Underbite Correction in St. Johns & St. Augustine, FL

Why Early Treatment Matters

This is important: underbites are one of the few orthodontic conditions where early intervention—sometimes as early as age 7 or 8—can make a dramatic difference in the outcome.
While your child is still growing, Dr. Henry has the opportunity to guide jaw growth and development in a more favorable direction. Once growth is complete, treatment options are more limited, and severe skeletal underbites might require jaw surgery for full correction.

That doesn’t mean adults can’t improve their underbite—many achieve excellent results with orthodontics alone—but the window for growth modification closes after puberty.

How an Underbite Affects You

Beyond cosmetic concerns, underbites can cause real functional problems:

• Chewing difficulties: Your teeth aren’t designed to function in an underbite position, which can make it hard to bite through foods properly and chew efficiently.
• Speech issues: Some people with underbites have difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, particularly “S” and “F” sounds.
• Tooth wear: The abnormal contact between upper and lower teeth causes uneven and accelerated wear.
• TMJ problems: The unusual jaw position can put extra stress on your temporomandibular joints, potentially leading to pain and dysfunction.
• Self-consciousness: Many people with underbites feel self-conscious about their profile and smile.

How Dr. Henry Treats Underbites

Treatment approaches vary significantly based on age, underbite severity, and what’s causing it:
For Children (Still Growing):

• A facemask or reverse-pull headgear can encourage forward growth of the upper jaw while your child is still developing. This might sound intimidating, but these appliances are typically worn at home in the evening and overnight, and they can produce remarkable results.
• Palatal expansion to widen the upper jaw if it’s too narrow, which often accompanies underbite issues.
• Functional appliances that help reposition the lower jaw and guide growth patterns.
• Early treatment might not completely correct an underbite, but it often reduces the severity and makes Phase 2 treatment much simpler—and sometimes eliminates the need for surgery that might otherwise have been necessary.

For Teens and Adults:

Braces or Invisalign can correct dental underbites and mild skeletal cases by moving teeth into better positions and camouflaging jaw discrepancies.
Temporary Anchorage Devices (TADs) provide additional anchorage for tooth movement in more challenging cases.
Elastics worn between upper and lower teeth help guide teeth and jaws into better alignment.

Orthognathic surgery combined with braces for severe skeletal underbites in adult patients. Dr. Henry works closely with oral surgeons when surgical intervention is needed, coordinating care to achieve optimal results.

What to Expect

If your child is young and still growing, early intervention might involve 9-12 months of active treatment with a facemask or other appliance, followed by a waiting period while permanent teeth come in. Phase 2 treatment with braces or Invisalign typically follows in the teen years.

For adults or teens whose growth is complete, full orthodontic treatment typically takes 18-30 months, depending on severity.
During your consultation at our St. Johns office, Dr. Henry will do a thorough evaluation, including X-rays to assess jaw relationships, and explain exactly what treatment would involve for your situation.