A quick search about Invisalign online will likely turn up comments claiming the aligners cannot correct an overbite. Perhaps you even sat through an Invisalign consultation with a dentist years ago and were told your overbite made you a poor candidate for the treatment. Invisalign was originally developed mainly to straighten crooked teeth, but improvements in materials and design over the years mean aligners can now address a much broader range of orthodontic concerns, overbites included.
What Is an Overbite?
An overbite ranks among the most frequently seen bite irregularities. Childhood habits such as thumb sucking, extended pacifier use, tongue thrust, and genetic factors can all contribute to its development. An overbite is present when, upon biting down, the upper teeth extend noticeably past the lower teeth, and in more pronounced cases, past the lower lip entirely. It is worth noting that a small amount of overlap between the top and bottom teeth is completely normal, since the upper teeth are meant to rest just in front of the lower ones. When that relationship is reversed, the result is an underbite, and that condition also calls for treatment.
Left unaddressed, an overbite can gradually wear down tooth enamel, leaving teeth more prone to cracking, fracturing, and other dental complications. Jaw pain and TMJ disorder can also develop in some cases as a result of an uncorrected bite. Correcting an overbite can support better oral health overall and can also enhance the appearance of your facial profile. Many patients are surprised by how much correcting an overbite through Invisalign can change their overall look, often resulting in a more balanced, symmetrical facial appearance.
How Invisalign Corrects an Overbite
Considering how the aligners are built, you may be asking yourself how Invisalign is capable of correcting a bite issue like this. Understanding how the trays shift teeth into straighter positions is fairly straightforward, but the question of how they also adjust your bite the way other orthodontic appliances do is a little less obvious.
As it turns out, Invisalign relies on the same basic solution traditional metal braces use for overbites, elastics. Small rubber bands link the upper and lower aligner trays together, gradually guiding the lower teeth forward while easing the upper teeth back. These elastics attach to small “buttons” built directly into the aligners.
Does Invisalign Work for Every Overbite?
In most cases today, Invisalign aligners can successfully correct an overbite. Thanks to ongoing improvements in aligner technology and the option to add rubber bands, overbites can typically be treated with Invisalign just as effectively as with traditional braces.
That said, Invisalign may not be the best fit for every situation, particularly when a severe overbite or other complex orthodontic issues are involved. Should we determine that aligner therapy is not the right approach for your bite, we will point you toward an orthodontist who can help correct it using braces or another orthodontic treatment. Occasionally, adults dealing with a severe overbite may need orthognathic surgery, a procedure performed by an oral surgeon to reposition the jaws.
Ready to Learn More About Invisalign?
Thinking about starting Invisalign treatment? If you have an overbite and are wondering whether Invisalign could work for you, reach out to our office today at 704-875-1621 to set up a consultation and learn more about how Invisalign can address overbites.