An underbite or crossbite, which means having your lower teeth positioned in front of your upper teeth is a problem that can post great aesthetic concern and motivates patient to see an orthodontist to fix the issue. Depending on the severity of the condition, it may also cause biting and speech issues in some patients. This problem can be caused by either a dental (teeth) issue or jaw size issue.
For patients with teeth growing in the wrong position due to teeth crowding or teeth erupting in the wrong position, this problem can be fixed by just braces or aligners. Extraction may be necessary in such cases.
However, in patients whose underbite is the result of an underlying jaw size discrepancy (long lower jaw), this problem may require orthodontic treatment (braces or aligners) in conjunction with jaw surgery to correct in severe cases.
In some patients, they may have present an underbite in conjunction with missing front teeth. The treatment plan will depend on the number of the missing front teeth as well as its location
During the consultation regarding underbite, the orthodontist will assess:
- Patient's profile (side view and lip position)
- Teeth health condition
- Number of the missing amount of space requirement
- Teeth position and angulation
- Gum thickness.
- X-rays will be taken to assess jaw relationship
Depending on the condition, some possible treatment options for upper missing teeth to correct underbite:
- Orthodontic treatment with the aim to replace missing upper teeth to coordinate the number of teeth in both jaws
- Orthodontic treatment with extraction of lower teeth to coordinate the number of teeth in both jaws
For patients with an underbite and lower missing teeth, possible treatment options may include:
- Orthodontic treatment with additional extraction (if possible)
- Orthodontic treatment in combination with jaw surgery
As every patient is different, do consult an orthodontist for a thorough assessment so that you understand your problem, as well as the pros and cons of the different treatment options suitable for your condition to make an informed choice.
