Orthodontic specialists note that many adults have underbites, often due to insufficient attention during childhood. Can adults still correct underbites? This is a common concern. Experts confirm that adult underbite correction is possible, primarily through conventional orthodontics, invisible aligners, and cosmetic crowns. Details are provided below.1. Conventional Orthodontics. This is the traditional "metal braces" method, where appliances are bonded to teeth with adhesive. Patients cannot remove them themselves; only orthodontists can attach, adjust, or apply additional force.Monthly follow-up appointments are required as the orthodontist gradually applies forces to move teeth toward the planned ideal position, marking the completion of active orthodontic treatment. After appliance removal, a retainer must be worn for a period to stabilize results and prevent relapse.
2. Invisible Orthodontics. Invisible orthodontics involves placing all appliances on the lingual (tongue-side) surfaces of the teeth for treatment, hence also called lingual orthodontics. This method renders the appliances invisible from the outside, allowing patients to maintain normal social and professional activities throughout treatment.It subtly realigns teeth and enhances facial aesthetics. The appliances are precise, compact, and cause minimal discomfort in the mouth, significantly improving patient comfort. Additionally, robotic bending technology is used to shape the archwires, greatly enhancing treatment accuracy and effectiveness while shortening the overall treatment duration.3. Cosmetic Crown Correction. This method corrects misaligned teeth by creating porcelain crowns. It involves uniformly grinding a thin layer off the natural teeth before fitting them with porcelain crowns.Previous methods typically require extended treatment periods—adult orthodontics generally takes one and a half to two years. Some individuals may be concerned about such lengthy timelines. The key advantage of porcelain crown correction is its brevity: typically requiring only two visits over a week, it is often referred to as rapid correction.
The above outlines how adults can correct underbites. It's now clear that the optimal age for underbite correction is between four and six years old, ideally not later than twelve. Correction during this period yields excellent results. Once this window passes, outcomes become less favorable.