A proper bite depends on more than straight teeth. Jaw development is vital to whether your teeth have enough room or too much space to erupt correctly. It also affects the look of your facial features.
At Smith & Davis Orthodontics, we know that a bad bite can affect your oral and overall health. For some patients, their bad bite is caused by an underdeveloped lower jaw. Is it possible to correct your jaw’s growth? It is, and we have appliances that can help us do it!
When Does Your Jaw Stop Growing?
Your jaws are growing and developing throughout childhood, changing the shape of your face and your bite. On average, the jaws stop growing around 15-18 years of age.
Corrections to the jaw can still be made in adulthood. Usually, orthodontic treatment takes longer with adults and may require corrective jaw surgery. But it is not impossible to correct your bite in adulthood. It’s much faster and easier to do while your jawbone is growing.
What Is a Recessed Jaw?
A recessed lower jaw or recessed mandible, also called a receding chin or weak chin, is when the lower jaw is out of alignment with the upper jaw. Usually, the lower jaw is set back from the upper jaw.
What causes an underdeveloped or undeveloped jaw? Usually, an underdeveloped jaw is caused by genetics, though in rare cases, it can be caused by underlying conditions such as cleft palate, Treacher-Collins Syndrome, or Pierre-Robin Sequence.
Babies born with an underdeveloped lower jaw often grow out of it as they reach childhood. Those who don’t grow out of it should visit an orthodontist to see what treatment options may be available.
When to Treat an Underdeveloped Jaw
When is the best time to treat an underdeveloped jaw? We’ve mentioned that treating the jaw before it stops growing is best, usually when you’re 15-18. But you don’t want to treat the jaw too early, in case it corrects itself.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a child consult with an orthodontist by age 7. By then, most of the baby teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth. The jaw has also had a chance to grow and develop.
We like to give the jaw a chance to develop further. Usually, we treat children between ages 9 and 14 with appliances to realign their jaws.
Treatment to Encourage Lower Jaw Growth
You may think surgical treatment is the only option to treat an undeveloped jaw, but it’s usually the last resort. We have several orthodontic appliances and treatments that can help a small jaw grow properly.
Herbst Appliance
The Herbst appliance is one of the most common recessed jaw treatment methods. This device attaches to the molars and pulls the lower jaw forward. The jaw responds by growing forward and lining up with the upper jaw.
The appliance also applies pressure to the upper jaw, pushing it back as it pulls the lower jaw forward. This keeps the upper jaw from growing forward while the lower jaw expands.
The Herbst appliance attaches to the molars in the upper jaw and the lower jaw. It’s bonded to the teeth, so it cannot be removed except by your orthodontist. The stainless steel appliance follows the gum line along the back of the teeth so it doesn’t obstruct the tongue.
You might experience discomfort and speech slurring in the first few days, but this will disappear as your mouth gets used to the appliances. You typically wear a Herbst appliance for 12 months. It may take a little longer for severe cases.
Headgear
Headgear is often associated with braces but can be worn without them. Headgear connects to bands placed on the teeth. Wires connect to these bands, and those wires are attached to straps that circle the back of the head.
Headgear is often used to pull the upper jaw backward to correct severe overbites. While this restricts the growth of the upper jaw, it doesn’t do much to expand the lower jaw. It’s one of the reasons why headgear is becoming more obsolete.
Modern appliances, such as the Herbst appliance, do a better job and stay inside the mouth.
Bionator I
There are different types of Bionators, but the Bionator I pulls the upper jaw back while moving the lower jaw forward. While it works similarly to the Herbst appliance, it is very different.
The Bionator I is removable, unlike the Herbst appliance. It’s made of acrylic and wire and slides onto the teeth. The appliance can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing but should be worn the rest of the time.
The Bionator I is usually worn for 12-14 months, assuming the child wears it most of the day as prescribed. The less the child wears it, the longer it may take to correct the jaws.
Once these appliances have done their job, we will reevaluate your child to determine whether they need braces or clear aligners for further bite correction.
Jaw Correction in Rogers, AR
Jaw correction should be addressed in early childhood as the upper and lower jaws are still developing. A small lower jaw can change the shape of the child’s face. The upper jaw can look like it’s bulging out, while the lower jaw results in a small chin.
A misaligned bite makes it harder to chew, speak, and even breathe. A misaligned bite often includes crooked or crowded teeth, which can be harder to clean. This could lead to more cavities and gum disease.
The best solution is to repair the jaw during childhood. Smith & Davis Orthodontics can evaluate your child and determine whether they need treatment for an underdeveloped jaw. If you’d like to find out more, schedule a consultation with Smith & Davis Orthodontics.
