Reviewed by Dr. Allison Hamada, Orthodontist. LSU School of Dentistry, orthodontic residency at Columbia University, practicing since 2004.
Maybe you noticed it in a photo. Your child turned sideways and their lower jaw seemed to lead the way. Or maybe it’s your own bite, the one you’ve been aware of since middle school, the one a dentist once told you would need surgery someday.
If you’re looking for underbite treatment in New Orleans, you probably have one question at the top of the list: is there a way to fix this without an operating room?
Can You Fix an Underbite Without Surgery?
Often, yes. Many underbites can be corrected without surgery, especially when children are evaluated while their jaws are still growing. Adults with mild to moderate underbites frequently have nonsurgical options too. The right treatment depends on what’s actually causing the underbite: tooth position, upper jaw development, lower jaw growth, or a combination.
That’s what Dr. Allison Hamada sorts out for families across Metairie, Luling, Destrehan, and the Greater New Orleans area, starting with a free consultation and a look at the whole face, not just the teeth.
What Causes an Underbite? It’s Often Not the Lower Jaw
An underbite, which orthodontists call a Class III malocclusion (you may also hear “reverse bite”), is when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth instead of behind them. That much you can see in the mirror.
Here’s the part most people never hear: many underbites involve an upper jaw that didn’t develop far enough forward rather than a lower jaw that grew too much.
The lower jaw only looks prominent because the upper jaw is sitting too far back.
That distinction changes everything about treatment, and it’s why Dr. Hamada examines the whole face, not just the teeth. An upper jaw deficiency doesn’t only affect the bite. The upper jaw is also the floor of the nose. When it’s small or positioned too far back, there’s less room for the nasal airway and less room for the tongue. It’s why, in Dr. Hamada’s exams, the children with underbites are so often also the ones showing mouth breathing, snoring, teeth grinding, or restless sleep. In her view, that’s not a coincidence: the underbite and those signs are frequently two symptoms of the same root cause, a jaw that didn’t develop the way it should. These skeletal and jaw deficiencies can be a contributing factor in sleep-disordered breathing, which is exactly why every exam at Hamada Orthodontics includes an evaluation of jaw development and airway, not just tooth position.
Often an upper jaw that sits too far back or is too narrow, sometimes a lower jaw that grew too much, or both. This is the kind that guided growth can change in a child.
Some underbites are dental rather than skeletal. The jaws are in reasonable position, but the teeth are tipped in a way that puts the lower teeth in front. These cases are simpler.
A thorough exam with 3D imaging is how Dr. Hamada tells the difference, because the right treatment depends entirely on which kind of underbite you’re dealing with.
Opening the palate does more than make room
Dr. Hamada explains how proper expansion can improve the way the upper jaw develops, which is where many underbites start.
Watch on FacebookChild Underbite Treatment: Why Waiting Isn’t Neutral
For most orthodontic questions, parents have time to think. An underbite is different. This is one of the clearest cases where waiting genuinely closes doors.
Here’s why. In a young child, the bones of the upper jaw haven’t fused yet. While that window is open, Dr. Hamada can use growth guidance appliances, such as palatal expansion and protraction appliances that encourage the upper jaw forward, to correct the underlying imbalance while the face is still growing. It’s the difference between redirecting a river upstream and trying to move it after it’s carved a canyon. And that dramatic difference can occur between 6 and 9 years old.
Once the upper jaw growth is largely finished, that opportunity is virtually gone. And underbites rarely improve on their own. They tend to become more pronounced with growth, especially during the adolescent growth spurt, when the lower jaw does most of its growing. A mild underbite at age 6 can be a significant one at 14. That’s why “let’s keep an eye on it” is not a plan for this condition.
So when should you bring your child in? Don’t wait for a specific birthday. If you’re seeing an underbite along with any of these, it’s time for an evaluation now:
You may have heard the American Association of Orthodontists’ guidance that children should see an orthodontist by age 7, and that’s reasonable as a general rule. For a visible underbite, there’s no reason to wait even that long. The earlier Dr. Hamada can see what the jaws are doing, the more options your child has. An evaluation doesn’t commit you to treatment. It tells you where you stand.
One honest note, because you deserve the full picture: research reviews, including the Cochrane review of Class III treatment in children, found that early orthodontic treatment can improve the bite and jaw position, and it often reduces the severity of what needs to be done later. In a small number of kids with a strong growth pattern, the lower jaw keeps growing through the teen years despite early correction. Dr. Hamada monitors growth after Phase 1 for exactly this reason, and she’ll always tell you what she’s seeing rather than what’s easy to hear.
Four years old and snoring
A young Hamada Orthodontics patient whose snoring changed once a palate expander gave the upper jaw room to grow.
Watch on FacebookFamilies bring their children in for underbite evaluations at all three of our offices, in Metairie, Luling, and Destrehan.
