My son's baby teeth are coming in with an underbite. Could this correct itself?!


Question:

My son's baby teeth are coming in with an underbite. Could this correct itself?

He has the cutest smile but his top teeth are behind the bottom ones! Is it possible this may correct itself, or will he grow up to have an underbite? Dentists and experienced moms only. Please no guesses, I have plenty of those myself!


Answers:

Depending on your sons' age, the "underbite" that you mention can be a sign of things to come. If the situation is not too severe, the situation may correct itself. The severity is gauged on the distance in millimeters between the upper and lower teeth.

If the trend continues, surgical intervention will be necessary in the future. The underlying theme is that the mandible (lower jaw) is growing at a faster rate or is bigger than the maxilla (upper jaw). An orthodontic consultation at an early stage would be best. Dentists have ways to treat the condition conservatively with braces/extractions/palatal expanders/etc. before resorting to a surgical reduction in size of the mandible.

Before you panic, such procedures are common and predictable. Simply schedule a routine orthodontic visit or a visit with your general dentist. Without seeing the child and knowing specifics, it is impossible to diagnose. Good luck.




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