What is an Underbite: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

An underbite occurs when the lower teeth extend further than the upper teeth, creating what is also known as a reverse bite.

While mild underbites may only affect your appearance, severe cases can affect your chewing, speech, and overall oral health.

Spotting an underbite early makes a big difference in preventing it from getting worse.

Fortunately, this condition is relatively easy to identify and there are numerous orthodontic treatment options available.

In this article, the expert team at 3Dental breaks down the signs, causes, and treatments for underbites, giving you the information you need to understand this dental condition and take action.

The signs of an underbite can look quite different from person to person, depending on the severity.

Some are easy to spot, while others may only be picked up at a dental assessment.

Some of the common symptoms include:

• Lower teeth that protrude past the upper teeth
• Difficulty biting or chewing food properly
• Speech difficulties, such as unclear pronunciation and/or lisping
• Uneven wear on the teeth
• Pain and/or discomfort in the jaw

If you notice any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible.

An untreated underbite can lead to several long-term dental problems.

Misaligned teeth often result in excessive wear on the enamel, which makes them more vulnerable to chips and cracks.

Gum issues, such as gum disease and gum recession, are also common in people who have underbites.

If left untreated, these issues can lead to tooth decay and even the need for tooth extraction.

Your jaw joint can also suffer strain because of how your upper jaw sits forward, which often leads to headaches and overall oral discomfort.

The right treatment for an underbite depends on several factors, including the patient's age, the severity of the bite, and whether the issue is dental or skeletal.

At 3Dental, we offer a range of solutions, expertly tailored for each patient's needs. Common treatments include:

Early intervention is key for younger people. Pre-orthodontic appliances, which gently guide the jaw and promote tooth alignment, are most suitable for patients aged around six or seven.

Examples of pre-orthodontic appliances include palate expanders and reverse-pull headwear.

Going this route may prevent the need for braces later on.

Teens and adults with established underbites may benefit from braces, which work by gradually moving the teeth into the correct positions and improving bite function.

The added advantage is that you'll enjoy perfectly aligned teeth.

Braces are sometimes used in combination with elastics to help shift the bite.

Clear aligners, such as Invisalign, can be used to treat certain underbite cases.

They are discreet, removable, and effective for mild to moderate dental underbites.

But for a more severe underbite, braces are often the preferred option.

When used alongside braces or aligners, elastics can help guide the bite into better alignment by applying targeted pressure to the teeth and jaws.

Elastics are one of the best ways to correct moderate underbites without surgery.

In severe cases, corrective jaw surgery may be required.

Also known as orthognathic surgery, it involves making precise bone cuts to reposition the jaws into proper alignment with the skull.

This is typically combined with orthodontic treatments to achieve the best possible results.

If your underbite is caused by skeletal differences in jaw size and positioning, surgery may be your best option.

Although it is often seen as a "last resort", jaw surgery can offer incredible outcomes.

An underbite can develop for a variety of reasons.

• In some cases, it's purely a dental condition.
• In others, it's the result of skeletal growth patterns.

Either way, understanding the cause helps determine the most effective treatment.

The most common cause of underbites is genetics.

Therefore, if you have a prominent lower jaw or issues with jaw alignment, you are likely to pass on these traits to your children.

When the lower jaw is larger than the upper jaw, the lower teeth naturally protrude forward, which is what creates the reverse bite.

Instead of being caused by jaw misalignment, sometimes underbites are the result of the angle of the upper front teeth.

If the teeth are tilted backwards, they can grow into incorrect positions and create an underbite-like appearance, even if your jaw structure is normal.

A smaller or underdeveloped upper jaw can also lead to an overbite.

When the upper jaw fails to grow forward in line with the lower jaw, the lower teeth end up overlapping the upper teeth.

An upper jaw expander is an effective solution for guiding growth in younger patients.

Certain early childhood habits may encourage the development of an underbite.

Some of these habits include prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and consistent mouth breathing, all of which put pressure on the teeth and jaws.

Over time, these actions can lead to serious dental issues.

While most underbites are caused by the position of your teeth, some cases are skeletal in nature.

This means that the misalignment of your jaw is to blame.

Skeletal underbites typically require more complex treatments, such as surgery.

However, dental overbites can usually be fixed by using braces or other orthodontic treatment options.