Underbite
An underbite (class III bite) is where the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth. Mild cases can be treated with aligners or braces; pronounced skeletal underbites often need a combined orthodontic and surgical approach.
Ready to book your appointment?
Send us your details and we'll be in touch — usually within one working day.
Teeth or jaws?
Some underbites are dental — the lower incisors are simply tipped forward. These respond well to aligners or fixed braces alone.
Others are skeletal, where the lower jaw is genuinely longer than the upper. In growing children, functional appliances can influence development; in adults, orthodontics plus jaw surgery gives the most stable and balanced result.
What an underbite causes.
The signs vary, but most people notice one or more of these:
- 01Lower teeth visible in front of the uppers
- 02Difficulty biting with the front teeth
- 03Uneven wear on specific teeth
- 04Jaw joint discomfort
- 05Speech difficulties with certain sounds
- 06A prominent-looking chin
Where it comes from.
The most common culprits:
Don't wait it out.
Speak to your our practice dentist if you're experiencing any of the following — book an appointment as soon as you can:
- —Biting or chewing has become difficult.
- —Specific teeth are wearing quickly.
- —You have jaw joint pain.
- —Your child's lower jaw looks increasingly prominent.
In discomfort right now?
An underbite rarely causes pain directly, but the uneven loading can. Jaw pain, clicking or locking should be assessed rather than lived with.
A plan, not a quick fix.
We assess whether your underbite is dental or skeletal using photos, scans and X-rays, then set out realistic options — aligners, fixed braces, or an orthodontic and surgical plan with a specialist team.
