Front teeth meeting edge to edge again
Explain whether biting into food has become harder and where contact feels different. The examination can separate tooth drift from jaw factors before any new correction is discussed.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Treatment for Underbite in Puslinch
Had braces years ago, and now your lower front teeth seem to be creeping forward again? If you are coming from Puslinch, we can reassess the bite, look at whether teeth have shifted or the jaw relationship was always the larger factor, and explain what that means for next steps.
After earlier orthodonticsHave your bite reassessed
Braces once, and now the bite looks familiar again?
Teeth are not fixed in place for life. When a retainer is worn less, lost, or broken, they can drift, and a lower set that once sat behind the upper front teeth may edge forward again. In other cases, earlier treatment worked around a jaw relationship that was always going to limit how far the bite could change.
Telling those situations apart needs a fresh examination. The clinician considers how the back teeth fit now, whether the lower jaw slides forward when you close, the health of gums and teeth after earlier treatment, and whether growth continued after your braces came off. Old photos alone can’t settle it.
Bring whatever you still have: retainers, treatment notes, or just your memory of what was done. We will explain what a reassessment involves and what options might exist. Coming in does not mean repeating orthodontics, and it does not mean jaw surgery is the next step.
What has shifted
Small changes, noticed over months or years
Describe when you first saw the change, whether it is still progressing, and how long it has been since you wore a retainer regularly. That timeline helps the clinician decide what to look at closely.
A child in the family with a similar bite
If your own bite was treated, you may be watching your children’s. Mention it at their checkup; the dentist can say if seeing an orthodontist now is worthwhile. Timing depends on growth, and early advice is sometimes to monitor.
Wear, chips, or a broken retainer
Mention worn or chipped edges, a bonded retainer that has come loose, or repairs that keep failing. These details may change the plan or need prompt attention of their own, and not every issue comes from the underbite itself.
Underbite describes the visible relationship, not one particular jaw problem. Ask whether the change since your earlier treatment reflects tooth movement, the underlying jaws, or both, and whether it is part of a wider pattern.
Why reassess rather than repeat
Knowing why it changed tells you what could hold this time.
If teeth have simply drifted, a modest orthodontic plan followed by reliable retention may be enough to discuss. If the jaw relationship was the main driver all along, a tooth-only approach may again reach its limits. Pinning down what each route is expected to alter, and which features it will not touch, keeps the comparison honest and grounded in your own bite rather than in how the first treatment felt.
Some uncertainty remains with any plan. How teeth respond a second time, gum health after earlier treatment, and your ability to keep wearing a retainer all affect stability. Seeing those factors laid out helps you decide carefully and understand why records or a specialist opinion might be recommended.
An explanation of what moved
Ask the clinician to compare what they see now with any earlier records and describe the main contributors plainly. Is it drift, the jaws, a forward closing shift, or a combination?
Options measured against their limits
Discuss what a repeat course of tooth movement could and could not do and whether a wider plan would aim for something different. Ask which compromises come with each, and what would help the result last.
Specialist input where it adds clarity
If referral is suggested, ask what the specialist will help decide and what comes after. Confirm who handles routine care and repairs. For anyone travelling from Puslinch, knowing each visit’s purpose avoids wasted trips.
Reassessment in practice
Then and now, compared step by step
The order of care depends on what has changed and what you want. Ask what can be decided at the first visit and what needs records or more time.
Recall the earlier treatment
Share when you had braces or aligners, how long you wore a retainer, and when the change began. Mention jaw injuries, dental work, and family history, plus whether chewing, appearance, or wear concerns you most.
Examine the bite as it stands
The clinician checks teeth, gums, and the closing pattern, and decides which records would help, comparing them with earlier ones if available. Ask what each record shows. Any dental issue needing attention first is flagged.
Compare realistic routes
Go over responsibilities, risks, stages, and fees for each option, including retention. Ask if an orthodontist should be involved and how far a plan reaches: teeth only, or the jaw relationship too. Allow time before irreversible decisions.
Protect the result long term
If treatment goes ahead, be clear about which clinician is in charge at every point and how information passes between them. Follow the instructions and attend reviews. Before finishing, agree a retention plan you can keep and how future changes will be checked.
Keeping it stable this time
Retention deserves as much attention as treatment.
Appliance care, growth-related approaches, and surgical recovery differ. Use the instructions from the provider responsible for the treatment you are having, and ask specifically about retention.
Be clear on the daily routine
Confirm wear hours, cleaning, any adjustments, and when you are next seen. If a teenager in the family is in treatment, agree who checks in on wear. Report problems early rather than quietly stopping.
Keep regular dental care moving
Cleanings, checkups, and repairs continue throughout. Make sure each clinician involved hears about the others’ work. Settle in advance who should see a loose bonded retainer, broken filling, or sore tooth between specialist visits.
Treat the retainer as part of the plan
Ask how long and how often a retainer should be worn and how it will be reviewed. If surgery is part of your route, the surgeon’s recovery instructions come first. Find out how the bite will be monitored afterward.
Relapse questions(905) 876-4488
When an underbite returns
A helpful reassessment explains what has changed in the teeth, the jaws, or both. It also gives you room to decide how much further treatment you want.
Why would an underbite come back years after braces?
Teeth can shift when retention lapses, and some bites were limited by the jaw relationship from the start. Growth after treatment can also play a part. Ask which explanation best fits what the examination shows.
Can I start wearing my old retainer again?
Don’t force an old retainer that no longer fits, as it may not suit your teeth now. Bring it to the visit so the clinician can advise whether it, or a new one, is appropriate.
Will a second round of orthodontics take as long as the first?
Not necessarily. It depends on how much has changed and what the new plan aims to do. Ask for a realistic estimate after reassessment, along with what would affect it.
Does a bonded retainer behind the lower teeth stop them drifting forward?
A bonded retainer can help hold teeth in position, but it needs checking and can loosen. Ask how it should be cleaned and reviewed, and what to do if it comes away.
Do I need my original orthodontist to reassess my underbite?
No, though their records can be helpful if you can obtain them. A current assessment can be done without them, and you can choose who provides any further treatment.
How can I limit trips from Puslinch during a reassessment?
Ask at booking which records can be taken at the first visit, send any earlier records ahead, and agree who to call first if a retainer breaks or a problem comes up.
Coming from Puslinch
Find out what changed before deciding what to do.
Arrange a reassessment at our Bronte Street practice if your lower teeth seem to be moving forward again, biting feels different, or a retainer no longer fits. We will compare the bite with your history and explain the options.
Treatment need, scope, timing, specialist involvement, retention, and fees depend on assessment. No appliance or retainer can guarantee that teeth will never move again.
Visit Milton Dental ClinicUnit 1, 342 Bronte St. S, Milton, ON L9T 5B7Get directions
Clinic hours
- Monday–Thursday
- 11am–7pm
- Friday–Sunday
- By appointment only
Areas we serve
- Milton
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