An underbite is a very unpleasant defect, especially in women. In this problem, the lower jaw and chin protrude from the face; the lower teeth are in front of the upper teeth. Therefore there is an underbite problem. Also, there is often a problem with closing the lips and the upper teeth aren’t visible when talking or laughing. This is due to two reasons. The first is the mandibular overgrowth in all three planes, which occurs in 35% of cases.
| Operation Duration | Length of hospitalization | Recovery Time |
| Varies | Varies | Varies (orthodontic treatment) |
Another reason may be a decrease in the growth of the upper jaw. The standard lower jaw then appears disproportionately larger. Worldwide, this occurs in about 30% of cases. However, the most common defect compound where the problem is more growth of the lower jaw and less development of the upper jaw. This occurs in about half of all cases.
The specialist diagnoses the defect on an x-ray, and unlike an overbite problem, non-surgical, only orthodontic treatment is impossible. Correction of this skeletal defect is, therefore, almost always surgical. In this method, experts prefer orthognathic surgery techniques. When a specialist moves the upper jaw forward and the lower jaw back, this performance is usually complemented by jaw aesthetics and the addition of synthetic bone and bone volume.
For the underbite problem, a specialist removes the defect with the surgical approach method; that is, the surgery perform first, and the final adjustment of the closure is made only after the operation with the help of braces. This process is much faster, and the total time to wear braces is several months (compared to approximately 1.5 to 2 years of treatment with the conventional method). However, this method is susceptible to the accuracy of the planning, and you will almost always get an aesthetic result here.
What is Underbite?
Biting consider normal if the upper teeth are just in front of the lower teeth when the jaw is closed. An underbite occurs when the lower teeth pass in front of the upper teeth, and a small or large gap appears between the two sets. Whatever the size of your lower jaw, it’s essential to seek treatment to avoid the health complications of the condition.
An underbite is one of the types of mouth and dental abnormalities that causes tooth decay, gum infection, broken teeth, difficulty speaking and eating, and headache. An underbite is a dental and jaw disorder that spoils a person’s beauty and attractiveness and causes countless problems.
If this abnormality is left untreated, you will severely damage your teeth, jaw, and yourself. We use various treatment methods for underbite treatment. The most popular way is the two main treatments, such as orthodontics and maxillofacial surgery. In addition to these two methods we mentioned, the specialist can sometimes make a composite, laminate, special braces, or tooth extraction.
In case of symptoms, you should immediately visit the specialist to determine the condition of your jaw and teeth. During this visit, the specialist will examine the condition of your teeth, the severity of your jaw protrusion, and the shape of your face.
The younger you are treated, the easier it will be for your specialist to treat this abnormality. Although treating patients in the 7-12 age group is easy, it is more complex and delayed in adults due to the completion of bone development.
The primary symptom of a lower jaw is when the lower teeth stand in front of the upper teeth when the jaw is closed. However, several other symptoms may indicate an underbite or other type of bite problem:
- Problems with speech
- Problems chewing or swallowing properly
- Pain in the mouth or face
- Painful biting or chewing
- Frequent headaches or TMD pain (temporomandibular joint pain)
- Earache
- Mouth breathing
What Causes Underbite?
Like most bite problems, an underbite usually causes by dental or skeletal issues. But in some cases, the situation can be worsened by both. Underbite can also cause by the trauma to the jaw, tumors in the jaw or mouth, and Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD). Take a closer look at the causes of underbite in general:
- Genetics: Underbites can pass down through generations, and one of the most common causes of underbites is genetics.
- Environmental (dental) factors: Certain habits that begin in childhood can also result in an underbite. For example, factors such as excessive use of the pacifier (or use over three years of age), tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, long-term bottle feeding in early childhood, and upper lip sucking cause this problem.
- Injury and trauma: Serious injuries to a person’s face and teeth can cause permanent damage to the jaw. The doctor can usually repair broken and damaged bones, but the jawbones don’t always fit together correctly after surgical repair. Therefore, injury and trauma to the jaw and face can result in an underbite.
- Tumors: The formation and growth of tumors in the jaw or mouth area can change the position of the jaws, which can cause underbite in some cases.
What are the Symptoms and Complications of Underbite?
