Underbite with Braces

[Jessesgirl09]

Just an update Next adjustment is Tuesday the 13th!

[Nozzelnut]

They're looking great!

[mrwata]

Your teeth looks amazing!

[cata]

Just wondering how things are going or if you're done? Please update!

[Rhydon86]

I am very late to this but er I just wanted to ask something because you all seem expierienced. So I went to get my teeth cleaned/checked up the other day and my doctor said that I would be a good candidate for braces. I have an underbite (I assume). I wanted to know if I should get it or not. I honestly do not expect a reply.

[Tinchi7]

Late reply as well, but your underbite is the same as mine minus the fact my teeth are crooked. This gives me some incentive to correct it. Your bite looks great now. Rhydon I was thinking the same thing except I'm getting braces anyway to straighten my teeth but am wondering if I should extend my treatment time to correct my underbite with elastics. I say if it bothers you then go for it, otherwise if you can live with it and accept it then don't. I've thought about the whole braces as well for a long time. I'm 32 btw and im getting braces put on aug 23rd.

[sneed1o1]

Sorry if this is a lot to read!

First off, this is my second. Yes, SECOND time in both upper and lower braces. I had them I believe 6 years ago when I was 16. I'm now 22.

My first treatment:
My first orthodontist had me in an upper permanent expander for I think 6ish weeks which was to help expand my narrow upper jaw and help even out slight crowding. He then placed me in both upper and lower braces for 2 years. I had my wisdom teeth out around at this time as well. At the end, he was super pushy about me having a double jaw surgery!! And when I told him that surgery was not the road I wanted to take he pretty much just gave up (I think he was not happy he didn't get his $ from making a referral; I'm sure that could be a reason). He put me in a clear upper retainer and a permanent wire retainer along the inside of my lower front teeth. 5k later, my teeth were straight, the alignment was OK, but my underbite wasn't any better!! I also had to have a gum graft on my two lower center teeth because the gum had receded... Which was awful

Flash forward to present time, my fiancé and his siblings all are in for orthodontic treatment with a DIFFERENT orthodontist in our state than the one I went to. I sat down with my fiancé and talked about what I should do. I want to save myself from future jaw issues, and have a better self esteem, as well as look good for wedding pictures next summer!! So I went to a consultation (which was also a 2 hour appointment if the Dr. did see me fit for braces again). Turns out, I am a candidate to have my underbite corrected without jaw surgery. I had impressions plus my upper and lower braces put on that same day! (It's a two hour trip to go to the main office, otherwise they come to the next city over to where I live once a month for everyone's adjustments)

It's now November and I've had them on now for 2 months. My teeth are still straight from faithfully wearing my retainers, so the work is mainly on shifting my lower teeth over to the right side of my mouth. I am wearing 5/16 elastics from the lower front to the upper back, and may need a lower right canine pulled in the future if there is too much crowding.

He also noted to me that my "underbite" is possibly from over crowding and my lower teeth protruding out of the bone because the permanent retainer was holding them in the position for all those years. He calls it a "Class 3" though. I'm not sure if it is skeletal or just a tooth like underbite. Theres only millimeters between my lower and upper, so I don't have an extreme case thankfully.

Here are some before pictures and pictures from my first adjustment after I got my braces on:






Here is pictures as of today. I have a bad canker sore so its hard to smile





Not sure if they will show since this is my first post, but I will figure it out! I don't have a chin that juts out, I think it's even with my nose.


One FINAL thing, which is also a question, I am curious about other people who have or have had underbites. Did braces/elastics correct your underbite, or was it skeletal had had to be corrected with surgery. ALSO, anyone that has had their braces off, has the correction stayed, or has the underbite came back? I am scared that if this ordeal does show results, a couple years down the line my underbite could come back. I am curious to see how my teeth will turn out, scared that this second time may not work, (even though the Dr. is confident...like he says!) and excited to have a beautiful, as normal as it can get bite with my future teeth! I will post more soon Please feel free to ask questions and answer mine!!!! Thank you -Alix

Hey OP, can you clarify what you mean regarding the permanent retainer and bone loss? My new orthodontist told me I also have bone loss on the bottom front teeth, and I had a permanent retainer as well. He believes I have tongue thrust issues, and my lower teeth got pushed forward a little bit. Prior to getting braces the first round, I never really had a normal bite to begin with, I guess it would be considered a cross bite? Anyway, just curious!

[Caitrm]

My braces are making my underbite worse, but only because my bottom teeth were compensating and pushing inwards. I'm having surgery to fix it.

[sneed1o1]

Hey OP, amazing results! Would you say that rubberbands or the wires effected the change in your underbite the most?

[alabamaashley]

My braces are making my underbite worse, but only because my bottom teeth were compensating and pushing inwards. I'm having surgery to fix it.

Same for me. Or so they've told me. I've had braces for one week and two days.