More Than a Cosmetic Issue
Parents sometimes worry they’re being vain for wanting to fix their child’s underbite, and adults sometimes feel they’ve “lived with it this long, so why bother.” But an underbite is a functional problem with real consequences over time:
When the front teeth can’t meet, biting into food is awkward and chewing is less efficient, and the back teeth absorb forces they weren’t designed to carry alone.
Teeth that hit in the wrong places wear each other down. We see adults in their 40s with underbites whose lower front teeth are worn flat.
Sliding the jaw into an unnatural position to chew, day after day for years, can strain the jaw joints and muscles. Jaw pain, clicking, and tension headaches can follow.
Certain sounds depend on the front teeth meeting properly. Some children with underbites end up in speech therapy for issues that are structural, not habits.
As covered above, when the upper jaw is underdeveloped, the nasal airway is often smaller too. Dr. Hamada identifies these skeletal and jaw deficiencies because they can be a contributing factor in mouth breathing, snoring, and poor sleep quality. If your child has an underbite and also isn’t sleeping well, those two facts may not be a coincidence, and they’re worth evaluating together.
And yes, confidence matters too. Kids notice their profiles. Teenagers really notice. There’s nothing shallow about wanting your child to feel good about their face.
More than a straighter smile
By treating the root cause, this patient got the smile she wanted and a noticeable improvement in her facial asymmetry.
Watch on FacebookHow Dr. Hamada Approaches Underbite Correction
There is no single underbite treatment, because there’s no single underbite. Here’s the shape of it at a glance:
Palatal expansion, growth guidance, correcting tooth position
Growth assessment, braces or Invisalign, expansion (sometimes MARPE) when indicated
Camouflage with braces or Invisalign, MARPE in selected cases, surgical orthodontics for severe skeletal cases
Underbite treatment for growing children
Roughly ages 5-8 is the golden window for most kids, though individual development matters more than the birthday. Treatment focuses on guiding growth rather than just moving teeth:
- Palatal expansion widens an upper jaw that’s too narrow, which also creates more room for the nasal airway and the tongue. Learn more about palatal expanders for children.
- Protraction (reverse-pull) appliances encourage the upper jaw to grow forward into its proper position.
- Limited braces or appliances correct dental underbites where teeth, not jaws, are the issue.
Many underbites in this age group travel with a crossbite, since both often trace back to the same narrow, retruded upper jaw. Dr. Hamada addresses the shared root rather than treating each symptom separately.
Underbite correction for teens
Timing gets more individual here. If enough growth remains, growth guidance may still help. If the growth spurt has largely passed, treatment shifts toward MARPE, and honest conversation about what orthodontics alone can and can’t accomplish for their specific jaw structure. Dr. Hamada uses 3D imaging and growth assessment to make that call with you, not for you.
Adult underbite treatment: with and without surgery
If you were told years ago that surgery was your only option, it’s worth a fresh look. We hear that story constantly from adults across the metro: teachers, nurses, plant shift workers who were told as teenagers that surgery was the only fix and decided to live with it. Treatment options have changed:
- Braces or Invisalign (camouflage treatment) can correct mild to moderate underbites by adjusting how the teeth fit together, even when a small jaw discrepancy remains underneath. For many adults, this resolves the functional problems and the appearance concerns without surgery.
- MARPE (miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion, although Dr. Hamada uses slow protocols) can widen an adult upper jaw without surgery. When an underbite stems from a narrow, underdeveloped maxilla, expansion addresses the actual skeletal problem and can create more room for the tongue and nasal airway as well. Learn more about palatal expansion for adults.
- Surgical orthodontics remains the right answer for severe skeletal underbites in adults, and we won’t pretend otherwise. If your jaw discrepancy is beyond what orthodontics can honestly correct, Dr. Hamada will tell you directly, explain why, and coordinate with trusted oral surgeons so your orthodontic treatment and surgical plan work together. What you’ll never get from us is a treatment plan that papers over a problem it can’t fix.
Who this page is probably not for: if your underbite is severe, skeletal, and you’re well past growth, orthodontics alone may not fully correct it, and anyone who promises you otherwise might just be selling something. What we can offer is a straight assessment of your specific anatomy, all of your real options, and a plan you can trust. If you’ve received a treatment recommendation elsewhere and something felt off, second opinions are welcome here.
What Your First Visit Looks Like
Your first consultation at Hamada Orthodontics is free, and it’s more thorough than you may be expecting. Dr. Hamada completed her orthodontic residency at Columbia University, has practiced for more than 20 years, is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists, and founded The Airway Exchange Group, a study club where local dental and medical providers collaborate on airway-focused care.
She doesn’t just look at where the teeth are. She evaluates jaw position and development, facial balance, airway structure, and how you or your child breathes and sleeps.
- Jaw position and development
- Facial balance
- Airway structure
- Breathing and sleep
For underbites, 3D imaging helps her see how the upper jaw, lower jaw, and teeth each contribute to the problem, which is the information every good treatment decision depends on.
