What Is an Underbite?

Do you ever feel like you have a bull-dog-like appearance when you smile? If this is something you see when looking in the mirror, then you may have an underbite. An underbite is a condition where the lower teeth extend farther than the upper front teeth. This creates an unpleasant appearance and, in severe cases, causes several problems. Some problems associated with a severe underbite include difficulty biting, chewing, speaking, and mouth or face pain.

Schedule a Complimentary Consultation

Causes

Many things can cause an underbite. One cause for an underbite is childhood habits, such as thumb sucking, pushing on the teeth with the tongue, using a pacifier past the age of three, and bottle feeding past infant years. More often than not, genetics is the leading cause of an underbite. Lastly, some injuries to the jawbone can cause an underbite.

Treatments

To treat an underbite, an orthodontist would need to align the teeth correctly. You can also remove one or more teeth on the lower jaw to help improve the underbite. Whatever the solution is, Frugé Orthodontics is dedicated to helping you improve your smile and quality of life.