When you notice your child’s lower teeth sitting in front of their upper teeth, it’s natural to wonder whether this underbite will resolve on its own or require treatment. The answer depends largely on timing. Children with growing jaws have a distinct advantage when it comes to correcting underbites, and early intervention during these crucial developmental years can make the difference between simple orthodontic treatment and potentially needing jaw surgery later in life.
At Kincer Orthodontics in Marietta, Dr. William Kincer has over thirty years of experience guiding young patients through early orthodontic treatment. His conservative, personalized approach helps families understand when intervention truly benefits a child’s long-term oral health and facial development. Understanding how growth works in your favor can help you make informed decisions about your child’s orthodontic care.
What Is an Underbite and Why Does It Matter
An underbite, clinically known as a Class III malocclusion, occurs when the lower jaw extends forward beyond the upper jaw, causing the lower front teeth to rest in front of the upper front teeth. While mild underbites might seem like a minor cosmetic concern, they can create significant functional problems that worsen over time if left untreated.
Children with underbites often experience difficulty biting and chewing food properly, which can affect nutrition and digestion. The misalignment places uneven stress on teeth, leading to abnormal wear patterns that can damage enamel and increase the risk of cavities and tooth sensitivity. Speech development may be affected, particularly with certain sounds that require proper tooth positioning. As children grow, untreated underbites can contribute to TMJ disorders, causing jaw pain, headaches, and clicking or popping sounds when opening and closing the mouth.
Beyond these functional concerns, underbites affect facial appearance, potentially impacting a child’s self-esteem during critical developmental years. The extended lower jaw creates a protruding chin profile that becomes more pronounced as the child grows. Early correction during the growth years can guide proper facial development and prevent these issues from compounding.
The Growth Advantage: Timing Is Everything
Children’s jaws don’t simply grow larger versions of their childhood proportions – they undergo dynamic changes throughout development. The most significant growth spurts typically occur between ages 6-10 and again during the pre-teen and early teen years. These windows of rapid development provide orthodontists with opportunities to guide jaw growth in favorable directions.
When Dr. Kincer evaluates a child for underbite correction, he’s not just looking at the current position of teeth and jaws – he’s considering the growth potential remaining and how that growth can be harnessed to achieve optimal results. During active growth periods, the bones of the jaw are more responsive to orthodontic forces. Specialized appliances can encourage the upper jaw to develop forward while restraining excessive forward growth of the lower jaw.
This growth modification approach works because children’s jawbones haven’t fully matured and hardened. The sutures (growth centers) in the upper jaw remain responsive to gentle, consistent pressure. Once a patient reaches their late teens or early twenties and jaw growth is complete, these same corrections become far more challenging and may require surgical intervention to achieve similar results.
Phase I Treatment: Early Intervention for Growing Jaws
Many children who develop underbites benefit from Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, typically performed between ages 6-10. This isn’t about putting traditional braces on young children – it’s about using specialized appliances to guide jaw growth while development is still occurring. Dr. Kincer takes a thoughtful approach to Phase I treatment, only recommending it when early intervention will genuinely improve long-term outcomes.
For underbite correction in young patients, treatment often involves appliances designed to expand the upper jaw and encourage forward growth of the upper arch. A reverse-pull headgear or face mask may be used in conjunction with an upper palatal expander. While the idea of a face mask might sound intimidating, modern appliances are far more comfortable than in the past, and children typically adjust quickly.
The face mask works by applying gentle forward pressure on the upper jaw while the child is growing. When worn consistently as directed, usually 12-14 hours per day, it guides the upper jaw to grow forward and helps create a more balanced relationship between the upper and lower jaws. The upper palatal expander works in tandem, widening the upper arch to create space and proper alignment.
Treatment duration varies depending on the severity of the underbite and how the child responds to treatment, but Phase I typically lasts 9-18 months. After this active growth modification phase, children often have a rest period where their permanent teeth continue erupting before beginning Phase II treatment with braces or Invisalign Teen to fine-tune tooth positioning.
