Underbite Correction

The measures taken to rectify the protrusion of lower jaw is called underbite correction. Before and after the surgery, the patient is asked to wear orthodontic braces for a period of about 6-9 months. Read on to know more about underbite correction procedure.

Underbite is the term used to refer to a common jaw relationship condition observed in many people. Also known as Class III malocclusion or prognathism, this condition involves the abnormal protrusion of the lower jaw, causing the lower jaw to protrude forward in front of the upper jaw. Thus, on closing the jaw, the lower teeth overlaps the upper teeth, thereby giving the chin and lower jaw teeth a far more prominent appearance on the face.

About 5-10% of the world’s population is seen to suffer from this jaw condition. Underbite condition is mostly hereditary, however, it can also be caused by habits like thumb sucking, breathing from the mouth, tongue thrusting, prolonged use of feeding bottles and pacifiers or even poor chewing habits. Underbite correction is carried out in different ways depending on the patient’s age and severity of the condition.

Importance of Underbite Correction Underbite condition can be minor and hardly noticeable at times. However, in some people the condition is quite visible and prominent, thus,it needs to be corrected. It’s not only for cosmetic purposes that underbite correction procedure needs to be carried out, because if not corrected, the person can develop temporomandibular joint disorder

, poor bite and even have their teeth worn off easily. Underbite correction in children needs to be carried out as soon as possible. This is because the jaw bones of children (below age of 8) are easier to shape and the condition can be corrected without surgery. In teenagers and adults, the correction will be more difficult and challenging.

Underbite Correction in Children

Corrective measures can be started as early as the age of 5. For kids below the age of eight, surgery is not required. Correction is done using an upper jaw expander, which is nothing but a plastic and wire mold that fixes on the roof of the mouth. It is left there for a year or so. During the first few months, parents are given the task of opening the expander to a small degree with a key. The expansion will take place for a few months, till the required jaw width is attained. After attaining the jaw width, the expander is left as it is in the mouth for another few months, after which it is replaced by a retainer. The retainer will keep the upper jaw in place (in its new position) until it hardens there.

For kids between the age of 8 and 9, instead of an expander, a reverse-pull face mask is used. The child is asked to wear the mask everyday after school till the next day before leaving to school. This mask has metal bands that fix on the back molars of the upper jaw and rubber bands that fix them to the mouth. The mask exerts gradual pressure on the upper jaw via the rubber bands and fosters bone growth. The outcome of this treatment is that eventually the upper jaw gets pulled out over the lower jaw. Children with severe underbite condition will be asked to wear a chin cap to curtail the growth of the lower chin.

Underbite Correction in Adults Only surgery can treat underbite condition in teenagers and adults. They need to wear orthodontic braces

for a year before underbite correction surgery and then 7-9 months after surgery. If the underbite is caused by only teeth, then correction can be carried out using braces alone. However, if it pertains to the jaw, it’s a skeletal issue, the surgery involves sectioning the lower jaw bone and removing a piece from it to push the lower jawbone, chin and teeth back. The surgeon may also section and advance the upper jaw bone to pull forward the upper jaw bone. Both the procedures may also be used simultaneously to treat the condition.

Read more on:

• Overbite Correction
• Jaw Surgery Recovery
• Average Cost of Braces Underbite correction cost will vary depending on the kind of facility where you carry out your treatment, the surgeon’s charges, the severity of one’s condition, etc. It will also depend on the place one resides in as some places are more expensive than others. However, since insurance does not cover orthodontic treatment

in most cases, the treatment can prove very expensive. It’s best to get underbite corrected as soon as possible, as many teenagers find wearing braces embarrassing during their school and college years.