Maintaining and achieving a gorgeous smile is a worthwhile objective. A beautiful smile with perfectly aligned teeth is an excellent indicator of your overall health.
However, if you suffer from an orthodontic issue or facial problem that causes your lower teeth to protrude, you could suffer from issues that affect your overall health and well-being.Â
Solutions are available for those with or with misaligned teeth, resulting in an underbite or the lower jaw sticking out. Based on the circumstance, you can take steps towards achieving that gorgeous smile.
What Is an Underbite?
A dental underbite, also known as Class III malocclusion, is a situation where your lower teeth meet those of your upper.
You or your child may have an underbite that ranges from a slight malalignment (your higher and lower teeth almost coincide) to an astonishment all-prominent underbite. The latter is caused by extrusion or prognathism from the jaw’s lower.
Based on the extent of your bite, either you or your kid could suffer from these problems:
- Eating difficulties
- Speaking issues
- Chronic jaw and joint (TMJ) discomfort and headaches
- Broken or worn-down teeth
- Tooth decay is caused by the wear of the tooth’s enamel
- Regular mouth breathing, halitosis, and the development of bacterial infections
- Snoring, sleep apnea, or other breathing problems
- Stress is caused by emotions, such as bullying or people disapproving of your appearance
- Low self-esteem
What Causes an Underbite?
The cause of underbites is usually the exact reason why your eyes appear blue or brown, and your hair is either thick or thin, genetics. Tooth overcrowding and underbites often are family traits.
Other elements responsible for the development of an underbite may be related to childhood habits. Sucking with the thumb, pushing the tongue against teeth and mouth, breathing, and using a pacifier bottle too often may result in an underbite.
A study from 2012 showed that sucking with the thumb and fingers and using pacifiers are associated with the development of malocclusion, particularly after age three and an underbite.
What Are the Complications of an Underbite?
The severity of the bite and problems can be mild or extreme and affect your mental and physical well-being.
In some instances, underbites result in jaw-related issues. Chronic jaw pain, also known as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ), is a frequent consequence of having an underbite. TMJ can cause a feeling the jaw may be stuck or locked and can cause popping sensations and a lot of pain in your jaw.
Other adverse effects of TMJ are chronic headaches, toothaches, dizziness, earaches, and hearing issues.
Other side effects of an underbite can include problems chewing and eating, tooth decay, headaches (and later gingivitis and cavity caused by teeth that are not aligned), oral breathing issues, speech problems such as halitosis, and sleep apnea.
A variety of conditions could result in further complications. Constant mouth breathing can aggravate asthma, sleep apnea, and halitosis. Sleep breathing, a cause of concern as a whole, is a severe sleep disorder in which breathing ceases and resumes in sleep.
Since underbite affects the appearance and shape of your mouth and face, Many people feel uncomfortable about their appearance when they have an underbite. This can impact their self-esteem and mental well-being.
Underbite Treatment
Fortunately, most bites are treatable with standard orthodontic procedures. Some cases may require surgery.
Treatments usually work best when they’re carried out in the preteen and childhood period. The jaw can be molded while it’s growing. Adults can treat underbite-related issues successfully. However, the treatment usually involves surgery. The method you’ll need to use to correct your underbite will depend on the severity of the problem.
Braces:Â For mild cases of underbite, braces may help align your teeth and improve the alignment of your jaw. An orthodontist will evaluate the situation and then apply braces. Following the procedure, you should put on a retainer to maintain the new form.
Face Mask: The name says it all an item you wear over your head. It is placed on your chin and forehead. Elastics are connected to the upper jaw and later on to the instrument. Moving your jaw forward to align the lower and upper jaws is the concept.
This treatment is a commitment. The face mask should remain for 16 hours every day for approximately a year. It’s particularly effective with children between the ages of 8 and works well for teens.
Elastics: The treatment of elastics is based on the same concept as face mask therapy. Elastics are connected to tiny plates that are secured inside the skull. The elastics are worn within the mouth. They pull the jaw forward, creating equilibrium.
Surgery:Â Surgery can be a solution for severe cases of an underbite. It can treat sleep apnea due to an underbite, correct your jaw, and ease discomfort. The procedure is typically only done after you’ve removed the growing.
Underbite vs Overbite
An underbite is characterized by lower teeth that extend over the top teeth; an excessive bite can be described as precisely the opposite. When you have an overbite, the upper teeth extend well beyond the lower teeth line.
This condition is usually not a requirement for the treatment you might need to treat an underbite, but it may have similar reasons.
Underbite for Children and Toddlers
The sooner an underbite is taken care of, the sooner it can be addressed. If an underbite in a child isn’t as severe, parents must wait until seven years old before seeking orthodontic treatment, such as braces. This is when permanent teeth begin to appear.
To correct a short-term issue, A small study by Trusted Source suggests that facemasks can be used in bringing lower front teeth into the proper position in young children. However, they’ll require a more permanent option later in the course.
If your child suffers from a highly severe underbite, in particular in cases of congenital disabilities like cleft lip, surgery early might be able to assist. Please consult your child’s dentist and a doctor to find out what treatment they suggest.
Surgery comes with risks and should be avoided for children when underbite interferes with their health or their ability to eat, breathe, or talk.
Underbite Surgery
Oral surgeons with certification are capable of successfully repairing underbites. Various surgical procedures to correct an underbite are shaped to lengthen the upper jaw or shorten the lower jaw.
In certain situations, wires or plates could help maintain the jawbone’s form. Surgery is not without risks, including general anesthesia, infections, bleeding, and scarring.
Cost
The cost of the procedure to fix an underbite depends on the service company. In instances where dental or facial skeletal issues cause specific health insurance policies to cover health issues and jaw surgery.
A person covered by health insurance could pay as little as $100 as a copay or as much as $5,000 or more if their insurance policy includes the possibility of a limit on surgical procedures on the jaw.
In certain instances, health insurance companies may not pay for jaw surgery if the procedure isn’t required to keep the patient fit and healthy.
If you do not have insurance, the cost of jaw surgery to fix an overbite could be anywhere from $20,000-$40,000. Prices are typically lower if the procedure is required on only one jaw.
Surgery is a process that involves an examination and X-rays, general anesthesia, bone cutting, osteoshaping, and jaw moving. Wires, plates, screws, and rubber bands keep the jaw after surgery.
It can take between one and three weeks to heal from jaw surgery. Typically, a dentist will suggest braces and other devices following surgery to help ensure that the teeth remain in place.
Takeaway
An underbite is a more uncommon dental issue that could affect your self-esteem and overall quality of life. It is possible to treat and even correct an underbite completely. See a dentist to learn more about your options and decide which option is best for you.
