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Everything You Need to Know About Underbite

A Smile Can Change Everything

Prognathism
  • Koch Orthodontics
  • | Mar 24, 2020
Smiling is the first thing people notice in you. If you feel good about your smile, you will radiate confidence. However, many people are conscious about their smiles due to dental issues. One such issue is an underbite. This is an orthodontic condition that can affect you physically and mentally. Let’s learn more about it.

What is an Underbite?

An underbite is a dental condition where the lower teeth sit further than the upper teeth. This condition is classified as Class III malocclusion and causes pain and discomfort. Many even feel conscious of the underbite which affects their confidence level.

Some cases of underbite are mild and nearly unnoticeable while others are quite severe where the lower teeth extend far forward.

It is more than just a cosmetic issue. Severe cases require treatment as they may cause oral health problems like:

  • Mouth and face pain due to jaw misalignment
  • Difficulty in biting and chewing
  • Challenges with speaking

What Causes Underbite?

Several factors can lead to an underbite. Here are some underbite causes:

Stop your kid from prolonged thumb sucking, extended pacifier use, pushing on teeth with their tongue and long-term bottle feeding.

These childhood habits may increase the risk of developing an underbite.

In most cases, an underbite is inherited. If at least one other person in your family has it, you are more likely to get it. Genetics also play a role in deciding a person’s jaw, tooth shape, and size.

Any kind of injury to the face may cause permanent damage to the jawbones. Though it is possible to repair the broken jawbones, they may not always fit together properly after being surgically realigned. This may cause an underbite.

A tumor on the jawbone or in the mouth may cause the jaw to protrude. This results in an underbite.

What Issues Does an Underbite Cause?

The problems associated with an underbite can range from mild to severe depending on the degree of the underbite. The complications can affect both physical and mental health.

Chronic jaw pain or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ) is a common side effect. Your jaw will feel ‘locked’ or ‘stuck’ and result in popping sensations. It causes considerable pain in the jaw. Some side effects of TMJ include toothaches, headaches, dizziness, and earaches.

These are a few problems associated with an underbite:

  • Bad Childhood Habits
  • Genetics
  • Injury
  • Eating and chewing difficulties
  • Halitosis and bacterial infections
  • Chronic mouth breathing
  • Speech Issues
  • Sleep apnea and snoring
  • Tooth decay from excessive wear of tooth enamel

Apart from physical issues, an underbite can affect a person mentally and psychologically. They might suffer from low self-esteem and confidence.

Thankfully, an underbite is easy to spot and doctors can fix it. Underbite correction is possible at any age and for any level of severity.

How to Correct Underbite?

There are severe underbite treatment methods that can correct an underbite.

Underbite braces or clear aligners can also correct milder cases. Sometimes, surgery and clear aligners may be recommended together to repair an underbite.

  • Upper Jaw Expander: This is a wire-frame device that is fitted across the patient’s palate. Every night, a special key is used to widen the expander by a little. This process will gradually cause the upper jaw to widen until the lower underbite teeth no longer protrude out. You would usually wear the expander for about a year and then use a retainer. This is used for young patients like kids and pre-teenagers.
  • Reverse-Pull Face Mask: This is another solution for young patients and looks like a brace headgear. It wraps around the child’s head and pulls the upper jaw back into the right position. It uses metal bands fastened to the upper back teeth.
  • Underbite Surgery: In extreme cases or for older patients, underbite surgery is recommended. It reshapes and shortens the lower jaw. In some cases, the upper law can also be lengthened to cover the lower teeth. Screws, plates, and wires may be used to maintain the proper shape of the jawbone. Underbite jaw surgery comes with some risks such as infection, scarring, and general anesthesia.
  • Cosmetic Approach: This is an underbite correction without surgery where the orthodontists reshape the lower teeth. After that veneers are fitted to the upper teeth. This method doesn’t necessarily solve the problem but it makes the underbite less prominent and improves the jaw functionality sufficiently.
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Our 5-Star Experience

Check out what our patients are saying about their experience with our amazing doctors and team!

