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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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PATIENT REVIEWS

Our 5-Star Experience

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

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Jazzy L.
Everything & Everyone is amazing! Definitely recommend 💕
Response from the owner:Hi Jazzy! We really appreciate that! Our team works hard to make every visit a great one. Thanks for recommending us!
Ashley H.
I had a great experience at Koch Orthodontics! I had the spark clear aligners to recorrect my teeth after losing my previous retainers. It was a quick and virtually painless process. I’m glad I chose Koch Orthodontics to correct my teeth!
Response from the owner:Hi Ashley! We’re so glad you had such a smooth experience with Spark clear aligners! Thank you for trusting us again with your smile!
Makayla G.
This is the best orthodontist I’ve ever been too. They treated my son amazing. Wendy assisted us and she was absolutely amazing!
Response from the owner:Hi Makayla! We love hearing this! Thank you for sharing your kind words. We’ll be sure to pass along the shout-out to Wendy—she’ll be so happy to know she made your visit special!
Tanisha J.
Becky was amazing he was very professional and gentle!
The entire staff is great!
Response from the owner:We appreciate the kind words, thank you!
Natalie K.
Excellent personal care! My daughter was nervous but we felt so loved. Dr. Gass answered all questions and made us feel comfortable with treatment options.
Response from the owner:Hi Natalie! We are so glad Dr. Gass and our team helped your daughter feel at ease and cared for. We look forward to continuing her smile journey with you!
envymimi 2.
they are so nice it’s scary 😭🦦 I’ve been here for a year it’s a pleasure everytime
Response from the owner:Thank you for the review!
Deanna P.
I decided to get braces on again for cosmetic reasons after about 20 years. I went to a few places for consultations, and ultimately chose Koch Orthodontics based on the clean office, welcoming staff, and great online reviews. I’m about a year through my treatment and I was getting a discouraged I was not going to get my “dream smile” I had envisioned in my head. I asked to make an appointment with my doctor and Dr Koch to talk me through my concerns and go over the rest of my treatment. Initially, everyone’s schedule wasn’t lining up until after my braces were supposed to come off (in 3 wks) which left me kind of bummed. However, the next day, I received a phone call from a lady named Ashley saying Dr Koch wanted to review my plan with my Dr (Gass) and can get me in for an appointment the next day. It was then I knew I picked the right orthodontist. Not only were my concerns listened to, openly discussed with me, and thoroughly reviewed with my current treatment plan by both Dr. Gass and Dr Koch, they really made me feel like they wanted the best for my smile. I truly appreciated the effort of everyone involved making sure I’m happy with my outcome. I can honestly recommend this orthodontist now.

And continuously, the two best techs I’ve had are Johnny and Devonte. Shoutout to them!
Response from the owner:Hi Deanna! Thank you so much for sharing this! We’re so glad Dr. Koch, Dr. Gass, and Ashley could put your mind at ease and make sure you feel confident in your smile journey. And Johnny and Devonte will love the shoutout, they really are the best!
Marcus G.
The best ever, great service. Nice people and staff. I love the vibe….and the coffee 😏
Response from the owner:Hi Marcus! Yay! We’re so happy you love the vibe (and the coffee 😉). It always makes our day having you here with us!
Imaksumic
10/10 Its so clean and everbody is so kind to you Love this place !! ❤️❤️✌️
Response from the owner:Hi Imakusmic! Reviews like this make our day! Thank you for noticing our clean space and kind team, we love having you as part of the KO family!
Nicole M.
They are always so welcoming and polite. They are knowledgeable about teeth and make my kids feel comfortable every time. The coffee and water is an added bonus.
Response from the owner:Hi Nicole! Thank you so much for sharing this! We love hearing that your kids feel comfortable at every visit. And we’re glad you enjoy the coffee and water too! We’re so happy to have your family as part of the KO family!
Latea G.
Staff very friendly, smells good and is always clean
Response from the owner:Hi Latea! Thank you so much! We love hearing that. Our team works hard to keep everything fresh, clean, and welcoming!
Flash S.
The staff is always very kind and cheerful, always excited to see you.
Response from the owner:Hi Flash Set! We truly love what we do, and it makes us so happy to know that kindness and cheerfulness shine through when you visit.
Brittany G.
Such awesome place to do business!!! Glad to have my son’s braces done here!! Def recommend to anyone!!
Response from the owner:Hi Brittany! We are so happy your son is a part of our KO family! Thanks for letting us be a part of his smiles journey and for spreading the word!
Amina B.
I’ve had such a great experience with my orthotist and aligner journey! From the very beginning, everything was explained clearly and I always felt comfortable and informed. The aligners have been easy to use, and I’ve already noticed such a positive difference. My orthotist has been supportive, attentive, and genuinely cares about my progress. Appointments are always smooth, and I never feel rushed.

Overall, I’m really happy with the results so far and would definitely recommend both the aligners and my orthotist to anyone considering treatment.
Response from the owner:Hi Amina! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re thrilled to hear that your aligner journey has been smooth and that you’ve already noticed such a positive difference. Our team loves making sure everything is clear and comfortable for you, so it means a lot to know you’ve felt supported every step of the way. We can’t wait to see your continued progress and final results!
Tiffany T.
They are nice and very sweet… Brantley was scared when he came to get work done but the team made him feel very welcome and comfortable too
Response from the owner:Hi Tiffany! Thank you so much for sharing this! We’re so glad Brantley felt comfortable with us! It means a lot that he left his visit feeling welcomed and at ease. Our team always wants every patient to feel safe and cared for, especially when they’re nervous. We truly appreciate your kind words! 💙
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