How Underbite Correction Works During Growth
The biological process behind growth modification is fascinating. When consistent, gentle pressure is applied to the upper jaw during growth periods, it stimulates cellular activity at the suture lines. The maxillary suture, which connects the two halves of the upper jaw, responds to the expansion forces by laying down new bone. This isn’t just moving existing bone – it’s actually creating new bone growth in the desired direction.
Similarly, the forward-pulling force from appliances stimulates growth at the sutures that connect the upper jaw to the rest of the skull. The body responds to this mechanical stimulation by increasing bone deposition in the direction of the applied force. This growth modification literally reshapes the facial skeleton during development.
What makes this approach so valuable is its permanent nature. When you guide jaw growth during childhood, you’re creating lasting structural changes to the facial skeleton. In contrast, attempting to correct an underbite in an adult whose growth is complete requires either dental compensation with braces alone – which can only do so much – or orthognathic (jaw) surgery to physically reposition the jawbones.
Signs Your Child May Need Early Evaluation
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7, and this timing is particularly important for underbite concerns. At this age, Dr. Kincer can assess jaw relationships and identify developing problems while there’s still significant growth remaining to work with.
Parents should watch for several signs that may indicate an underbite:
- Visible Lower Jaw Protrusion: The lower teeth consistently rest in front of the upper teeth when biting down, and the chin appears prominent compared to the midface
- Difficulty Biting Food: Your child struggles to bite through foods like sandwiches or pizza with their front teeth and relies primarily on back teeth for chewing
- Speech Concerns: Certain sounds are difficult to pronounce clearly, particularly those requiring the tongue to contact the back of the upper front teeth
- Jaw Discomfort: Your child complains of jaw pain or you notice clicking sounds when they open and close their mouth
- Abnormal Tooth Wear: The edges of teeth appear unusually worn or chipped due to improper contact between upper and lower teeth
Even if these signs aren’t present, scheduling that first evaluation around age 7 allows Dr. Kincer to monitor development and intervene at the optimal time if an underbite begins developing. Not all children require early treatment, but having a baseline evaluation ensures problems don’t go unnoticed until growth is complete.
What Makes Early Correction Better Than Waiting
Some parents wonder whether it’s better to wait until all permanent teeth have erupted before addressing an underbite. While every case is unique, early intervention during growth years offers several compelling advantages that simply aren’t available once facial development is complete.
First, early treatment is typically less invasive and complex. Guiding jaw growth with appliances during childhood is generally more comfortable and requires less time than the alternatives faced by adults with underbites. Children also tend to adapt quickly to orthodontic appliances, and their treatment becomes part of their normal routine without significant lifestyle disruption.
Second, early correction prevents the compounding effects of an underbite on dental and facial development. When jaw relationships are severely misaligned, teeth erupt into compromised positions, making comprehensive treatment more complicated later. Abnormal wear patterns damage teeth over years of misalignment. TMJ problems that develop in adolescence due to uncorrected underbites can persist throughout life.
Third, addressing underbites during growth years helps children avoid the self-consciousness that often accompanies visible facial asymmetry during the sensitive middle school and high school years. While appearance isn’t the only consideration, the social and emotional benefits of early correction shouldn’t be underestimated.
Finally, early intervention can help many patients avoid jaw surgery entirely. When growth modification successfully corrects the skeletal imbalance during childhood, the need for surgical intervention in adulthood is eliminated. Even in cases where surgery ultimately becomes necessary, early treatment can reduce the extent of surgical correction required.
Dr. Kincer’s Conservative Approach to Phase I Treatment
One of the hallmarks of Dr. Kincer’s practice is his conservative philosophy toward early treatment. Unlike some practices that recommend Phase I for nearly every patient, Dr. Kincer only suggests early intervention when it will genuinely improve outcomes or prevent more complex treatment needs later. This honest, patient-centered approach has earned him the trust of families throughout the Marietta, Kennesaw, Canton, Cartersville, and West Cobb communities.