An underbite is associated with symptoms and complications that cause many problems with the jaw and face. Take a close look at these symptoms:
- Not placing teeth correctly on top of each other
- Covering the upper teeth of the lower teeth
- Disruption of facial balance
- Difficulty biting any food
- Difficulty speaking and speaking
- Protrusion and disorder in the lower jaw teeth
Other complications of this abnormality include:
- Deterioration in appearance and beauty decreases self-confidence: In this abnormality, the teeth are irregular. The shape of the chin and face changes. This causes a loss of facial attractiveness and a decrease in self-confidence. This group cannot speak correctly, may laugh, and sometimes even feel ashamed of their appearance.
- Difficulty swallowing and chewing food: In this case, the person has difficulty chewing, biting, and eating food. You first feel these problems in the back teeth; over time, your teeth will wear out.
- The increasing fragility of teeth: Protruding teeth and their irregularities cause more damage to teeth, bad breath, and sensitivity. Sensitive teeth seriously damage in accidents, sports injuries, and falling on the face.
What Happens If Underbite Isn’t Treated?
Neglecting treatment for an underbite can lead to a range of health and social complications, as well as psychological problems:
- Insecure: An underbite can dramatically change the shape of a person’s face. It will likely cause the chin to protrude, resulting in low self-esteem. Children with underbites are more likely to be bullied by their peers. This, in turn, can lead to chronic mental disorders throughout childhood, adolescence, and even adulthood.
- Speech problems: Underbite can severely affect a person’s ability to speak correctly. Some sounds, in particular, will be complicated, if not impossible, to make. Speech issues like this affect one’s self-esteem and are likely to hold them back socially and professionally.
- Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD): In the case of an underbite, the jaw position puts tremendous pressure on this joint. This can lead to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD), which creates a locked jaw feeling and causes severe pain.
- Face, mouth, ear, and toothaches: Without effective treatment for underbite and TMD, a person will likely experience chronic head, ear, toothaches, and even hearing problems.
- Problems biting or chewing properly: Underbite can severely affect a person’s ability to chew or bite bits of food. This means they are more likely to choke or bite their tongue and cheeks while eating, damaging the soft tissues in the mouth. They may also become more dependent on certain teeth than others, making these teeth more likely to crack, break, and wear out prematurely.
- Sleep apnea: Since mouth breathing is a common symptom of an underbite, many people with this condition also suffer from sleep apnea. This severe sleep disorder severely reduces sleep quality by preventing a person from breathing momentarily during the night. Poor quality sleep can lead to extreme fatigue, decreased cognitive function, and mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression.
What is the Best Age for Underbite Treatment?
We must say that the sooner you start treatment, the better. So if you notice your child suffering from this abnormality, you should immediately come to your dentist and start treatment.
Early treatment means that the person doesn’t need orthodontics or surgery or, in some cases, can be avoided. From the age of 5, under-dental bites can start, significantly affecting the treatment. If you don’t notice the signs of this abnormality, you can get good results from treatment from 6 to 10 years old.
How is Underbite Procedure Performed?
Underbite treatmentis personal, and treatment options vary depending on the situation:
- Underbite treatment with fixed or other orthodontic appliances
Mobile or fixed orthodontics is one of the effective treatment modalities to improve mild deformities of the jaw, including mild under-chin. Orthodontics is effective for adults and children in cases where the patient is of developmental age (7 to 12 years), in addition to the mild complication.
This treatment method uses fixed or removable orthodontics to treat jaw protrusion and irregular tooth alignment. The specialist uses different visible or invisible braces and special equipment during the orthodontic procedure. This fixes the teeth and causes the lower jaw to move backward. This way, your dentist puts much pressure on the jaw and teeth using orthodontic wires and other equipment. This will improve the condition of the teeth and return them to their former position. You should note that this method will also differ in the type of wire and equipment used, depending on the severity of the anomaly.
- Dental braces
An underbite is a relatively common type of biting problem. Therefore, the type of dental braces can treat the condition. The brackets retract the lower teeth if tilted forward and apply gentle pressure to the entire set until the bite fix. Depending on a person’s priorities and budget, several viable options exist.
Dental braces are used in the orthodontic treatment of patients and tend to move the teeth a little faster. Your doctor puts metal bands around the back molars to fix the mounts. After choosing a strip of the right size for the tooth, the specialist applies glue to the strip, improves the bond with blue light, and slides the strip over the tooth. Orthodontic brackets are placed on the teeth close to the gum line, pulling the front teeth for more stunning aesthetic results.