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Elise
10/10 – Highly Recommend!
All the staff are super friendly and welcoming. They really take the time to work with you, and the payment plans are very manageable. I appreciate how flexible and understanding they are. I’d definitely recommend them to anyone looking for great service and support
Fanny C.
Just like there moto , “ genuine care” and so does everything goes! We were treated with courtesy and respect. Staff is very friendly and they explained everything every step of the process. There payment plan is awesome!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the review!
Katie O.
Everyone from the front desk to the doctors are excellent. We’ve been very happy with our experience and the care our son has received. The office experience is great, and the monthly payment plan is most helpful. My son of course loves the video game room!
Response from the owner:Hi Katie! Thanks so much for the review. We are so happy that you are enjoying your experience with us!
Yadira L.
Buen trabajo , amavilidad. Confianza Y con una técnicas modernas que hacen un trabajo excelente . Tiene mi hija una sonrisa hermosa Gracias Kool recomendado al 💯
Ann R.
Dr. Koch is the best orthodontist in the Gwinnett area. Get the famous Koch smile. We also love Robin, she has been at this office for a very long time. She is a genuine good hearted person.
Response from the owner:Hi Ann! Thank you so much for the kind words! Our doctors truly love helping out patients achieve their perfect smile! Robin will be thrilled to hear your sweet shoutout, she is definitely a gem on our team!
yolanda M.
Devonte is great here at Koch Orthodontics!!!!
The BEST PLACE TO COME
Response from the owner:Hi Yolanda! Thanks for the love! We agree, Davonte is pretty amazing! We are so happy to hear that you are loving your experience, we think it's the best place too! :)
Charmelle H.
Excellent customer service. Love the vibe in the office. Very comfortable and welcoming. The staff is really awesome and very kind.I would recommend to friends and family.
Response from the owner:Hi Charmelle! we're so glad you felt comfortable and welcomed! Our goal is to make every visit a positive experience. We appreciate your recommendation and love having you as a part of the Koch Ortho Family!
Mike R.
We had our initial consultation and couldn’t be more impressed. The staff was both friendly and extremely knowledgeable. The facilities are top notch, and the treatment plans were presented clearly and plainly so that we understood exactly what we were getting, and how the process would go. We are very excited to begin
Response from the owner:Hi Mike! We are so glad that your first visit made such a great impression! Our team works hard to provide personalized care and we are thrilled that you felt that from the start. We can't wait to begin this journey with you!
Mirela K.
Friendliest staff and the doctors are always very patient. We highly recommend them!:-)))
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the kind words! 😊 We're thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our team in Lawrenceville. Your recommendation means the world to us!
Tanisha J.
Davante was amazing he was very professional and gentle.
The entire staff is great!
Response from the owner:We appreciate the kind words, thank you!
Jillian W.
Awesome!!! Koch’s orthodontist is an amazing place. They are clean, professional and nice!
Response from the owner:💙 Wow, Jillian—short and sweet, just like a perfect smile! 😃✨ We love the enthusiasm and truly appreciate your support. Stay awesome! 🦷🎉
MaKaylah M.
Johnny has been phenomenal with my journey! I really appreciate his attention to detail regarding my teeth and answering my many questions. Kudos to him and Dr. Koch for making this a great experience.

Thanks so much!!!
Marquitta Martin
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful review! 🌟 We’re thrilled to hear that Johnny and Dr. Koch made your journey such a positive one. Your kind words mean the world to us, and we’re so glad you felt cared for every step of the way. We’ll be sure to pass along your kudos to Johnny! 😄
Janna R
Great experience and friendly team from the front office staff to the back office staff. Treatment coordinator was very warm, friendly and transparent! Becky was super sweet, professional and gentle!! Highly recommend to anyone looking to do enhance their smile! 😃
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Janna! 😊 We’re thrilled to hear you had a great experience from start to finish. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to Becky and our treatment coordinator. Your recommendation means the world to us! 💙
Weeb’s P.
the people are nice, and communicate with you well.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much! 😊 We’re glad you felt our team was kind and communicative — that’s exactly the experience we aim to provide!
Unknown C.
Always a pleasant visit at Koch. Front desk staff greets on arrival, office very clean, and the back staff work fast and efficient. If you need water or coffee it’s an available as well. Dr Koch is very nice as well give great recommendations to help keep your smile beautiful and straight.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Erica! 🌟 We're so happy to hear your visits are always pleasant. From the warm welcome at the front to the efficiency in the back — we’re proud of our team! And we’re glad you’ve had such a great experience with Dr. Koch’s care and recommendations. Keep smiling bright! 😁
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