Underbite
Underbite: when lower teeth jet out past upper teeth.
What causes underbites?
- When an underbite is caused by an abnormal growth pattern, it means that either the lower jaw (the mandible) has grown larger than normal or the upper jaw (the maxilla) has not developed sufficiently.
Orthodontic Issues
- When an underbite is caused by orthodontic issues, it means that something has pushed the teeth in the lower jaw forward over time, extending the jaw. Tongue thrusters, mouth breathers, and even allergy sufferers are all at risk of their tongue pushing their lower teeth continually forward.
Combination of Bone Growth and Orthodontic Issues
- When an underbite is caused by a combination of these factors, it means that someone is genetically predisposed to a longer lower jaw or shorter upper jaw, and they also have another issues, such as tongue thrusting. These are complex cases and are treated after careful evaluation ? no shotgun approach for these cases!
Fixing an Underbite:
In adults, treatment varies depending on the severity of the underbite. Though severe cases often require some degree of surgical intervention, more mild underbites can be improved dramatically using invisalign and corrective cosmetic dentistry.
Underbite Treatment: Surgery isn’t the ONLY Option
Many people with underbites stop seeking help because they?ve been told that their only option is surgery. Thankfully, as dentistry progresses, solutions are becoming available that allow some people to dramatically improve their underbites without surgery. New developments in invisalign and veneer technology are opening up non-surgical possibilities for people with underbites.
That being said, some websites claim that all underbites can be corrected with these new techniques. That is simply not true. While corrective cosmetic dentistry can correct or improve mild cases of class 3 malocclusion, all cases should be carefully evaluated and referred to Oral Surgeons for surgical correction if necessary. As is so often the case, completely correcting all cases with any one solution is risky and leads to compromised results. Therefore while corrective cosmetic restorative dentistry (like invisalign or veneers) delivers great results in some cases, other treatment options will prove to be the better option in other cases. All surgical and new non-surgical options available should be considered!
Click below to learn about how we?re straightening teeth with Invisalign
Invisalign
Invisalign: For Straighter Teeth and a Beautiful Smile
Crowding and gaps, angled and leaning teeth, too short and too long?
Multi-Disciplinary Smile Makeover
Multiple Doctors coming together
Some results require multiple teams working together
Headaches, TMJ &TMD
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Most people can guess that jaw pain is a mouth issue.
