Ways to treat an underbite? i have an underbite, and have heard from several people that braces might not be able to fix an underbite. are there other options for treatment out there?

Minor : Minor underbites can be treated or at least camouflaged with orthodontic treatment (braces) alone. However, if the underbite is due to a large mismatch of the jaws, the problem is best treated with a combination of jaw surgery and braces.

An : An underbite can be fixed with just orthodontics if it is a minor underbite involving positioning of the teeth or if it is a child who is still growing. A child with an underbite can have growth modification by using a night brace to stimulate the upper jaw to grow more and hold back the lower jaw to get the jaws to match better. If the patient is an adult and the jaws alignment is causing the underbite, then the best way to correct it is by using braces along with orthognathic surgery by an oral maxillo-facial surgeon.

Many : Many times a patient's poor bite is due to misalignment or mismatched sizes of the jaws. An orthodontist can only move teeth where bone exists. If an attempt is made to violate this rule it creates a situation where the teeth may relapse to their previous position. For that reason many patients require jaw repositioning surgery (orthognathic surgery) to reposition the jaws more favorably so that the orthodontist can create a beautiful functional bite. As part of the work-up of your case the orthodontist will evaluate the size and position of your jaws to determine if surgery is potentially required. If this is the case the orthodontist will begin to move the teeth to an ideal position where he anticipates the bone will be after the surgery. This initially could make your bite worse until the surgery is completed. After the surgery is finished and you have healed, there will be a period of finishing orthodontics to establish the final result.

See orthodontist: An underbite or underjet is typically indicative of a skeletal discrepancy between the 2 jaws with the lower teeth (and jaw) forward of the upper teeth (and jaw). Seeing an orthodontic specialist will help to determine the best course of action for your particular situation.

"Other people": No matter how well meaning, you will NOT get knowledgeable advice from other people. If you have an Orthodontic question, your best source of information is a fully qualified Orthodontic Specialist. Class III malocclusions require sophisticated care usually with braces, sometimes also with jaw surgery. Talk to an Orthodontist then weigh your options.