In a healthy bite, the upper front teeth sit slightly in front of the lower teeth. An underbite reverses that relationship — the lower jaw or lower front teeth extend out ahead of the upper teeth. It ranges from mild, where only the front teeth are affected, to significant, where the entire lower jaw is positioned forward.
What causes an underbite?
Underbites are more often skeletal in origin than the other bite conditions we treat — meaning the jaw bones themselves, not just the teeth, are involved. That's an important distinction, because it shapes when treatment is most effective.
Why it's worth addressing
An underbite can make chewing less efficient, since the front teeth don't meet the way they're designed to. It can also cause uneven wear, speech difficulty, and strain on the jaw joint over time. Because underbites often involve real jaw growth discrepancies, this is a condition where evaluating early — and monitoring growth over time — makes a meaningful difference in the treatment options available later.
Treatment options
Early Orthodontics
For children with a developing underbite, growth-guidance appliances used during active growth can meaningfully influence jaw development — this is the single biggest window we have to change the trajectory.
About early treatment →Comprehensive Braces
For milder underbites, or as a follow-up to early treatment, braces bring the teeth into proper alignment once growth-related correction has been maximized.
About braces →Jaw Alignment Coordination
For adult patients with a significant skeletal underbite, orthodontics paired with jaw (orthognathic) surgery is sometimes the most effective path. We coordinate this care closely.
About jaw alignment →Why early evaluation matters here
Underbites respond best to intervention while the jaw is still growing. Once growth is complete, correcting a significant skeletal underbite typically requires surgical coordination rather than orthodontics alone. This is one of the strongest reasons we recommend a first evaluation by age 7.
Common questions about underbites
Will my child outgrow their underbite?
Underbites don't typically self-correct — and in many cases they become more pronounced as a child continues to grow. That's why early evaluation and, when appropriate, early treatment are so important for this particular condition.
Do all underbites require jaw surgery?
No. Many underbites, especially when caught and treated during childhood growth, can be managed successfully with orthodontics alone. Surgery becomes a consideration mainly for significant skeletal underbites diagnosed in adulthood, after growth is complete.
Can adults still get treatment for an underbite?
Yes. Adults can be treated for underbites — the approach depends on severity. Milder cases may respond to orthodontics alone, while more significant skeletal cases are typically addressed with a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery, coordinated with an oral surgeon.
What's the difference between an underbite and a crossbite?
An underbite describes the entire lower arch sitting ahead of the upper arch. A crossbite can affect just a few teeth, where upper teeth sit inside lower teeth in a specific area, without the whole jaw being misaligned. Some patients have both.
Timing matters with underbites.
The earlier we evaluate, the more options are usually on the table. Come in — you'll be seen at your scheduled time, no waiting around — and let's find out where things stand.
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