Even if you take good care of your oral health, there are some dental problems that are inherited, and there is nothing you can do to avoid them. One such problem is an underbite.
But it does not imply you must accept an underbite for the rest of your life simply because you can not prevent one. To treat your underbite today, visit a family and cosmetic dentistry in Leesburg, VA.
How does an underbite affect you?
When the lower jaw pushes out more than the upper jaw, the result is a disproportionately significant and displaying lower jaw, known as an underbite. From barely apparent to severe misalignment is present. Less than ten percent of individuals suffer from underbites, yet everyday interactions and long-term endeavors might be difficult for that ten percent.
How underbite affects your smile?
- Aesthetics
Since underbites are much more uncommon than overbites, individuals with them are likelier to stand out and feel anxious. This is made more complicated by an extending chin, which can make individuals with underbites appear silly.
- Speech
Specific sounds, such as “f” and “s,” need the top and bottom teeth to be in contact. It might be challenging to pronounce those letters when your teeth are not positioned. This makes individuals feel less confident, especially as they approach adolescence.
- Smiling
It can be hard to shift the mouth into a “regular” smile when the bottom lip is dominant, which results in a sagging smile. No matter what you do, your bottom lip seems to be sticking out longer than it should in your smile.
- Chewing
When your teeth are out of coordination, even a basic task like chewing becomes problematic. Because they cannot thoroughly chew their food before swallowing, those with severe underbites are more likely to experience a choke.
- Jaw pain
Your jaw constantly strives to align your teeth, whether you know it or not. If it does not, the pressure builds up, resulting in migraines and jaw pain. As a result of added pressure on the jaw, TMJ is more likely to affect people.
Correcting an underbite
You may have heard that surgery is the only way to treat an underbite. This is untrue. Surgery is seen as a last resort when all non-surgical methods have been explored.
Upper jaw expander: As therapy advances, a Palatal Expander is implanted on the roof of the mouth and made wider each night.
Reverse Pull Face Mask: This looks like the headgear you might have seen on individuals wearing braces. To shift the top jaw forward and match it with the lower jaw, it wraps around the top of the head and fixes to metal bands on the rear of the upper teeth.