When evaluating whether a child needs early underbite correction, Dr. Kincer considers multiple factors including the severity of the skeletal discrepancy, the amount of growth remaining based on the child’s age and developmental stage, the presence of functional problems affecting eating or speaking, and the likelihood that waiting will complicate treatment. His extensive training, including completion of a rigorous two-year post-doctoral orthodontic residency at the Medical College of Georgia, gives him the expertise to accurately assess these complex developmental considerations.
Parents consistently praise Dr. Kincer’s thorough explanations and his willingness to educate families about all available options. He takes time during consultations to explain exactly what an underbite correction treatment plan would involve, realistic expectations for outcomes, and how it fits into the overall orthodontic journey. This transparency helps families make informed decisions about their child’s care.
What to Expect During Underbite Treatment
If Dr. Kincer recommends early underbite correction for your child, understanding the treatment process can help ease any concerns. The journey typically begins with comprehensive records including digital imaging, photographs, and impressions. Dr. Kincer uses advanced technology to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs.
Once appliances are placed, regular monitoring appointments allow Dr. Kincer to track progress and make adjustments as needed. These visits are typically scheduled every 4-8 weeks depending on the type of appliances being used. Children quickly adapt to wearing face masks or other growth modification appliances, especially when they understand how treatment is helping them.
Parents play an important role in treatment success by ensuring consistent appliance wear and maintaining excellent oral hygiene around orthodontic appliances. Dr. Kincer and his team provide detailed instructions and remain available to address questions or concerns throughout treatment. The practice is known for its friendly, supportive staff who make children feel comfortable and cared for during every visit.
After the active growth modification phase achieves the desired jaw relationship, children enter a monitoring phase while remaining permanent teeth erupt. Phase II treatment with braces or Invisalign Teen then fine-tunes tooth positioning for a beautifully aligned smile that functions properly and supports long-term oral health.
Long-Term Benefits of Correcting Underbites During Growth
The benefits of successfully correcting an underbite during childhood extend far beyond straight teeth. When jaw relationships are properly aligned, the entire facial structure develops more harmoniously. Children enjoy improved chewing function that supports better nutrition and digestion. Speech clarity improves when teeth and jaws are in proper position. The risk of TMJ problems is significantly reduced when bite forces are evenly distributed.
From an aesthetic perspective, early underbite correction guides facial development toward more balanced proportions. The profile becomes more harmonious, with proper upper and lower jaw relationships creating natural facial contours. This balanced development supports not just appearance but also self-confidence during formative years.
Perhaps most significantly, early intervention can help patients avoid jaw surgery. While orthognathic surgery is sometimes necessary for severe skeletal discrepancies diagnosed in adulthood, many patients who receive timely growth modification treatment during childhood achieve excellent results without ever needing surgical intervention.
Schedule Your Child’s Complimentary Consultation in Marietta
If you’ve noticed signs of an underbite in your child, or if your child is approaching age 7 without having had an orthodontic evaluation, now is the ideal time to schedule a consultation with Dr. William Kincer. His three decades of experience, conservative treatment philosophy, and commitment to personalized patient care make him an excellent choice for families in the Marietta area seeking orthodontic expertise.
During your complimentary consultation, Dr. Kincer will thoroughly evaluate your child’s jaw relationships, discuss whether early intervention would benefit their specific situation, and explain all treatment options in detail. There’s no pressure to begin treatment immediately – the goal is to educate you about your child’s orthodontic needs and ensure you have the information necessary to make the best decision for your family.
Don’t let the window of opportunity for growth modification close. Contact Kincer Orthodontics in Marietta today to schedule your child’s evaluation. Early assessment gives Dr. Kincer the chance to monitor development and intervene at the optimal time if underbite correction becomes necessary. Give your child the advantage of treatment during their growing years, when correction is most effective and least invasive.