Underbites Treatment and Diagnosis Specialist in Beverly Hills, CA

At Beverly Hills Dental, we understand how an underbite can affect not only your oral health but also your confidence and overall well-being. An underbite occurs when the lower teeth extend outward farther than the upper front teeth when the mouth is closed—a condition known as a Class III malocclusion. This misalignment can range from mild to severe and is often noticeable in a person’s facial profile, sometimes resulting in a more prominent chin. Underbites can be caused by genetics, childhood habits such as thumb sucking or prolonged pacifier use, or medical conditions that affect jaw development.
 
In some cases, the misalignment is caused by the lower jaw growing more rapidly than the upper jaw. If left untreated, an underbite can lead to complications such as difficulty biting and chewing, speech issues, increased wear on teeth, and jaw discomfort. It can also impact self-esteem due to changes in facial appearance. At Beverly Hills Dental, our experienced dental team is committed to providing personalized care for patients with underbites. We offer a range of treatment options, including orthodontic solutions like braces or clear aligners, and, in more advanced cases, surgical correction to realign the jaws. Early evaluation and intervention are key to preventing further complications and achieving a healthy, beautiful smile.

At Beverly Hills Dental, diagnosing an underbite begins with a comprehensive dental and medical evaluation performed by our experienced dentists and orthodontic specialists. Your journey starts with a detailed review of your dental and medical history, ensuring we understand any underlying factors that may contribute to your bite concerns. During your visit, our team will conduct a thorough physical examination of your mouth, teeth, and jaw alignment. We carefully assess how your upper and lower teeth fit together when your mouth is closed, paying special attention to any overlapping of the lower teeth over the upper teeth—a hallmark sign of an underbite.
 
To provide you with the most accurate diagnosis, we utilize advanced imaging technology. These tools allow us to evaluate the extent of the misalignment and analyze the relationship between your jaws and facial structures in detail. In certain cases, we may also take dental impressions or use digital scans to create precise models of your bite and jaw position. Our team further evaluates your speech, chewing function, and any symptoms you may have, such as jaw pain or difficulty biting. By combining our clinical expertise with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools, Beverly Hills Dental can accurately confirm the presence and severity of your underbite and design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs.

An underbite—medically known as Class III malocclusion or prognathism—occurs when the lower teeth and jaw extend beyond the upper teeth and jaw. At Beverly Hills Dental, we frequently see patients concerned about their bite alignment and the impact it can have on their oral health, function, and appearance. Several factors can contribute to the development of an underbite:

• Genetics: The most common cause is genetics. The size and shape of your jaw and teeth are often inherited, so if one or both parents have an underbite, their children are more likely to develop one as well.
• Childhood Habits: Habits such as thumb sucking, prolonged bottle feeding, or pacifier use beyond the recommended age can impact jaw development. These habits may put pressure on the teeth and jaw, causing misalignment over time.
• Functional Factors: Conditions like tongue thrusting—where the tongue pushes against the teeth when swallowing or speaking—can also contribute to an underbite.
• Injuries and Trauma: Jaw injuries or facial trauma during childhood can affect jaw growth, sometimes leading to an underbite.
• Medical Conditions: Less commonly, congenital conditions such as cleft lip and palate or other jaw deformities can result in an underbite. Environmental factors and delayed loss of baby teeth may further influence jaw and teeth alignment.
 
If you or your child is experiencing an underbite, our experienced dental team at Beverly Hills Dental offers comprehensive evaluations and a range of personalized treatment options. From early orthodontic intervention for children to adult orthodontics, surgical correction, and restorative solutions, we tailor our approach to your unique needs and cosmetic goals.

An underbite occurs when the lower teeth extend beyond the upper teeth. At Beverly Hills Dental, we understand that every patient’s needs are unique, and we offer a range of solutions to address underbites based on their severity and your individual goals. In many mild to moderate cases, underbites can be corrected without surgery, especially when treatment begins during childhood or adolescence while the jaw is still developing. Our experienced team provides orthodontic treatments such as traditional braces and clear aligners—including Invisalign—to gradually move your teeth into a more favorable position. For younger patients, we also offer specialized appliances like expanders or reverse-pull face masks to guide jaw growth and improve alignment at an early stage.
 
For adults with milder underbites, orthodontic appliances can sometimes achieve significant improvement, although results may be more limited compared to early intervention. In certain cases, our cosmetic dentistry options—including veneers or crowns—can be used to enhance the appearance of your smile when the misalignment is minor. However, for more severe underbites caused by significant skeletal discrepancies, surgical intervention may be necessary to achieve optimal results. We work closely with trusted oral and maxillofacial surgeons to provide orthognathic surgery, which can reposition the jaws and restore proper alignment.
 
If you are concerned about an underbite, early assessment is key. Our skilled dental professionals at Beverly Hills Dental will thoroughly evaluate your bite and develop a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve a balanced, healthy, and confident smile. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment. We are conveniently located at 414 North Camden Drive #925, Beverly Hills, CA 90210. We proudly serve patients from West Hollywood, Culver City, Bel Air, Hancock Park, and surrounding areas.