- Lingual (invisible) braces
Lingual braces are one of the most popular orthodontics today, and it isn’t difficult to understand why. Similar to traditional braces, they gently move the teeth over time.
Invisible braces are an excellent choice for those who are confident or want to straighten their teeth differently than fixed braces.
- Palate expander
Some cases of underbite can treat with a maxillary expander or palate expander. The tooth aligner is placed at the corner of the mouth and, over time, puts pressure on the upper teeth, moving them outward. This treatment is ideal when the upper dental arch isn’t wide enough for the mouth.
- Chin cap
A chin cap limits the development of the lower jaw to prevent further enlargement. This is suitable for patients whose bones have not yet formed in early childhood or adolescence.
- Tooth extraction
Some underbites cause misaligned teeth where the teeth don’t have enough room to align correctly. In these cases, tooth extraction may be necessary to reduce the pressure on the jaw and allow the teeth to align.
How is Underbite Surgery Performed?
Underbite surgery is one of the invasive methods performed with the help of anesthesia. Underbite surgery is a treatment method in cases where the patient has passed the age of growth, the bones in the jaw area cannot grow, and the protrusion is severe. The procedure is for the specialist to move the lower jaw to its correct place and then fix it using special equipment such as screws and plates. Follow the steps of underbite surgery:
- Consultation
If the position, shape, or size of the lower jaw is so significant that the treatment by the orthodontist alone is insufficient, an operation is required. A combination of orthodontics and oral surgery will often be necessary to achieve good results.
In your first consultation with your specialist, you will receive information about surgical chin correction options (also known as orthognathic surgery), the course of events, and possible risks. The specialist will discuss with you which method is necessary. The idea is that with this information, you can decide on treatment.
- Preparation
Your specialist prepares the treatment plan for the surgical part of the treatment. It is often necessary for your teeth to receive an orthodontic pretreatment before the procedure. This may mean that you will need orthodontic braces for about one to two years to get your teeth into the correct position. In most cases, orthodontic follow-up treatment also requires six months after the operation.
The dentist sometimes removes your lower wisdom teeth before surgery. In preparation for the surgery, your specialist also takes new x-rays. This is necessary for the operation. During this process on your tooth model, your specialist determines the unique position of the jaw.
- Anesthesia
Your specialist will give you anesthesia, making the procedure painless and comfortable.
- Process
During this operation, the specialist moves your jaw to the new position. The doctor can fix your chin in several ways. Usually, the surgeon selects the upper and lower jaw using screws and plates that can leave in place.
After the underbite surgery, you can open and close your mouth again. In the weeks after the surgery, adjusting your chin with elastic bands may be necessary to achieve the ideal position. In exceptional cases, the plates that secure your jaws may need to be surgically removed approximately three to six months after surgery.
What is the Recovery Process After Underbite Surgery?
You should pay attention to what you need to pay attention to after the underbite surgery. It would be best if you listened to your doctor’s advice:
- You may feel pain in the throat or the operated area for the first few days after the surgery. Maybe it’s better to talk about discomfort rather than despair because it’s not that bad overall. For this, the specialist will give painkillers, if necessary.
- You can expect significant swelling of your face after surgery. This swelling usually peaks within 48 hours after surgery. After three to four days, the swelling subsides rapidly. After about three weeks, the swelling disappeared.
- You can make ice compresses to limit swelling of the face. On the first day, you can also apply a cold pack that you can place around the lower jaw. Also, your doctor will give you medicine to prevent swelling.
- It is normal to have some blood in your mouth after surgery. You may also experience occasional nosebleeds for a few days after surgery on the upper jaw.
- You will notice that the sensation on your lips or chin is different. Sometimes there is a numbness, sometimes a tingling sensation. Usually, after a few months, the feeling returns to normal. A small percentage of patients continue to have abnormal or decreased sensations in the lips or chin.
- You can keep your swollen lips supple with the cream recommended by your doctor. In this way, you can open your mouth more efficiently and smoothly. If necessary, clean your lips and the corners of your mouth with a piece of gauze soaked in the recommended rinse.
