What Happens When You Have an Underbite?

Causes of Underbites

When a person's lower jaw sticks out farther than their upper jaw, they have an underbite. This is also noticeable when the mouth is closed, and the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth. 

Underbites are a type of Class III malocclusion (misalignment issue). They can be mild to severe and are usually caused by genes, just like the color of your eyes or hair. 

But some underbites are caused by things kids do when they are young, like sucking their thumbs, breathing through their mouths, using a pacifier or a bottle for prolonged periods of time.

Do You Need to Correct Underbites?

Depending on how bad the underbite is, there may be mild to severe problems that affect both physical and mental health. 

People who have an underbite often have problems with:

• 
  Jaw Pain: The jaw is always trying to keep the teeth in the right place. When it can't, like when you have an underbite, this leads to more pressure, which can cause headaches and jaw pain. 

It can also cause Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), which makes the jaw feel stuck or locked. TMJ can cause constant jaw pain and other problems, such as headaches, toothaches, earaches, dizziness, and hearing loss.

• 
  Self-Esteem: An underbite changes the shape of a person's face in a big way, making the chin stick out and look much bigger than it is. Chronic pain and stress caused by the condition can also make a person look much older, which can make them feel very self-conscious.
• 
  Speech: The top and bottom teeth must be in the right place to make sounds like "f" and "s." When teeth don't line up right, it can be hard to say those letters. This challenge often makes people feel worse about themselves, especially when they are young.
• 
  Smiling: When you smile, a droopy smile is caused by a lower lip that sticks out. This happens when you have an underbite. People with an underbite can't move their mouths into a normal smile, which can make them feel even worse about themselves.
• 
  Chewing: Even something as important as chewing can be hard to do if your teeth aren't in the right place. People with severe underbites are more likely to choke because they can't chew their food well enough before swallowing.

How to Treat an Underbite?

In severe cases, surgery may be needed to manually align the jaw, but there are also many less invasive ways to get the upper and lower jaws to fit together. 

When possible, it's best to start treatment when the patient is young because their jaw is still growing and can be moved more easily. 

Depending on the patient's age, health history, and the severity of the misaligned teeth, the following treatments may be suggested:

• 
  An Upper Jaw Expander: Also called a palatal expander, this is a device which is put on the roof of the mouth and made wider each night as treatment goes on. Over time, this makes the dental arch bigger and puts the upper and lower jaws in the right place.
• 
  Braces, Invisalign or Veneers: Traditional braces as well as Invisalign can be used to move teeth that are only slightly out of place. On the other hand, veneers can be put on the upper teeth to align the top and bottom jaws.
• 
  Tooth Extraction: Taking out a tooth can help the jaw relax into a more natural position by relieving the pressure of having too many teeth.
• 
  A Chin Cap: This is an appliance that wraps around the chin and lower jaw to stop further growth. It stops the lower jaw from getting bigger. This is a good choice for kids and teenagers whose jaws are still growing.

Misaligned teeth affect more than just how they look. They change how the jaw grows and can cause a lot of problems with the teeth. 

If you or someone you care about has an underbite, The Lakes Family Dental can help. Contact our office to set up a consultation and find out what kinds of treatments are available.

Call us at 956-271-6612 or Click today to set up an appointment or take advantage of a Free Invisalign Consultation session with the staff at Lakes Family Dental to finally treat your Underbite!