---
title: "Underbite Correction: Braces, Aligners or Jaw Surgery?"
description: "How an underbite is corrected in children and adults: braces, aligners, expanders and jaw surgery compared, with timescales and typical London fees for 2026."
canonical: https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/underbite-correction
last_updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Underbite Correction: Braces, Aligners or Jaw Surgery?

Updated 21 October 2026. By Orthodontists London.

Short answer

## Can an underbite be fixed without surgery?

Mild and moderate underbites caused by tooth position can usually be corrected with braces or aligners and elastics over 12 to 24 months. Children may also need an expander or facemask while the jaw is growing. Larger skeletal underbites in adults generally need braces combined with jaw surgery.

In an underbite, the lower front teeth close in front of the upper front teeth instead of behind them. Some underbites are only a millimetre or two and come from the angle of a few teeth; others reflect a lower jaw that is larger or further forward than the upper jaw. That difference, dental or skeletal, is the single most important factor in deciding how an underbite is treated and whether braces alone can correct it.

| Type of underbite | Usual treatment | Typical time | Typical London fee (private, from) |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Mild dental underbite (adult) | Aligners with elastics | 9–18 months | £2,650–£2,800 |
| Moderate dental underbite | Metal or ceramic braces with elastics | 18–24 months | £2,800–£4,000 |
| Child with narrow upper jaw | Palate expander, sometimes facemask, then braces | Phased over several years | Interceptive treatment from about £1,200 |
| Skeletal underbite (adult) | Braces plus jaw surgery | 18–30 months | Orthodontic fee plus surgical fee |
| Retention | Bonded and removable retainers | Long term | £450–£500 upper and lower if not included |

## What causes an underbite?

- **A large or forward lower jaw**: often inherited, and the most common cause of significant underbites.

- **An underdeveloped upper jaw**: the upper jaw may be small or set back, so the lower teeth end up in front.

- **Tooth position**: upper front teeth tipped backwards or lower teeth tipped forwards can create a mild underbite even with normal jaws.

- **Childhood habits**: prolonged tongue thrusting or mouth breathing can contribute.

- **Missing upper teeth**: when upper teeth are missing, the arch can collapse inwards.

## Why correct an underbite?

Beyond appearance, an underbite can make biting and chewing less efficient, wear the edges of the front teeth, put pressure on the gums and affect speech for some people. A forward chin can also change facial profile, which is a common reason adults seek treatment.

## How are underbites treated in children?

Early treatment can make a real difference because the upper jaw is still growing. Options include:

- **Palate expanders** to widen a narrow upper jaw, which often also corrects a crossbite. See our guide to [palate expanders](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/palate-expander).

- **Reverse-pull headgear (facemask)** worn at home to encourage the upper jaw forward, typically used in younger children.

- **Removable appliances** to tip upper front teeth forward over the lower teeth.

A second phase of braces in the teenage years is common. Because the lower jaw can continue to grow, the orthodontist will keep reviewing growth before finalising treatment.

## Can braces or aligners fix an adult underbite?

For dental underbites, yes. Braces or aligners can tip the upper front teeth forward and the lower teeth back, with elastics worn from the lower front to the upper back teeth to help. Clear aligners work well for many mild cases; fixed braces give more control when teeth need to move further. Our guide to [Invisalign vs braces](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/invisalign-vs-braces) compares the two, and [types of braces](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/types-of-braces) explains metal, ceramic and lingual options.

When the underbite is skeletal, moving teeth alone may still produce a good bite in moderate cases, known as camouflage treatment, but it cannot change the position of the jaw or chin.

## When is jaw surgery needed for an underbite?

Orthognathic (jaw) surgery is considered when the jaws are significantly mismatched and a stable, balanced result is not possible with teeth alone. It is usually planned once growth has finished, typically late teens or older. The typical sequence:

| Stage | What happens | Typical length |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pre-surgical orthodontics | Braces level and align the teeth in each jaw | 12–18 months |
| Surgery | The upper jaw, lower jaw or both are repositioned in hospital | Hospital stay of one to a few nights |
| Post-surgical orthodontics | Braces fine-tune the bite | 4–9 months |
| Retention | Retainers hold the result | Long term |

Surgery is planned jointly by an orthodontist and a maxillofacial surgeon, who quote their own fees.

## How long does underbite correction take?

Mild adult cases with aligners can be finished within a year. Most brace-based cases take 18 to 24 months, and surgical cases 18 to 30 months in total. In children, treatment is often split into an early phase and a later phase several years apart.

