Table of Contents
- What is an Underbite?
- What Causes an Underbite?
- Why Correcting an Underbite is Important
- Protect Your Teeth
- Say Goodbye to Jaw Pain and Discomfort
- Speak Clearly and Confidently
- Enhance Your Overall Health
- Treatment Options for Treating an Underbite
- How Aligner32 Can Help Correct Underbites
- Conclusion
- FAQs
When talking about dental problems, an underbite is one of the most common defects faced by people with asymmetrical jawlines. It is more than just a cosmetic concern. It can impact your health, functionality, and even your confidence. By reading further, you will get to know what causes underbite, why correcting them matters, and how Aligner32 helps you achieve your perfect smile.
What is an Underbite?
An underbite is a condition where the lower jaw extends forward, causing the lower teeth to overlap the upper teeth. This misalignment can range from mild to severe and may affect the facial appearance by creating a prominent lower jaw. This condition is often categorized into two major types:
- Dental Underbite: A condition where teeth are misaligned rather than the jaw. It is usually caused when teeth are not properly positioned due to the habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or prolonged bottle feeding.
- Skeletal Underbite: Caused due to structural issues in the jawbone. It usually occurs when the lower jaw (mandible) is overlapped or the upper jaw (maxilla) is underdeveloped.
What Causes an Underbite?
An underbite can alter both your smile and overall face symmetry. But what exactly causes this misalignment? Let’s explore key factors that contribute to an underbite.
Genetics
Your DNA has answers to many of your physical traits. Genetics can determine the structure, shape, and size of your jawbone, making hereditary factors one of the leading causes of underbites.
Childhood Habits
The habits we pick up as kids often leave a lasting impact, and certain childhood habits impact how our jaw develops. Habits like thumb sucking may seem innocent, but they can exert pressure on developing teeth and the jaw, pushing them out of alignment. Other habits include long use of pacifiers or tongue thrusting which may misalign the jaw or teeth, causing underbite. Although these habits may seem minor, they can disrupt the natural growth of your jaw.
Life’s Unexpected Turn: The Trauma
Injuries to the jaw can leave a lasting impression. Trauma from an incident or injury may displace the jawbone, causing it to heal in a misaligned position. Improperly aligned teeth can gradually cause your bite to shift out of balance, causing a noticeable underbite.
Why Correcting an Underbite is Important
An underbite is not only a cosmetic concern, it's a condition that can impact your overall comfort, even the quality of life. Ignoring it can lead to a range of complications that worsen over time. Correcting an underbite is a step toward better health, functionality, and confidence. Here is why treating an underbite is crucial:
Protect Your Teeth
Our teeth work as a team to perform essential tasks like biting and chewing. When the bite is misaligned, the pressure isn't distributed evenly. This imbalance can lead to excessive wear and tear or cause teeth to crack or break.
Say Goodbye to Jaw Pain and Discomfort
An underbite often leads to chronic pain or stress. If left untreated, it may result in dysfunction in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or frequent headaches. Realigning your bite relieves this strain, promoting a more relaxed and comfortable jaw position that can significantly reduce the pain.
Speak Clearly and Confidently
Your teeth and jaw play a pivotal role in how you form words or sounds. When they are misaligned, certain pronunciations become challenging, leading to speech difficulties. Correcting an underbite can help improve clarity in speech and restore confidence in your ability to express yourself.
Enhance Your Overall Health
An untreated underbite can create hidden challenges to your overall well-being. Misaligned teeth are harder to clean, leading to cavities and gum diseases. Moreover, irregular chewing patterns can make digestion less effective and strain your oral tissues. By addressing an underbite, you not only improve your bite functionality but also create an easier-to-maintain dental structure.
Treatment Options for Treating an Underbite
Depending on the severity of the case, a wide range of treatment options are available, ranging from non-invasive to surgical options.
Surgical Treatments
When an underbite is caused by significant skeletal misalignment, non-surgical treatments may not be enough. In such cases, orthognathic surgery becomes the go-to solution. Surgery realigns the upper and lower jaws to ensure a proper bite. Also, it enhances the symmetry of the facial structure.
Orthodontic treatments
A. Braces
Braces are made to realign teeth and correct bite issues with precision. For many people, the usual treatment for ages is to correct underbite through braces. These are highly visible, made up of metal or ceramic, and take years to fix the alignment.
B. Clear Aligners
Clear aligners are the game-changers for someone looking for a comfortable, convenient, effective, and invisible treatment. These are discreet and nearly invisible. They gradually and gently shift the teeth to their perfect positions, and are completely removable, giving you the freedom to enjoy your favorite food.
How Aligner32 Can Help Correct Underbites
Gone are the days when correcting an underbite required clunky braces or invasive surgery. Aligner32 has revolutionized the way underbites are treated now. With advanced technology and a focus on accessibility, Aligner32 has designed affordable and premium quality clear aligners to provide effective, non-surgical correction for underbite.
Aligner32 Clear Aligners are easily accessible to anyone looking for a solution to their underbite. With their flexible payment plan method, they ensure you achieve your perfect smile without stressing out about costs.
Learn About Our Process: Step-by-step guide
One of the stand-out features of Aligner32 is the convenience it offers, allowing you to correct your underbite from the comfort of your home. Here is a step-by-step guide to getting a smile makeover:
- Step 1: Take a smile assessment to know whether you are eligible for the process or not.
- Step 2: Place the order for an impression kit and receive it within 3-5 business days.
- Step 3: Take proper impressions of your teeth with the help of the guide provided to you and our 24/7 available support team.
- Step 4: Once the impressions are made, send them back to us.
- Step 5: We will receive your impressions, we will make 3D smile projections to let you know how your smile will look after the treatment.
- Step 6: Once you approve the 3D treatment plan, the team will start the fabrication of your clear aligners and you will receive them within 3 weeks.
The good part is that you are never alone during your whole treatment. Aligner32’s AlignerTracker app ensures you stay on track once the treatment is started.
Conclusion
Treating underbite is as important as treating any other problem. Understanding what causes an underbite and what treatments are available enables people to take control over their oral and overall health. Don't hesitate to bring in experts to guide you through the process and to propose practical (and affordable) solutions that work for you.
FAQs
Q: Can an underbite be corrected?
A: Yes, there are treatments available to treat an underbite. The most advanced and convenient way to treat is through clear aligners. They are very comfortable and require less time for treatment.
Q: What causes underbites?
A: Many factors contribute to developing this issue. They can be genetic, or it could be caused by any childhood habit like thumb sucking or an accident causing jaw misalignment.
Q: Can underbites be painful?
A: Yes, underbites can cause severe jaw pain or TMJ. In some cases, it also becomes a reason for a headache to start.
Q: Does underbite affect face shape?
A: Yes, an underbite can alter the symmetry of the face, causing the face shape to change.
Q: How long does it take to correct an overbite?
A: It takes almost 3-12 months to treat an overbite, depending upon the severity of the case and the treatment plan you are going for.
