Underbite treatment in Halifax
Correcting a lower jaw or teeth that sit ahead of the upper, for a comfortable bite and a confident smile. Specialist care for children and adults, from Dr. Catherine McLeod.
What is an underbite?
An underbite is when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth. Depending on the cause and the age of the patient, it can be treated with braces, clear aligners, growth guidance in children, or a combined approach.
A comfortable bite
Correcting an underbite helps the teeth meet properly, which can make eating and speaking easier.
Early help for children
In growing children, an underbite can often be guided while the jaws are still developing.
Protects your teeth
A balanced bite reduces uneven wear on the teeth over time.
How an underbite is treated
The right approach depends on the cause of the underbite and the age of the patient. Dr. Catherine McLeod will examine your bite and explain what fits your case.
For children
While a child is still growing, gentle appliances can guide how the jaws develop, which is why an early check around age seven helps.
For teens and adults
Once growth is complete, many underbites are corrected with braces or clear aligners to bring the teeth into a balanced bite.
More complex cases
More severe skeletal underbites in adults may involve working alongside an oral surgeon, which Dr. Catherine McLeod will discuss with you honestly.
Do I need jaw surgery for an underbite?
This is one of the questions Dr. Catherine McLeod is asked most, and her answer is an honest one. Many underbites, especially those caught early, are corrected with orthodontics alone. Some more severe skeletal cases in adults are best treated with a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery, and in those situations surgery can be the right answer.
Dr. Catherine McLeod avoids extractions and jaw surgery where it is clinically possible, and she will always tell you honestly what your bite genuinely needs, rather than what is quickest or easiest.
If you have been told elsewhere that you need surgery or extractions and you are unsure, you are welcome to a free second opinion. There is no pressure, and sometimes the first opinion turns out to be exactly right.
Why timing matters, and what treatment involves
With an underbite, when you treat can matter as much as how. In a growing child the jaws are still developing, so gentle guidance can steer them into a better relationship before growth finishes. That is why Dr. Catherine McLeod likes to see children for a check around age seven, and why underbites feature in our early treatment for children. Left alone, an underbite will not correct itself, and it can become more noticeable as a child grows.
In teens and adults whose growth is complete, the teeth themselves are guided into a balanced bite with braces or clear aligners. Either way, treatment starts with a free consultation at our Spring Garden Road practice, a digital iTero scan, and a written plan with an exact quote. How long it takes depends on the cause and severity, so Dr. Catherine McLeod gives you an honest estimate for your case rather than a set figure.
As a specialist orthodontist, she treats underbites of every kind here in Halifax, and she plans conservatively, reaching for the least invasive option that will genuinely work.
Specialist care, made affordable
- Interest-free monthly plans from $149
- 0% interest, with flexible down payments
- We direct-bill most insurance companies
- Your exact fee is confirmed at your free consultation
Your exact fee depends on your case and is confirmed at your free consultation, with no obligation.
Underbite questions
Can an underbite be fixed without surgery?
When should an underbite be treated?
What causes an underbite?
Does an underbite get worse over time?
How long does underbite treatment take?
Is an underbite just a cosmetic problem?
Let us take an honest look at your bite
Book a free consultation and Dr. Catherine McLeod will assess your underbite and explain your options clearly, with no referral and no obligation.
Book your free consultation