Most people have to undergo orthodontic treatment at some point in their lives. Whether you want to straighten your teeth, ease pain from TMD, or treat bite misalignment, orthodontics can help. You’ve been self-conscious about your overbite for years, but now that you’re old enough to do something about it, the last thing you want is braces. However, Invisalign can really only straighten your teeth rather than fix your bite, right? In the past, that may have been true. Now, after 20 years of research, Invisalign has been proven to fix overbites and other bite issues if designed properly by a professional. Here’s how the process works.
Invisalign and Treating Bite Misalignment
Studies show that Invisalign is effective in correcting mild to moderate overbites. It can treat other bite misalignment issues as well! These include underbite, crossbite, open bite, deep bite, and more. If your bite problems aren’t very severe, Invisalign may actually take less time to correct them than traditional braces.
One factor to consider is if you’re still young and growing. Invisalign can help redirect your growth and fix your bite with a mandibular appliance. That being said, even if you’re a little older, say a teenager or an adult, you can still benefit from Invisalign. Your orthodontist may give you some elastics to use with your aligners.
If you have more severe bite issues, you may still be a candidate for Invisalign – ask your dentist or orthodontist. Your treatment might require the addition of a few appliances, buttons, and elastics, but Invisalign has been shown to be particularly helpful in treating crossbites. This is because it separates the dental arches.
To address something like a severe overbite, a small bar called a “motion” appliance is placed on the upper teeth. Then, this appliance is paired with elastics to reduce overbite and straighten the lower arch.
Although these attachments make Invisalign slightly less discreet, they are generally worn for a short duration and are still much more invisible than traditional metal braces!
Other Problems Invisalign Can Fix
In addition to bite alignment, Invisalign is often used to address:
- Malocclusion (misaligned teeth)
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps between teeth
Invisalign can be used to treat multiple imperfections at once. If you have severe bite issues, you may need to undergo both braces and Invisalign treatment to achieve the desired results. However, if you are experiencing mild to moderate bite issues of any kind, talk to your dentist about Invisalign! You’ll have a discreet, stress-free, and efficient way to enhance your smile.