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## How much does underbite correction cost?

Fees depend on the appliance and complexity rather than the underbite itself. In London, typical private fees start at about £2,650 to £2,800 for adult Invisalign, £2,800 to £3,650 for metal braces and £3,150 to £4,000 for ceramic braces. Children's interceptive treatment typically starts from about £1,200. See [how much braces cost in London and the UK](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/braces-cost-london) for the full breakdown.

Some children and teenagers with severe underbites qualify for NHS orthodontic treatment; adults rarely do unless there is a significant clinical need. Read more in [NHS braces for adults](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/nhs-braces-for-adults).

## Underbite, crossbite or overbite?

These are different bite problems, although they can occur together:

| Bite problem | What you see | Guide |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Underbite | Lower front teeth in front of the upper front teeth | This page |
| Crossbite | Some upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth | [Crossbite treatment](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/crossbite-treatment) |
| Overbite | Upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth too much | [Overbite treatment for adults](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/overbite-treatment-adults-london) |

## What is treatment like day to day?

With braces, the first week or so after fitting and after each adjustment can feel tender, and you will need to take more care cleaning around brackets. Elastics are usually changed several times a day and taken out only to eat and brush. With aligners, you swap to a new set of trays every one to two weeks and wear them for about 22 hours a day, removing them for meals.

Most patients come in every six to ten weeks. Between visits, the things that make the biggest difference to how long treatment takes are wearing elastics or aligners as prescribed, keeping appointments and looking after brackets so that breakages do not set progress back. If you are weighing up the practical side, our guide to [braces for adults in London](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/adult-braces-london) covers eating, cleaning and work.

## Can an underbite be fixed with veneers?

Sometimes people ask whether veneers or crowns can disguise an underbite. In very mild edge-to-edge bites, cosmetic dentistry can improve how the front teeth look, but it does not change the bite or the jaw position, and building teeth out to cover a reverse bite can put the veneers under heavy load. In most cases moving the teeth first gives a more stable result.

## Questions to ask at your consultation

- Is my underbite mainly dental or skeletal?

- Can it be corrected with braces or aligners alone, and what would the result look like?

- Would surgery give a better or more stable result, and who would carry it out?

- How long will treatment take, and how often will I need appointments?

- What is included in the fee, including retainers?

## Keeping the result

Underbites can relapse, especially if growth continues after treatment. Long-term retainers are essential; see our guide to [retainer costs](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/retainer-cost).

## Book an underbite assessment in London

An orthodontist can tell whether your underbite is dental or skeletal from an examination, photos and a 3D scan, and sometimes an X-ray. You will get a written plan with the options, time and fee. [Request a consultation](https://orthodontistslondon.com/#enquire) through our form to get started.

## Frequently asked questions

### What is an underbite?

An underbite is when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper front teeth when you bite together. It is also called a Class III bite or reverse bite.

### Can Invisalign fix an underbite?

Invisalign can correct many mild dental underbites, usually with elastics. Underbites caused by a large lower jaw normally need fixed braces and often jaw surgery.

### At what age should an underbite be treated?

An orthodontic check by about age 7 to 9 is sensible, because some underbites respond well to early treatment while the upper jaw is still growing.

### How much does underbite treatment cost in London?

Brace or aligner treatment typically starts from about £2,650 to £3,650 for adults depending on the appliance. Surgical cases include a separate surgical fee.

### Does an underbite get worse with age?

Skeletal underbites can increase during the teenage growth spurt as the lower jaw grows. In adults they are usually stable, although tooth wear may progress.

## Related guides

- [How Much Do Braces Cost in London and the UK? (2026)](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/braces-cost-london)
- [Invisalign Cost in the UK and London: 2026 Prices](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/invisalign-cost-uk)
- [Closing a Gap in Teeth: Braces, Aligners or Bonding](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/closing-gap-in-teeth)
- [Braces for Adults: Is It Worth Getting Braces at 30, 35 or 40?](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/adult-braces-london)
- [NHS Braces for Adults: Eligibility and Private Alternatives](https://orthodontistslondon.com/guides/nhs-braces-for-adults)
- [London Invisalign and Braces Price Index 2026](https://orthodontistslondon.com/tools/london-invisalign-braces-price-index)
- [Orthodontists in London: Invisalign and braces](https://orthodontistslondon.com/)
- [Areas of London we cover](https://orthodontistslondon.com/london-areas)

Next step

## Talk to a London orthodontist

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