Underbite

Also known as a Class 3 occlusion, an underbite can result in a painful tooth-to-tooth contact or tooth-to-gum contact for your dog.

What you need to know…

One or both lower canine teeth can strike an upper incisor tooth or gum tissue.
Normal for some breeds like the Boxer, Boston Terrier, and Bulldog.
Breeds like Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Maltipoo, and Cavoodle seem to be more prone to tooth-tooth contact.

How an Underbite may look:

tooth-to-tooth contact — Lower canine teeth striking the upper incisor teeth

Possible Therapy / Treatment:

Selective extraction of the least functionally important tooth to allow the other tooth to erupt into a non-traumatic position. In some cases, orthodontic therapy is performed to tip a tooth into a non-traumatic position.

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Learn more about underbite:

An underbite or class 3 occlusion is a concern when there is tooth-to-tooth or tooth-to-gum contact. In some breeds, this is their “normal occlusion” like the Boxer, Boston Terrier, and Bull Dog breeds. However, Shih Tzu, Lhasa Apso, Maltipoo, Cavoodle and other breeds can have one or both lower canine teeth that strike the upper incisor tooth or gum tissue.