Most people have met at least one person with an overbite; the teeth at the front of the mouth may protrude forward out of the mouth, creating the illusion that the person with the overbite is forever biting their lip.

This misalignment comes with its own set of issues, but in this article, we are going to focus on the lower jaw and underbites. These misalignments are rarer and cause the lower teeth to sit in front of the lower ones when the jaw is relaxed. In many cases, not as apparent as the aforementioned overbite.

So, what are the treatment options if you have an underbite?

At Ashlow Orthodontics, our team has expertise in all kinds of dental misalignments and will work with you to assess which option is suitable to create your realigned, perfectly straight smile. Orthodontics in Stoke has come a long way, and you may not need metal braces to correct your misalignment at all.

Read on for a simplified guide to your treatment options if you have an underbite, focusing on adult patients who need orthodontics in Stoke.

Invisalign

Most people have heard of Invisalign by now!

These invisible aligners are one of the most popular kinds of orthodontics in Stoke and can be used by our team to reverse minimal and uncomplicated underbites. They take, on average, between 3-6 months to do so and will require a fair bit of maintenance to keep everything on track. So, ask our team about them today!

Lingual braces

In the realm of concealed braces and aligners, lingual braces can be used to correct an underbite. Usually, they will be fitted to the back of the upper teeth and adjusted as and when needed to help create a realignment of the upper and lower jaws.

Remember, these are a bit harder to manage than other braces due to their position and will cost more to have fitted, but they will enable you to get the smile you want without attracting attention.

Metal braces

Ah, the traditional metal brace!

Taking up to 36 months to correct misalignments in adults, these nifty and hardcore appliances can be used to correct underbites, too, simply by gently pulling the teeth back and pushing the teeth on the upper jaw forward.

Our team at Ashlow Orthodontics will expertly fit and monitor these, helping you to get a straighter smile you will be happy to flash !

Twin block appliances

In the case that your upper jaw is underdeveloped and has caused a fully grown lower jaw to look large, you may need a twin block appliance.

These are devices that are worn underneath your tongue as well as on the roof of your mouth and are adjusted by our team to expand the jaw(s). They need to be worn for around 6.5 hours each day, and the treatment can take 12 months. It is true that these are more suited to children, but they can also be worn by adults and teens too.

Orthognathic surgery

In cases of complex or extreme underbites, our team may refer you for orthognathic surgery.

This is when your jaw(s) are broken in a controlled way (don’t worry, you will be given an anaesthetic to knock you out!), and the jaw(s) are moved into the correct alignment. You may be eligible to have this performed for free on the NHS, or you may be able to get partial funding.

The full recovery from this takes up to a year and the recovery will require a lot of aftercare. But the end result is a realigned smile that looks wonderful!