Good dental health is of the utmost importance. Not only does it provide you with a great smile, it also prevents you from facing some problems such as cavities, gum diseases, tooth decay and other oral issues. With recent studies showing that there is a substantial link between poor dental practices and heart disease, it stands as the most opportune time to ensure that our oral health is at its peak. When it comes to underbites, the condition might seem harmless, but that’s far from the truth. In fact, the condition brings about the additional wear and tear of the tooth’s enamel which can bring about pain and a lot of discomfort. Additionally, those misaligned teeth can deal a huge blow on self-esteem which is quite priceless! What Is An Underbite? When teeth are perfectly aligned, the top front teeth only slightly overlap the bottom ones. However, when there is an underbite, the lower jaw protrudes further than the front upper teeth, causing the bottom front teeth to sit ahead of the top ones. This condition affects about 10% of the populous and should be corrected as soon as the issue is noticed. Treatments When it comes to underbites, there are both surgical and non-surgical alternatives. It’s important to start treatment when the patient is a child because these bones haven’t quite fused yet and are easier to manipulate. However, treatments are available for adults as well. One of the most common is the upper jaw expander which helps the upper palate expand and reach where it’s needed. You can also use a reverse-pull face mask to treat this issue. Here, the ace wraps around the head and uses metal bands to pull the upper jaw in front so that it can stay in the position. If the teeth are misaligned, then braces can also do the job of setting them straight. You shouldn’t suffer with an underbite. There are solutions that work great and are capable of bringing back your smile and giving you the confidence you deserve. Once the jaws have properly aligned, you can now be comfortable without having to worry about dental aches.
December 15th, 2019