Underbite is a condition in which the teeth do not align properly, with the bottom teeth overlapping the top ones when the mouth is closed. This condition can be caused by irregularities in the positioning of the teeth, which is called a dental underbite, or by jaws that are misaligned, called a skeletal underbite. Braces and jaw surgery are both commonly used to treat underbite in Singapore. Which of the two is best in each case depends largely on the underlying cause of a patient’s underbite.
Why Underbite Needs Treatment
While underbite can be the source of cosmetic problems that take a toll on a person’s self-esteem and quality of life, such as a protruding or elongated lower jaw, an inability to close the mouth naturally and a tendency to spray saliva while speaking, among others, it is not, by any means, just an aesthetic issue. Underbite can cause a number of serious functional and dental problems as well.
Underbite can make it difficult to bite and chew foods efficiently, affecting digestion and nutrition, which can, in turn affect a person’s overall health. It can also cause breathing problems, lead to chronic jaw pain and interfere with speech clarity, causing a person to lisp or struggle to pronounce certain sounds. Over the long term, underbite can lead to tooth loss and gum disease, as uneven tooth wear increases risk of tooth decay and infection.
Braces For Underbite
Braces and other forms of orthodontic treatment can address underbite that is caused by poor positioning of teeth. Orthodontists can also, when intervention occurs early in life, guide jaw growth in children who show a tendency towards developing skeletal underbite, treatment that can often prevent the need for corrective jaw surgery later in life. For this reason, Singapore parents are advised to have their children evaluated by an orthodontist by the age of 7 to ensure that developing problems are diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
Jaw Surgery for Underbite
When early intervention does not occur or attempts at preventing the development of skeletal underbite are not successful, corrective jaw surgery – also called orthognathic surgery – is generally the only effective means of correcting the problem. At this point, braces may camouflage an underbite to some extent if it is a mild one, but will not resolve the underlying issue of poor jaw alignment or the long-term problems it can cause.
Jaw surgery for underbite involves a combination of orthodontic and surgical treatments to resolve functional and aesthetic issues. Through close collaboration between a patient’s Singapore oral and maxillofacial surgeon and orthodontist, a treatment plan will be formulated that includes orthodontic care – generally braces – to prepare for jaw surgery by moving teeth into a position suitable for well-aligned jaws. Then, jaw surgery is performed, during which the surgeon will resize, reshape or reposition one jaw or both as necessary to correct the patient’s bite. Typically, after about 8 weeks of healing, another round of orthodontic care will be administered to fine-tune the bite after surgery.
So the bottom line is that dental underbite – caused by poor tooth alignment – can be helped by braces, offering patients better oral function and a more attractive smile. However, braces alone cannot yield those results when the problem is caused by jaw irregularities. In these cases, the underlying problem will need to be addressed by a Singapore oral and maxillofacial surgeon via jaw surgery for underbite.
I have underbite and small teeths
I have an extreme underbite problem but I am only 16 years old
Hi I’m 19, Indonesian, currently studying in Melbourne. I have under bite, long chin and a bit of asymmetry face. I have been using braces for 2.5 years. I’m planning to undergo long chin surgery (more preferred if possible) / double jaw surgery this November. What are the pre-surgery preparations (Especially the fact that I’m currently using braces)? How long is the recovery? How many days should I stay in Singapore? Can I communicate in English with the doctors? How much does the surgery cost roughly? What about the total expense that will be incurred including accommodation etc? What if I cannot come to Singapore first for consultation? Thank you!
hi i'm 16 and i have a 5mm underbite(to me i think it is quite severe but i'' not sure whether it is or not) i want to correct my underbite but i do not want to undergo surgery to. can i use braces to correct it? will my face profile change if i use braces to correct?
hiii i have a severe underbite but im not really sire what is the cause of it. how can i tell whether the cause of my underbite is my lower jaw being too overdevloped or my upper jaw being under developed?
Underbite correction due to jaw alignment and teeth position.