03/06/2026
Many parents assume underbites should only be treated during the teenage years.
But in some children, the issue isn’t just the teeth.
It’s how the jaws are growing.
When the upper jaw develops slightly behind the lower jaw, the lower teeth may appear to sit in front of the upper teeth.
This is what orthodontists commonly call a Class III growth pattern, or an underbite.
In children who are still growing, we sometimes use a reverse pull headgear (facemask) to help guide the upper jaw forward while growth is still occurring.
When used at the right stage of development (often around 7–10 years old), it may:
• improve the balance between the upper and lower jaws
• reduce the severity of the underbite as the child grows
• support more balanced facial development
One common misconception is that all underbites should wait until the teenage years.
But for certain growth patterns, timing matters.
💡 Think of it like guiding a young tree as it grows. It’s often easier to influence the direction of growth early than to correct it once growth is complete.
Early orthodontic assessment is often about understanding how the face and jaws are developing, so we can decide whether monitoring or intervention is more appropriate.
Orthodontic evaluation around age 7 allows us to identify growth patterns early — even if treatment isn’t needed right away.
→ Save this if you’re noticing similar signs in your child
→ Check out our previous posts in the Early Orthodontics series to learn more about how jaw development influences orthodontic treatment
→ Enquire with us to learn more about early orthodontic assessment
