Everything you should know about Underbite
An underbite is a dental word that refers to a forward-protruding lower jaw. As a result, the lower jaw extends beyond the top teeth. The degree of the underbite varies from a moderate instance in which the lower jaw overlaps the upper jaw to a severe condition in which the teeth do not contact due to the gap. Read more about align your teeth.
What Causes an Underbite?
Typically, your teeth develop such that the upper teeth fit comfortably over the lower teeth. Molars should be able to fit together. However, a person might acquire such a disease due to a variety of circumstances. Among them are the following:
Genetics
You are more prone to have this ailment if you have a family member who has it as well. Additionally, genetics dictate the form, size, and shape of a person’s jaw.
As a result, some teeth are born with teeth that are too close together, impacted, do not grow all of their teeth (hypodontia), are irregularly shaped, overjet, or do not fit together.
Childhood Habits
Certain childhood behaviors may have a role in the development of an underbite. These behaviors include the following:
- Thumb sucking (can also cause tongue thrust.)
- Nail biting
- Use of a pacifier for children above three years old
- Using the tongue to push the teeth
- Long-term bottle-feeding
- Poor oral hygiene practices (which also causes dental plaque and tooth decay)
Injury
Severe injuries may result in permanent jawbone damage. While it is often feasible to heal a fractured jawbone, the jaws seldom fit perfectly after surgical realignment.
Tumors
Tumors in the jawbones or mouth may protrude the jaws, resulting in an underbite.
Types of Underbites
There are two types of underbites.
Dental underbites are a kind of tooth misalignment that occurs when a cross bite manifests itself in the front of the mouth rather than the sides. Although the teeth protrude slightly forward, the lower jaw does not protrude.
Skeletal underbites arise as a result of a jawbone deformity. Typically, it is inherited.
What Issues Does an Underbite Cause?
- Prognathism
- You’ll have trouble pronouncing certain words
- Chewing foods can be a challenge
- Pain in the mouth and face as a result of malocclusion.
- Sleep apnea
- Excessive wear of the tooth enamel
- Chronic mouth breathing and bad breath
How to Treat an Underbite
It is usual for teeth to be somewhat misaligned after the majority of the permanent teeth have erupted. However, in certain circumstances, the underbite is severe enough that treatment results in more substantial advantages for the patient.d Clinical medicine cannot treat underbite alone so, allow Towne View Dental Care to help correct your problems of an underbite.
Below are some of those benefits:
- Gums are healthier.
- Your teeth are easy to clean
- Reduce the risk of developing a dental abscess.
- There will be less tension on the jaws, teeth, and face muscles as a result.
- It reduces the risk of breaking a tooth or tooth loss
- Reduces the chance of developing a temporomandibular joint disorder
The only method to correct this issue is for a specialist to align it. Correcting this problem need the assistance of an orthodontist. Dr. Roopam Garg can correct your underbite with one of the following procedures:
Braces – It is the most often used orthodontic treatment method for underbite correction. Braces are not discrete and may be apparent while speaking or smiling. This is addressed by clear aligners.
Appliances – Certain appliances are effective in treating this problem. These are constructed to fit your mouth precisely and may sometimes be painful due to their greater visibility than braces. When required, orthodontists will suggest this therapy.
The reverse full facemask is an example of an orthodontic device. This item resembles orthodontic headgear that is worn around the head. To correct an underbite with this approach, metal bands are attached to your upper back teeth, allowing the device to gently pull your upper jaw into perfect alignment.
The upper jaw expander is an additional form of dental device. With a screw in the centre, the upper jaw expander fits over the upper jaw’s rear teeth. The purpose of this procedure is to enlarge the upper jaw, extend the dental arch, and reposition the teeth inside the bone. This, however, is subject to the pathology of the maxilla and mandible.
Tooth Extraction – Extracting a tooth can relieve crowding so that biting can come together more naturally.
Surgery – This should only be used as a last resort if the orthodontist considers that all other treatment options have failed. This occurs seldom, since surgical surgery of an underbite is sometimes unnecessary.
The orthognathic surgery is an example of jaw surgery. This is a highly customized technique that entails separating your jawbones and making customized adjustments to your jaw alignment.
If you have cleft lip and palate, your cleft lip and palate may need to be repaired before your underbite is treated.
Overbite Vs Underbite
When your mouth is closed, an overbite occurs when your upper teeth overlap your lower teeth excessively. This issue is often seen in individuals who have a smaller jaw or whose lower jaw is shorter than their upper jaw. Know about gaps in teeth and Porcelain treatment.
When your mouth is closed, an underbite occurs when your lower jaw lies in front of your upper jaw. When you have this issue, you typically have the appearance of a projecting chin, but this may be more muted in less severe instances. Schedule an appointment.