Hillsdale Orthodontics

Enjoying all the delicacies of yummy food can be difficult when you have a dysfunctional bite, or a malocclusion. Malocclusions such as underbites don’t only affect the cosmetics of a smile, but they can also create functional and health issues. Underbites are defined as lower teeth biting in front of the upper teeth, creating a reverse relationship of incisors. Many patients assume that underbites always require a major jaw surgery and delay treatment, but proper diagnosis of underbites, as well as early intervention if appropriate, can often lead to a non-surgical correction of underbites and significantly improve the outcome. It is therefore very important that patients and parents seek out orthodontic evaluation as soon as they notice an underbite developing.

What Is an Underbite?

Anterior crossbite, or more commonly referred to as an underbite, is a malocclusion that occurs when the lower teeth bite in front of the top teeth. A mild underbite is present when the top and bottom incisors almost meet, while a severe underbite occurs when the teeth cannot meet because the gap is so wide. An underbite can also cause self-consciousness and health issues, such as chewing difficulties, speech impairments, headaches, muscle pain, or TMD-like symptoms. Luckily, most underbites can be corrected with orthodontic treatment.

Imagine a swing set on a playground: the swing is your lower jaw, and the connection between the cables and the swing frame is your TMJ. Your lower jaw swings back and forth like a swing set when you open and close your mouth. Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the joints connecting your jaw to your skull. Many people suffer from a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), which is often referred to more commonly as TMJ. Only if we could apply some WD-40 to these joints! But no, please do not try this at home.

TMJ syndrome, or TMD, is typically caused by injury or inflammation of the joint. If injured or inflamed, there can be pain with chewing, along with clicking or popping of the jaw, swelling on the sides of the face, inflammation of the nerves, headaches, locked jaws, and even dislocation of the joint.

There are several indicators for increased risk of TMD. Stress typically increases tension of the muscles, as well as clenching of the jaws. Previous jaw trauma increases the risk of TMD, as well as chronic inflammatory arthritis. Poor posture can sometimes lead to neck strain and abnormalities in jaw muscle function. Women ages 18-44 have an increased risk of TMD.

Surgical Orthodontist in Portland

For some patients with severe bite issues (malocclusions) and abnormalities of the jaw bone, a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery offers the best results, beyond what braces or aligners alone can provide. In these patients, Dr. Leemin works closely with highly skilled oral and maxillofacial surgeons to formulate a treatment plan together and to coordinate care for optimal treatment outcomes.

Did you previously finish your orthodontic treatment, are loving your new smile, and wish to call it yours forever? Get ready to make retainers your next best fashion item, as they are your best insurance for preserving your beautifully transformed smile.

Your retainers are a crucial part of your orthodontic treatment because it takes time for your teeth to adjust to their new locations – the ligaments and tissues of our mouths are elastic, and with nothing to hold them in place, they have a tendency to try to pull the teeth back to their previous locations. Until those elastic ligaments have completely remodeled and relaxed, your teeth can snap back quickly to their crooked positions. That’s why your orthodontist recommends full-time retainer wear for the first month after your braces are removed and then nightly after.

A long time ago, orthodontists used to say that you can ditch your retainers after a certain amount of time. Even though the teeth do become more stable with time, orthodontists now recommend that you keep your retainers for as long as you would like your teeth to stay straight. Teeth and their supporting ligaments “age” just as your skin does, and as your face wrinkles (sadly!) over time, even people who naturally had straight teeth without ever needing braces will notice that the teeth tend to crowd up as they get older. Retainers will act like “botox” and prevent your teeth from drifting together all wrinkly, and the best part is that they are very easy and comfortable to wear and can quickly become incorporated into your nightly routine.