The introduction of Invisalign changed the landscape of orthodontic treatment for patients dealing with misaligned teeth.
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 upper and lower teeth do not line up correctly.
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 front teeth, giving the appearance that the lower jaw is protruding forward.
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 braces or comparable options, such as certain headgear designed to draw specific areas of the jaw back into a more balanced bite position.
In the most severe cases, particularly for adult patients, surgery may be recommended alongside braces or other approaches to fully correct the issue and restore proper bite alignment.
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.
When underbites are more moderate to severe, they may lead to headaches, tooth decay caused by wear, and even TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder. This can also affect speech, in addition to being a cosmetic concern for some patients.
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.
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.
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.
That said, 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 or alignment concern, Invisalign can typically be considered as an alternative.
In many cases, Invisalign also works more quickly than traditional braces for milder alignment concerns, and patients often report that the experience feels more comfortable and easier to tolerate.
Even when an underbite is moderate or more severe, Invisalign may still play a role alongside other treatment methods used to bring the jaw into alignment, which can help patients avoid traditional metal braces that some find less appealing to wear from a cosmetic standpoint.
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.
Our staff is committed to helping every patient fully understand the choices available to them 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.