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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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Braces For Teens In Lawrenceville Loganville, GA
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!
Erica P.
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! 😁
Melissa W.
Everyone here is so friendly and nice. They really explain what’s going on. Nice flexible plans as well. Would highly recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Melissa! 😊 We're thrilled to hear you felt welcomed and well-informed — our team works hard to create a friendly, supportive experience with flexible options that work for you. We truly appreciate your recommendation!
James H.
The staff is extremely friendly and the whole atmosphere is very welcoming. They are very thorough in their exam. Both of our kids love coming here.
Response from the owner:Thank you, James! 🦷 We're so glad to hear your whole family feels welcome and well cared for at our Lawrenceville office. It means a lot to know your kids love coming here — that's exactly what we aim for!
Mauricio A.
Excelente atencion del personal, enamorada totalmente de Wendys, Beky y de Gaby, siempre con una atencion de calidad y con gran cariño
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Mauricio! 😊 We’re thrilled to hear how much you enjoyed your experience with Wendy, Beky, and Gaby — they truly go above and beyond with kindness and care. We’re lucky to have them on our team, and we’re so glad you felt the love! 💙
Anita H.
Everyone is so friendly and helpful. My kid love it 😍 here!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Anita! 😍 We’re so glad to hear your kid loves it here — that absolutely makes our day! Our team always aims to create a fun and friendly environment, and we’re thrilled it shows. See you at your next visit! 🎉
Alma J.
Amazing people and friendly love every body here it is a amazing dentist
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5 stars, Alma! ⭐️ We truly appreciate your support and are so glad to have you as part of the Koch Orthodontics family! 😊
Michelle B.
I am back with my second daughter to get her braces only place in Lawrenceville I would take my kids for orthodontist care. Dr. Koch and his team are the best!!!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much!
Kendra
Jessica and Eyone are excellent. Best orthodontist in town this place would not disappoint. Will fix any crook teeth in the world. Very friendly very understanding and very prompt cannot wait to start my treatment. I love you guys continue being great😊❤️
Response from the owner:Wow, thank you, Kendra! 😊❤️ Your energy is contagious, and your kind words mean so much to us! Jessica and Eyone will be thrilled to hear this. We can’t wait to get started on your treatment and give you the smile you deserve. You’re already part of the Koch fam — let’s do this! 💪🦷
Xander S.
Ive only been here once with my s/o and all the members are the sweetest and they make everything very affordable. My girlfriend pays for everything on her own for her only being 19 now. I say thats a great deal.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much, Xander! 😊 We’re really touched by your kind words and so glad you both had a great first visit. It means a lot to us to make care not only compassionate but also affordable — especially for young adults taking on everything themselves. We’re lucky to have patients like you two! 💙
Kierra B.
Koch has been a breathe of fresh air! Everyone’s always so friendly and professional!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Kierra! 🌬️💙 We’re so glad to be that breath of fresh air for you! Our team takes pride in being both friendly and professional, and it means so much to hear you felt that. We can’t wait to see you again soon! 😊
Jia S.
My daughter and I had a great experience with Koch Orthodontics! The staff is friendly, professional, and made us feel comfortable during the free consultation. My daughter's treatment plan was clearly explained. I highly recommend their service to anyone. We are excited for the journey of my daughter's bracing.
Response from the owner:Thank you, Jia Son, for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear about your and your daughter’s great experience. We’re excited to be part of her bracing journey and appreciate your kind words about our team. Looking forward to seeing you both again! 😊
genaye A.
Great improvement on my teeth and such a positive environment!!
Response from the owner:Thank you, Genaye! 🌟 We're so happy to hear about the great improvement and that you're enjoying the positive vibes here! Keep shining! 😄
Ladies of C.
Seen a great improvement in my mouth and a very great and positive place.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! 😊 We're thrilled to hear you've seen great improvement and felt the positivity at our office. Keep smiling! 😁 – Koch Orthodontics – Lawrenceville
Necoya D
The staff were amazzzzingg. The ambience and personalized welcome is every thing. The affordable monthly plan makes it easier on my pockets. I have been coming to this office for almost a year and it’s always so refreshing to come and feel like home. Staff is always so warm and personable not to mention my kids love it here!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had an amazing experience with our staff. Your kind words mean the world to us, and we're so happy we could make your visit a great one.
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