Medically Reviewed by Dr. Jim Meletiou, DDS on September 22, 2026
Yes, Invisalign can fix many underbites, particularly those that fall in the mild to moderate range. The introduction of Invisalign changed the landscape of orthodontic treatment for patients dealing with misaligned teeth, and its use has expanded well beyond simple crowding since it first launched.
When teeth are out of alignment, the result is not only a cosmetic concern. It can also interfere with how well your teeth function and how your bite fits together. An underbite is frequently the underlying cause of these issues, a widely seen condition in which the lower teeth sit further forward than the upper teeth. This article covers the different categories of underbites and explores whether Invisalign can serve as an effective treatment for this commonly seen dental concern.
What Does an Underbite Mean?
With an underbite, the lower teeth extend further out than the upper front teeth, giving the appearance that the lower jaw is protruding forward. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, underbites can be inherited or can develop during the eruption of the front teeth in childhood, and in many cases they stem from a mismatch in how quickly the upper and lower jaws grow relative to each other.
The severity of an underbite can vary widely from one patient to the next, and the appropriate treatment approach typically depends on how pronounced the condition is. In more advanced cases, treatment may call for measures beyond aligners or braces, such as headgear designed to draw specific areas of the jaw back into a more balanced position. In the most severe cases, particularly for adult patients whose jaws have finished growing, surgery may be recommended alongside orthodontic treatment to fully correct the issue.
What Happens When an Underbite Goes Untreated
In mild cases, an underbite might barely be noticeable, yet it can still affect how the bite functions and how well your teeth hold up over the long term. The AAO notes that untreated underbites can lead to difficulty biting and chewing, speech issues, increased wear on the teeth, and jaw pain from the added stress placed on the jaw joints.
Given the range of complications an untreated underbite can cause, it is worth discussing your options with a dental professional to identify a treatment plan suited to your situation, rather than assuming a mild case will resolve on its own.
Is Invisalign Able to Correct an Underbite?
Invisalign is capable of addressing many of the same dental issues that traditional metal braces can, and that typically includes underbites that fall in the mild to moderate range, where the issue is largely dental rather than skeletal. No two underbites are exactly alike, so a knowledgeable dental professional is best positioned to evaluate whether Invisalign is a suitable option for your particular case.
Invisalign has been correcting alignment issues since 1998, and its use has expanded in recent years to cover a wider range of more complex alignment concerns, underbites included. As a general rule, if traditional metal braces would be an appropriate way to treat your underbite, Invisalign can typically be considered as an alternative, and many patients find the aligners more comfortable and easier to tolerate day to day.
Underbite Treatment for Growing Children Versus Adults
The right approach for correcting an underbite often depends on age. For children who are still growing, early treatment can be effective, since a palatal expander paired with reverse-pull headgear can encourage forward growth of the upper jaw while the bones are still developing. Because a child’s bite is still taking shape, addressing a skeletal underbite early can reduce the need for more complex treatment later.
For teens and adults whose jaws have finished growing, treatment with Invisalign or braces can still improve chewing, speech, and jaw discomfort, and can reduce uneven tooth wear. When an underbite is primarily skeletal rather than dental and is more severe, surgery performed by an oral surgeon may be recommended alongside orthodontic treatment to bring the jaws into proper alignment. If you are curious whether your specific bite issue looks more like an overbite, our related article on whether Invisalign can fix an overbite explains how that condition differs and is treated.
How Long Underbite Correction Usually Takes
Mild underbites treated with aligners alone often show noticeable improvement within 6 to 12 months, while more complex cases involving elastics, headgear, or a staged treatment plan can take 18 to 24 months or longer. Consistency matters just as much here as it does with any other aligner treatment, since teeth only move while the aligners remain in place for the recommended 20 to 22 hours a day.
Because treatment length and complexity affect the overall cost, it is also worth checking what your dental plan covers before you begin. Our related article on whether insurance covers Invisalign walks through how coverage for aligner treatment typically works.
Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign and Underbites
Can Invisalign fix a severe underbite?
Severe underbites, especially ones caused by a skeletal jaw mismatch, often need more than aligners alone. In these cases, Invisalign may still play a role alongside headgear, braces, or jaw surgery as part of a broader treatment plan.
At what age should an underbite be evaluated?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Catching a skeletal underbite while a child’s jaw is still growing often allows for simpler, more effective treatment than waiting until growth is complete.
How is an underbite different from a crossbite?
An underbite describes the lower front teeth sitting ahead of the upper front teeth. A crossbite involves one or more upper teeth sitting inside the lower teeth when biting down, often on one side of the mouth. Both can sometimes occur together.
Will an untreated underbite get worse over time?
An underbite generally does not correct itself and can contribute to uneven tooth wear, jaw discomfort, and speech difficulty the longer it goes untreated. Evaluating it sooner rather than later typically leads to simpler treatment.
Learn More About Underbites and Invisalign
If you or a family member is dealing with an underbite and would like to explore the available treatment options, the team at The Smile Architects is ready to help. We are committed to helping every patient fully understand the choices available for addressing their cosmetic or dental concerns. Reach out to The Smile Architects to find out whether Invisalign could be the right approach for treating your underbite.
About the Author
Dentist, The Smile Architects
Dr. Jim Meletiou is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, where he later taught Oral Diagnosis and Radiology. He brings advanced training in Invisalign and cosmetic dentistry to patients at The Smile Architects in Huntersville, NC.