You are here:

Dentistry/Class III underbite

Advertisement

Expert: - 11/12/2008


Question
Hi there! My daughter is now a little over 3, and it has become painfully apparent she suffers from the same jaw issue I had (class III underbite). I had to wait until I was 17 to get both my upper and lower jaws reset, which of course came with many years of being made fun of. I have taken her to an orthodontist...is there any early interventions available to children to fix this? It is 100% a skeletal issue, and I dont want to have to wait until she is a teen to get this fixed.. she also has a crossbite and grinds her teeth pretty badly. The plan thus far is to possibly put brace buds on her 6-year-old molars when she gets them....

Answer
It is certainly possible to begin early intervention with mandibular orthopedic restraint using a chin cup appliance once your daughter attains the age where she can tolerate the appliance and cooperate.  This is a removable appliance which helps to restrain growth of the lower jaw while the remaining facial skeletal complex "catches up".  It is best applied during the active growing years and is usually worn for several years.  It's been my experience that the age of 3 years is a bit young to start this appliance regimen but I've had success starting at 4-5 years of age.  That really depends on the temperament of the youngster and the parental support.  I suggest you find an orthodontist who is experienced and is willing to pursue this type of early intervention.

Dentistry

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Dr. Randolph Myerson

Expertise

Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.

Experience

I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.

Organizations
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.

Education/Credentials
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.