Your teeth can indeed have a big impact on your overall health and personality. Someone having straight, white teeth feels more confident and glamorous. But unfortunately, teeth don’t always grow straight. If someone does not have straight teeth, it will take work and time to achieve your dream smile.
What is an underbite?
An underbite is a teeth malocclusion in which the lower part of your jaw juts out farther than the upper part. It can be problematic and cause many issues with chewing, digestion, and other conditions.
What causes an underbite?
An underbite happens when a patient’s lower jaw extends beyond their upper jaw. This type of malocclusion is also known a Class III malocclusion, underbites vary from minor to severe and are generally caused due to genetic factors along with some childhood behaviors such as thumb-sucking, mouth breathing, and prolonged use of a pacifier or bottle.
What dental issues can occur due to underbite?
Several dental issues can be caused due to underbite depending on the degree of the underbite, which can range from mild to severe.
A person with an underbite often experience issues with:
Chewing
When the teeth are misaligned an essential activity, like chewing, can become difficult. Severe underbite maximizes the risk for choking because patients with this degree of malocclusion are unable to properly chew their food before swallowing.
Smiling
Smiling is an important part of our lives, but with an underbite, it becomes hard for a person to smile because a dominant lower lip- leads to a droopy smile. Unfortunately, a patient with an underbite is unable to move their mouth into a traditional smile.
Jaw Pain
The teeth are embedded in the upper and lower jaw, and when the jaw constantly tries to keep the teeth aligned with an underbite, it increases the pressure that causes headaches and jaw pain. It can also lead to (TMJ) disorder. TMJ pain can lead to chronic headaches, toothaches, earaches, and hearing problems.
Speech
With an underbite, it is difficult to make sounds like “f” and “s,” because the top and bottom teeth are not aligned. While this doesn’t affect your health, it may not be desirable.
What are the treatment options for an underbite?
There are several treatment options for correcting underbites, and severe cases may require surgery to align the jaw manually. The less invasive treatment options are preferred to align the upper and lower jaw. The following options are recommended for the treatment of underbite according to the condition of the patient:
Braces or clear aligners
A reverse-pull face mask
Chin caps
An upper jaw expander
Tooth extraction
Treatment for an underbite is more permanent when the patient is young, as their jaw is still forming and can be is manipulated more easily. To know more about underbites and other kinds of malocclusions, consult your dentist right away!