If your lower teeth extended outward farther than your upper front teeth, you may have an underbite. While some cases of underbites are minor, others are more serious and cause the lower teeth to extend far forward. Contrary to popular belief, an underbite is not just a cosmetic problem. Although it can make you feel self-conscious, it can also make it difficult for you to bite and chew your food and speak. In addition, it can cause pain in your mouth and face.
Underbites are often inherited so if your parents or grandparents had them, it’s not surprising that you have one too. Childhood habits can also lead to underbites. These include thumb sucking, pushing on the teeth with a tongue, excessive pacifier use, and long-term feeding from a bottle beyond infant years. Severe injuries and tumors may result in underbites as well.
In a perfect world, an underbite would resolve itself over time. Unfortunately, this is rarely the case and treatment is necessary to correct an underbite. The good news is that there are a variety of effective treatments that can help you get rid of your underbite and achieve the beautiful, healthy smile you deserve.
The most common way to treat an underbite is braces. While metal braces can be used, clear braces like Invisalign are often preferred as they can allow you to achieve beautiful teeth without metal or wires. Our dental team can inform you whether you’d be a better fit for Invisalign or metal braces.
A tooth extraction may also be performed to treat an underbite. It can help get rid of teeth that are crowding your jawline, reduce overall pressure, and allow your remaining teeth to move into their proper positions. This is often the first step to correcting underbites in adults. An upper jaw expander may be an option as well as it can help pull your lower jaw into correct alignment.
Schedule an Appointment at River Run Dental
If you would like to fix an underbite, we encourage you to schedule an appointment at our spa-like dental office. Call us at 804-262-1060 today. We look forward to hearing from you!