Underbite Treatment on Maui

An underbite is when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth when you bite down. There are two kinds, and telling them apart matters. A dental underbite is mainly about how the front teeth are tipped. A skeletal underbite comes from the jaws themselves, usually a lower jaw that grows too far forward or an upper jaw that is underdeveloped. Underbites often run in families, and because they can involve jaw growth, an early evaluation is especially valuable.

In children with a skeletal underbite, the ideal window is early, usually around age 7 to 8, while the upper jaw can still be guided forward. We treat these in an early (Phase I) phase using an expander together with a facemask, which gently encourages the upper jaw forward as the child grows. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic visit by age 7, and an underbite is exactly what that visit is meant to catch.

A dental underbite, left alone, can strain the lower front teeth and lead to gum problems like recession over time. Braces correct the tooth position. In adults, a true skeletal underbite is past the growth window, so the most predictable correction may involve jaw surgery, which we plan and coordinate with an oral surgeon. In some cases we can camouflage the bite with orthodontics and selective tooth removal instead. Dr. Alex explains the trade-offs honestly.

Dr. Alex Verga is a board-certified orthodontist whose practice is limited to orthodontics. For a bite issue like an underbite, that specialist expertise, and honest guidance on timing, matters. We are warm, family-friendly, and rooted in the Maui community.