Hi, Dr. Dayanayev here from Steinway Family Dental Center. Today we're going to discuss underbite. We have a lot of questions about underbite from you guys, so today we're going to answer some of the most common questions on this subject.
What is an underbite and how does it affect the facial structure of a patient?
Well, an underbite usually happens with people who have a very long lower jaw. If you look at the profile, it looks like the lower jaw is protruding forward or in front of the rest of the face. To fix that, a lot of times you would require a surgical procedure because the real problem is the length of the jaw. It is a skeletal problem: the upper jaw is a little bit more in, and the lower jaw is a little bit more out, so it is not in equilibrium. To achieve equilibrium, most of the time what is required is a surgical procedure called orthognathic surgery, where they remove part of the jaw, move it back, and put it in the correct position. Does it require you to remove some teeth sometimes? Sometimes not. That's what an underbite is.
How is the underbite different from overbite?
Well, the overbite is when the upper teeth are covering the lower teeth too much. The underbite is when your lower jaw protrudes farther. That is what an underbite is.
What causes the underbite and can it get worse over time?
Most of the time, it starts when somebody is a teenager, and at that point, the jaw growth is sprung. The lower jaw grows too much, and there is a skeletal difference. The upper jaw is not catching up to the lower jaw, and the lower jaw is growing a little too far. Because it got so long, can it get worse over time? Yes, it can change over time a little bit, but it's not going to get progressively much worse over a period of time.
What is the risk of leaving it untreated?
Leaving an underbite untreated means your occlusion is off, and because of that, you can get different types of problems like the enamel can crack, you can have gum disease from that, and so on. It's more difficult for you to brush and floss, and because of that, you can start losing teeth prematurely.
Can Invisalign fix an underbite or is braces a much better option?
Both options are limited in that sense because if you have a class three occlusion or underbite that is too big, it would be difficult to fix it with just orthodontic movement. It would require a surgical procedure to do that. But if the underbite is not too big, then yes, it could be fixed either with braces or Invisalign.
How does an overbite/underbite correction is treated with braces?
Usually, it would require the removal of some of the teeth, and then the rest of the teeth will distalize, which means moved back, and the gap would be closed. Because of that, the teeth will move back enough to achieve a correct bite, correct overbite.
Is there a natural way to treat it without any intervention?
No, no surgical procedures, no braces, and no Invisalign can fix an underbite naturally.
When is underbite surgery necessary and what's involved?
It is necessary when it's recommended by your orthodontist. Also if it's not possible to move your lower jaw back enough or teeth in the lower jaw back enough to create a normal bite. In that case, you would be recommended for the surgical procedure, and you should discuss it with multiple orthodontists and surgeons before you actually decide on moving forward with it.
What are results looking like after the underbite surgery is done?
It looks like the person has a normal bite. That's pretty much it.
How long does it take to fix an underbite with orthodontic treatment?
Whether it is braces or Invisalign, regular braces treatment is about 2 years on average, and Invisalign would be a lot faster than that. However, it depends on whether you're removing teeth for it or not, because that will extend the treatment. If it involves teeth removal, it could extend the treatment time; if not, it could be fixed relatively quickly.
Those are all the questions that we have on this matter up until now. If there are new questions, we're going to answer them as they come in. If you would like to know more or have specific questions and want to discuss your particular case, you can come to us at Steinway Family Dental Center and request a consultation with me either online at allDentalneeds.com. Request an appointment, and we can talk about it, or you can call us at (718) 728-3314 and speak with one of our scheduling coordinators. They will bring you into the office so we can meet, see what questions you have, and I will answer them for you truthfully and honestly and you can see that.