- The specialist will, of course, tailor your diet to your circumstances. In the first period after the procedure, the doctor will recommend liquid food, which you will convert into a soft puree diet prepared according to your possibilities. Depending on your jaw fix, you can usually return to normal eating after about six weeks.
- Swelling on your face and stitches in your mouth make oral care seem more difficult. But despite the swelling and stitches, there is always room to clean your mouth. It is essential to clean your mouth well every day during this period. This helps to support uninterrupted wound healing and prevent infections, tooth decay, and gum infections. Therefore, clean your mouth at least four times a day. So care after every meal and before going to bed.
- Take care of the wound area, teeth, orthodontic appliances, and lips.
- Use a small, soft toothbrush, preferably with closely spaced bristles. A small brush will help you better get into the mouth’s back.
- Any toothpaste that contains fluoride is fine.
- Washing and rinsing the wound area is necessary to prevent bacterial growth.
What are the Risks of Underbite Surgery?
Some risks apply to many people:
- With surgical methods for the treatment of underbite, there is a small risk of permanent loss of sensation in a small area of the skin of the chin or lower lip. This is because the surgical cut passes through the bone close to the sensory nerve in the lower jaw.
- There is a risk of damage to the temporomandibular joints, especially after lower jaw corrections. This is almost always temporary.
- Sometimes, teeth may look slightly different years after orthodontic treatment. This may also apply to a surgical chin correction. There is a risk that the chin will tend to return to its pre-operative position.
What is the Difference Between Underbite and Overbite?
In a correct bite, when the teeth overlap, the upper teeth slightly overlap the lower teeth. If the amount of this coverage exceeds the standard limit, it is called an overbite. But as we have said so far, the lower jaw is the opposite, and the teeth of the lower jaw cover the teeth of the upper jaw. Both abnormalities can impair a person’s appearance, speech, chewing, and swallowing.
According to studies, an underbite expects between 5% and 10%. However, studies worldwide show that this problem occurs more due to genetic reasons. There are many options for overbite treatment, but in general, the treatment for underbite is surgery.
How Much Does Underbite Treatment Cost?
The underbite treatment cost is a concern for people suffering from this abnormality. Many people don’t take it seriously because of the almost high cost of treatment, which causes more severe and acute problems.
Ultimately, not following the treatment of this complication will cause you to pay more over time because this damage will gradually become more powerful and affect other body organs. The underbite treatment prices depend on many factors. Many factors change fees, including required headgear, braces, instruments, equipment, location, doctor’s experience, and anesthesia.
In Which Countries is the Cheapest Underbite Treatment Performed?
The cost of underbite treatment can vary significantly depending on several factors, including location, the procedure’s complexity, and the surgeon’s experience and qualifications. Underbite treatment (such as surgery) generally tends to be cheaper in countries with low labor and material costs. Some countries that offer affordable prognathism surgery are Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, and India.
It is important to note that the cost of underbite surgery should not be the only factor considered when choosing a surgeon. It is crucial to consider the reputation of the facility where the procedure will perform and the surgeon’s experience and qualifications. Here are the underbite treatment costs (surgical and non-surgical) by country:
| COUNTRY | COST |
| United States | $5000 to $40000 |
| Brazil | $3000 to $20000 |
| China | $4300 to $34500 |
| Japan | $4250 to $35000 |
| South Korea | $3150 to $22500 |
| India | $1250 to $21000 |
| Argentina | $2750 to $19500 |
| Mexico | $750 to $15000 |
| Germany | $4400 to $33000 |
| Turkey | $700 to $14300 |
| Colombia | $1000 to $18000 |
| Italy | $4250 to $31000 |
| France | $4500 to $32800 |
| Spain | $4000 to $35000 |
| Taiwan | $3700 to $30400 |
| Venezuela | $850 to $14500 |
| United Kingdom | $4800 to $39100 |
| Netherlands | $4300 to $31500 |
| Egypt | $3500 to $28000 |
| Peru | $4100 to $31000 |
| AVERAGE COST | $700 to $40000 |
Attention: For Information Purposes Only
Please note that the content of this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should always consult a qualified dentist for personal guidance.
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889540616308915
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1427501/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24085611/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6458043/
https://ikm.mk/ojs/index.php/kij/article/view/6027
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD003451.pub2/abstract
