Underbite is a common type of malocclusion in dentistry, leading to a lack of confidence due to an unaesthetic facial appearance, affecting chewing function, and easily resulting in oral health issues. To improve an underbite, many choose braces. So, should an underbite be treated with braces? Is this orthodontic method truly effective?
What is an Underbite?
An underbite, also known as a reverse bite, is a common form of malocclusion caused by an incorrect relationship between the two jaws. Instead of the upper dental arch overlapping the lower dental arch as normal, people with an underbite have their lower teeth protruding over their upper teeth.
Symptoms of an underbite are easily recognizable by the lower jaw protruding forward, causing the lower lip and chin to stick out, and the face to appear concave in profile, leading to facial disharmony.
Causes of Underbite:
- Genetics: If there is a family history of underbite, the likelihood of offspring developing it is very high.
- Missing upper incisors, delayed eruption of upper incisors, or lack of an anterior stop for the lower incisors, causing the lower dental arch to slide forward.
- Habitually pushing the lower jaw forward over time can lead to an underbite.
- Premature loss of lower primary molars, causing the lower jaw to shift forward to compensate for chewing function.
- Loose temporomandibular joint ligaments causing the lower jaw to slide forward abnormally.
- Pituitary gland dysfunction can affect the development of the lower jaw, leading to an underbite.
- Overactive tongue, leading to an imbalance between lip, cheek, and tongue muscles, pushing the lower jaw outward.
Impact of Underbite on Health and Life:
- Facial structure can be deformed into a ‘dish-face’ appearance, causing aesthetic concerns.
- Chewing function is affected: People with an underbite have difficulty chewing, easily experience jaw fatigue, and food is not thoroughly chewed, leading to the stomach overworking, causing digestive disorders and reduced nutrient absorption.
- Reduced speech clarity: An underbite can make communication unclear.
- High risk of oral diseases: Misaligned bite and overactive jaw muscles can lead to muscle spasms and temporomandibular joint disorders, causing TMJ pain.
Should an Underbite be Treated with Braces?
Braces are an orthodontic technique that uses dental appliances like archwires and brackets to align teeth into their correct positions on the dental arch, improving aesthetics and chewing function. So, should people with an underbite get braces? According to dentists, people with an underbite can absolutely get braces. However, depending on the patient’s condition, the method for correcting an underbite will be adjusted accordingly. In many cases, braces can effectively correct an underbite, with varying results depending on the severity of the underbite.
To determine the precise treatment direction, patients should visit a reputable dental facility for a thorough examination and consultation with a dentist. If the underbite is primarily dental, braces often yield excellent results, significantly improving crowded teeth and malocclusion. In cases where the underbite is skeletal, due to an imbalanced facial or cranial bone structure, orthognathic surgery may be considered for the best outcome.
Particularly, for those with a combined dental and skeletal underbite, effective treatment requires a combination of braces and jaw surgery to achieve comprehensive facial and jaw balance.
Outstanding Advantages of Underbite Braces
Should an underbite be treated with braces? The answer is yes. Underbite braces offer many outstanding benefits:
Comprehensive correction of underbite: Helps move teeth into their correct positions, resulting in evenly aligned teeth, a proper bite, balanced jaws, and a harmonious facial appearance.
Permanent orthodontic results: If a good care regimen is followed and retainers are worn as prescribed by the dentist, the results can be long-lasting.
Improved chewing function, easier oral hygiene: When the bite is no longer misaligned, chewing becomes more efficient and teeth are easier to clean.
Absolutely safe, no impact on tooth function: Gentle and consistent force application from the appliances helps stabilize teeth quickly, without weakening them. Furthermore, this orthodontic method does not require tooth reduction like porcelain veneers, thus not affecting natural teeth.
Popular Underbite Braces Methods Today
To correct an underbite, there are currently many effective braces methods, suitable for various needs and budgets:
Traditional Metal Braces
This is a traditional method with high effectiveness and reasonable cost. Metal brackets made of stainless steel are fixed onto the teeth. The archwire is secured with elastic ties, and thanks to the elasticity of these ties, the bracing process is stable, moving teeth to the desired position quickly.
Self-Ligating Metal Braces
This is an improved version of the above method, utilizing a self-ligating slide mechanism or metal clips to push and hold the archwire, eliminating the need for elastic ties. The archwire slides freely within the bracket slot, allowing continuous orthodontic adjustment and reducing issues like stretched or unexpectedly loose elastic ties.
Ceramic or Sapphire Braces
Traditional ceramic brackets and self-ligating ceramic brackets operate similarly to metal brackets, but offer higher aesthetics due to their tooth-colored appearance. Sapphire brackets also share similar properties with ceramic, providing confidence during daily activities and work for those undergoing treatment.
Invisalign Clear Aligners
This is the most modern method, which does not use brackets or elastic ties, but instead uses clear aligners to apply force to the teeth and move them into their correct position on the dental arch. The outstanding advantages of Invisalign are high aesthetics, comfort during treatment, easy oral hygiene, and freedom when eating and drinking.
How Much Do Underbite Braces Cost?
If you are wondering how much underbite braces cost, the first thing to do is to understand the cost of underbite braces and the treatment method recommended by a specialist dentist. Along with overbite braces, underbite braces are an effective solution to improve misaligned teeth by using specialized orthodontic appliances. Depending on the type of braces you choose and the policies of each dental clinic, the price of underbite braces will vary.
Reference Braces Price List
| Type of Braces | Price (VND) |
| Metal Braces | 30,000,000 VND |
| Ceramic Braces | 40,000,000 VND |
| Resin Braces | 40,000,000 VND |
| Lingual Braces (Inner Surface) | 80,000,000 – 90,000,000 VND |
| Invisalign Clear Aligners | 80,000,000 – 90,000,000 VND |
Do Underbite Braces Hurt?
Besides wondering if an underbite should be treated with braces, many also worry about whether underbite braces hurt and how long the process takes. According to dentists, during the initial stage of wearing braces, the mouth may feel uncomfortable due to unfamiliarity with the presence of brackets. However, once the mouth adjusts to the braces, this sensation will quickly disappear.
During follow-up appointments with the dentist, the archwire will be adjusted to apply pressure and move the teeth into their correct positions. This may cause pain and soreness, but it is a normal phenomenon, usually lasting only 1-2 days. If the pain becomes unmanageable, the dentist may prescribe pain medication; patients must adhere to the doctor’s instructions and absolutely avoid overusing painkillers to prevent health complications.
The duration of underbite braces treatment depends on the oral condition, the patient’s age, and the chosen orthodontic method. Typically, the treatment lasts 18–24 months. For children undergoing braces between the ages of 7–13, results are often quicker and achieve the best orthodontic outcomes. In contrast, adults undergoing braces may require more time due to their harder bone structure.
In conclusion, should an underbite be treated with braces – the answer is yes. When performed correctly by a highly skilled dentist, teeth will be more aligned, more aesthetically pleasing, and the bite will return to its proper position. To ensure effectiveness, you should visit a reputable dental facility to have your teeth examined and receive advice on the appropriate orthodontic method.
