What Exactly Is an Underbite?

You’ve probably heard of - and seen - an overbite before. But a lesser-known bite problem that occurs in only about 10 percent of the population is an underbite. An underbite is what happens when the lower jaw protrudes past the upper jaw. Not only is this type of misaligned bite more noticeable, but it can also unfortunately subject children to bullying and low self-esteem, among many other issues.

Speech

One common problem of people with underbites is speech impediments. Because proper jaw alignment is a must when forming certain sounds, people with underbites often struggle to make "f" and "s" sounds.

Choking

Having an underbite can also be painful. Because of the misalignment of the bite, people with underbites often struggle to chew their food adequately. People with underbites are actually at a higher risk of choking than those who do not have underbites.

TMJ Disorder

Because of the severity of the misalignment of their jaw, people with underbites are also at an increased risk of developing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The positioning of the jaw puts additional strain on the temporomandibular joint, causing soreness, stiffness and increased difficulty chewing and speaking.

Treatment

There are ways to treat an underbite, both with neuromuscular dentistry to relax the jaw and orthodontics to reposition the teeth. In more severe cases, patients may need an upper-jaw expander, or a device called a reverse pull face mask, which wraps around the head, hooking onto metal bands that are adhered to the upper teeth. This pulls the top jaw forward into alignment with the lower jaw. For younger children whose jaws are still somewhat malleable, a less invasive option may be a chin cap device. The chin cap wraps around the lower half of the face and chin and holds it in like a corset to keep the chin from protruding further and guide it in a more desirable growth pattern.

If you have an underbite and would like to be evaluated by Dr. Lederman, or if you would like to schedule your dental exam, please call the office at 516-882-1764.

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