to many different factors.
- Genetics: Underbites are often hereditary, as genetics play a part in the shape and size of your jaw and teeth.
- Childhood Habits: The pressure caused by prolonged thumb-sucking and dummy use can impact how a jaw forms.
- Injuries: The alignment of the teeth may change if the jaw is exposed to blunt trauma.
- Tumours: In some cases, tumours cause the jaws to protrude, leading to an underbite.
How Can An Underbite Affect My Health?
If left untreated, underbites have the ability to impact your speech and how you chew. Other side effects include an increased risk of breaking a tooth and jaw pain or headaches. Your oral hygiene can also be impacted by an underbite, as your teeth are harder to clean. This contributes to tooth decay and gum disease. In severe cases, underbites also alter the appearance of your face, leading to self-consciousness.
Treatment Options
Let’s go through a range of treatments that fix underbites.
Clear Aligners
A discreet way to straighten. Clear aligners exert pressure on the teeth, gradually moving them into their correct position. The trays can be removed from the mouth when eating, unlike fixed braces, and are designed to be almost undetectable.
Fixed Braces For Teeth
A fixed brace attaches a thin wire and small brackets to each of your teeth. Like clear aligners, this orthodontic device places pressure on the teeth to fix crookedness. Elastics are often used with braces to align your jaw.
Nanofill Composite Bonding
This cosmetic treatment does not fix the underbite. However, the procedure helps to disguise it. Suitable for milder cases, Nanofill Composite Bonding includes sculpting a resin to your natural tooth. Your dentist then sculpts the resin to the desired shape and size, leaving behind a uniform, bright white smile.
Tooth Extraction
If you have too many teeth on the lower jaw, causing it to protrude, you can opt to have a tooth extracted. This creates more space, allowing your teeth to move into the correct position and minimise the appearance of the underbite.
Dental Surgery
For severe underbites that cannot be treated with aligners or braces alone, your dentist could suggest surgery. Done under sedation, your lower jaw will be moved back into its correct position. It is important to note that you may still be required to wear aligners or braces once you have recovered from the surgery. Conclusion: Whether your underbite is mild or severe, there are many dental procedures that fix this misalignment. Book an appointment with a YDS dentist to correct your underbite and restore confidence in your smile.