Lower teeth growing in front of the upper teeth is a common sight that we see. It is a form of malocclusion, meaning the teeth are biting improperly. This is also commonly known as underbite.
Underbite can be due to
1. Skeletal discrepancy, meaning the lower jaw is bigger than the upper jaw, or an underdeveloped upper jaw. This is usually congenital. A good way to check is to see if any of your family members inherit an underbite.
2. Dental. In this instance, the jaw size are of normal sizes, but the teeth has developed in such a way that an underbite occurs. A lot of the times this is associated with kids who suffer chronic sinus problem, causing them to protrude their lower jaw in order to open their airway.
The treatment of underbite differs with the causative factor. Your dentist will usually need a thorough check for your children, including x rays to determine the cause. Treatment can range from simple non invasive lifestyle changes, to braces treatment, or surgical correction. Sometimes dentist may prescribe appliances for children to wear in order to guide the development of jaw bone.
In your case, both your daughters are of relatively young age. My advise is to check with your dentist and determine the cause of underbite first. Sometimes we will encourage early intervention to hopefully lessen the severity of problem.
I hope this answer helps in your decision making. Do not be overly concerned and good luck.
