An underbite occurs when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth, and it can lead to TMJ disorder, poor bite, and uneven tooth wear. Early orthodontic treatment is essential for children, while severe cases may require surgery, tooth extraction, and long-term use of braces. Genetics, behavior, and chronic nasal congestion can cause underbites, and it’s impossible to fully correct them without addressing the underlying issues. Orthodontic appliances can help prevent tongue thrusting, and patients with allergies and chronic congestion should see a doctor.
An underbite refers to the structure and placement of the teeth and is often contrasted with an overjet, more commonly, if incorrectly, called an overbite. In an overjet, the front upper teeth project far above the lower teeth. An underbite is perhaps more pronounced; the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth and the lower jaw may be much more prominent. The condition can be minor or very noticeable and can carry a higher risk of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, poor bite, and uneven tooth wear.
A discussion of this issue often leads orthodontists to explain why early orthodontic treatment may be essential for some children. When children are young, usually under the age of eight, their mouths and jaws are much easier to reshape. Older children, adolescents, and adults may have difficulty correcting an underbite. Severe cases may require jaw surgery, tooth extraction, and very long-term use of braces to correct the problem. In most cases, the problem can be corrected at any age with these interventions, but it is certainly easier to deal with this problem when children are still young.
Some dental experts tie jaw position to genetics, and it’s pretty clear to see how it works in some dog breeds, like bulldogs. Nearly all bulldogs have a protruding lower jaw, which is a desirable breed trait.
Certain populations of humans seem more prone to bites. People of Asian descent tend to have them more frequently than other racial groups. Behavior, particularly tongue thrusting and mouth breathing, can also cause the problem, even when this is not something that runs in a person’s family. For example, a child suffering from significant allergies and nasal congestion might be constantly breathing through their mouth, causing their tongue to always rest against their front lower teeth, which can lead to protruding lower teeth.
Many orthodontists say it is impossible to fully correct an underbite if the underlying issues that may have caused or made the problem worse are not addressed. Even when things like jaw surgery are performed, teeth can gradually move back into the wrong position if tongue thrusting problems aren’t treated or a patient isn’t helped to find effective treatments for chronic nasal congestion. In these cases, the underlying problems may be addressed through the placement of orthodontic appliances to prevent the tongue from pushing hard against the lower teeth when a person swallows. Patients with allergies and chronic congestion are advised to see a doctor to help get these problems under control so mouth breathing occurs less frequently.
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