You’ll leave knowing what kind of underbite you’re dealing with, what your options are, what Dr. Hamada recommends and why, and what it involves. No pressure, no countdown clock. Families come to us from across Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, and the whole Greater New Orleans area, and plenty of them take time to decide. That’s exactly how it should be.
“Great staff! My son enjoyed his experience at Hamada Orthodontics. Dr. Hamada was faced with a few challenges with my son’s teeth and handled each obstacle with great care. My son and I are gonna miss the ladies here and we will be forever grateful for his new smile.”
Reviewed by Dr. Allison Hamada, Orthodontist. LSU School of Dentistry, orthodontic residency at Columbia University, practicing since 2004.
Underbite Treatment in New Orleans: Questions Families Ask Us
Will my child need jaw surgery for their underbite?
Many children evaluated early won’t. When Dr. Hamada can guide upper jaw growth while the facial bones are still developing, many underbites are corrected or significantly reduced without surgery, though kids with strong skeletal growth patterns may still need it after growth is complete. The children most likely to need surgery are often the ones who weren’t evaluated until growth was finished, which is the strongest argument for coming in early.
Can adults fix an underbite without surgery?
Often, yes. Braces or Invisalign can camouflage mild to moderate underbites, and MARPE gives adults a nonsurgical way to widen an underdeveloped upper jaw. Severe skeletal underbites may still require surgical orthodontics, and if that’s your situation, Dr. Hamada will say so plainly and help you plan for it properly.
Can an underbite fix itself as my child grows?
No, and this one matters. Underbites tend to worsen with growth because the lower jaw grows later and longer than the upper jaw. If the upper jaw is already behind, the gap usually widens through the teen years. An early evaluation is free and tells you what you’re dealing with.
What age should my child be evaluated for an underbite?
As soon as you notice it. The American Association of Orthodontists suggests a first orthodontic visit by age 7, but a visible underbite is a reason to come in earlier, even at 4 or 5. If your child also snores, breathes through their mouth, grinds their teeth, or sleeps restlessly, those signs together make jaw development worth evaluating now.
What happens if an underbite is left untreated?
An untreated underbite tends to become more pronounced with growth and harder to correct after growth stops. Over time it can lead to uneven tooth wear, inefficient chewing, strain on the jaw joints, and speech difficulties, and the jaw structure behind it can be a contributing factor in mouth breathing and poor sleep. None of those improve on their own.
Can Invisalign fix an underbite?
For mild to moderate underbites caused by tooth position, often yes. For skeletal underbites, aligners alone can’t reposition the jaws, though they may be part of a larger plan that includes expansion or, in severe adult cases, surgery. Dr. Hamada will tell you at your consultation whether aligners can honestly get you where you want to go.
Is an underbite connected to breathing or sleep problems?
It can be. Many underbites involve an upper jaw that didn’t develop fully forward, and the upper jaw forms the floor of the nasal airway. Dr. Hamada identifies these skeletal and jaw deficiencies because they can be a contributing factor in mouth breathing, snoring, and poor sleep quality. You can read more about our airway-centric approach.
How much does underbite treatment cost?
It depends on the type of underbite, the treatment approach, and how long treatment takes, which is why we don’t quote fees before an exam. Your free consultation includes a detailed cost breakdown with no surprises, and we offer flexible payment plans and work with most major insurance providers. Our braces cost guide explains how orthodontic fees work in the Greater New Orleans area.
How long does underbite treatment take?
Early Phase 1 treatment for children typically runs 9 to 18 months, followed by monitoring while your child grows. Braces or Invisalign treatment usually takes 12 to 24 months depending on complexity, and cases involving expansion or surgery run longer. Dr. Hamada will give you a realistic timeline for your specific case, not a best-case number designed to get you to sign.
Underbite Treatment Across the Greater New Orleans Area
Hamada Orthodontics provides underbite evaluation and treatment from three offices, each serving its own side of the metro. Wherever you are in Jefferson Parish, St. Charles Parish, or the River Parishes, there’s an office on your side of the river. Consultations are free at all three.
Hamada Orthodontics | Metairie, LA
123 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70005Serving Jefferson Parish and New Orleans proper, including Old Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge, Harahan, Bucktown, Lakeview, Mid-City, and Uptown.Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:45 PMHamada Orthodontics | Luling, LA
118 Lakewood Dr, Luling, LA 70070Serving the west bank of St. Charles Parish, including Boutte, Paradis, Des Allemands, and Hahnville.Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:45 PMHamada Orthodontics | Destrehan, LA
131 Ormond Center Ct, Destrehan, LA 70047Serving the east bank of St. Charles Parish and the River Parishes, including St. Rose, New Sarpy, Norco, Montz, and LaPlace.Monday to Thursday: 8:00 AM to 4:45 PMFind Out What’s Really Going On
An underbite doesn’t get easier to treat with time, but it does get easier to understand once someone actually looks at the whole picture. Whether it’s your child’s bite or the one you’ve carried since childhood, the first step is the same: find out what’s really going on.
