How Invisalign Fixes an Overbite

12 Jun, 2023

Now more than ever, there are many treatment options for an overbite. Before, dental braces were the only treatment for an overbite. Nowadays, there are minimally invasive options like Invisalign to assist a patient in aligning their teeth and fixing moderate or minor overbites.

Invisalign refers to customized clear aligners that gently align teeth into their proper positions. They take a shorter time to produce results than dental braces. They are also less invasive, less painful, safer, more discreet, and cause minimal discomfort compared to other treatment methods. The question most people ask is how Invisalign corrects overbites. We answer this question in this blog.

How Invisalign Fixes an Overbite

When we close our mouths, the bottom front teeth often rest behind our upper teeth. Usually, many of us have a slight overlap. A 3 mm gap is deemed within the normal range. But when the gap between the lower and upper teeth is below 3 mm and the teeth overlap, it is known as an overbite.

Overbites constitute about 70 percent of dental problems experienced. That can result in different related issues, like:

Premature dental deterioration.
Jaw pain because of strained jaws and muscles.
Loss of tooth enamel because of excessive friction, leading to gum diseases and cavities.
Difficulties in chewing or eating normally.
Speech difficulties because of improper dental or muscular structure.
Migraines and headaches.
Soft tissue injury resulting from the lower teeth scraping against the roof of the mouth.

Genetics influence a person's likelihood of developing an overbite. However, often, overbites occur due to poor oral hygiene practices. Particular behaviors during early childhood, like thumb-sucking, tongue thrusting, long-term use of pacifiers, and nail-biting, can contribute to an overbite.

Overbites result from either skeletal or dental issues. Dental overbites occur due to improper tooth placement, whereas skeletal overbites occur due to jaw problems. We have two primary kinds of overbites: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal overbites result from horizontal misalignments between the lower and upper teeth, also known as "buck teeth." Vertical overbites occur when the upper teeth excessively overlap the lower teeth.

Both the reasons for your overbite (whether dental or skeletal) and the kind of overbite you have will affect your orthodontist's approach while dealing with your case and its treatment options.

An overbite is among the most prevalent bite problems across all age groups; therefore, Invisalign can work under various circumstances. How a dental professional fixes Invisalign in the mouth and how Invisalign ultimately fixes an overbite depends on different key factors, like:

The patient's age.
The severity of the overbite.
The effectiveness with which the patient will handle the treatment.

Correcting Overbites Using Invisalign for Children

It is easier to correct an overbite during adolescence. Misalignments may become more conspicuous and more challenging to rectify with advancing age. Additionally, the severity of the overbite will influence the treatment option and duration.

If a person is still young and growing (often twelve years old or less), an orthodontist can correct their overbite by using their (the person's) growth to assist in correcting the bite. Using the right appliance, an orthodontist can redirect a person's growth to assist in fixing their bite problem. Invisalign comes with a unique device known as Invisalign Mandibular Advancement, particularly for this scenario.

Invisalign Mandibular Advancement appliances have plastic wings on their aligners to assist a young, developing child in posturing their lower jawbone forward in slight but consistent increments. Even though this process is more involving, it aids in correctly directing a baby's growth. It aligns the jawbones and straightens the teeth at the same time.

Orthodontists have used mandibular advancement devices for a long time; thus, the concept is familiar. What makes the Invisalign Mandibular Advancement option better than ordinary Invisalign is its size (mandibular advancement is more minimally invasive) and the fact that it provides more comfort during treatment. Before, many mandibular advancement devices were uncomfortable, bulky, and more challenging to clean. Now, these appliances come with several incredible benefits, as follows:

No cheek irritation or emergency dental visits.
No dietary or food restrictions.
Detachable for easy dental hygiene and eating.
Aligning jaws and straightening teeth during the same procedure.
They can be easily taken out of the mouth when playing an instrument or engaging in sports.

Correcting Overbites Using Invisalign in Adults or Teenagers

Once a person is fully grown (usually after 13 or 12 years), an orthodontist can no longer use mandibular advancement devices to fix an overbite. However, one method they can use involves the patient wearing rubber bands fitted with Invisalign aligners. These rubber bands are the same as those worn with dental braces. They gently and gradually move the lower teeth forward while moving the upper teeth backward, thus fixing the overbite.

If a patient has a more severe overbite, an additional device known as the motion appliance is the most effective solution. "Motion appliance" refers to a tiny bar that an orthodontist places on the teeth in the upper arch. Even though it is simple and small, this appliance is highly effective. Once the orthodontist places the appliance on the teeth, a patient will then wear elastics for some time to assist in reducing the overbite and, at the same time, straightening the teeth in the lower arch.

The Procedure

Even though Invisalign is a versatile treatment, it does not work for everyone. Therefore, your dentist must first determine whether you are a perfect candidate. The dentist will create a treatment plan if you are an ideal candidate. They will take x-ray pictures and 3-dimensional impressions of your mouth and send them to a lab, which creates customized aligners. It may take about one month for the lab to mold the aligners.

Once the aligners are ready, you will return to your dentist's office, where they will fit them. Aligners are different and designed to be worn in a specific order. You should use every aligner for 14 days, and as the treatment progresses, every new aligner brings the teeth into more straight positions.

When you have worn the last tray for two weeks, your treatment may be over. However, a few teeth may require some adjustments more often, which is not uncommon. The dentist will inspect your teeth and may need you to wear more refinement trays.

Once you are done with your treatment, your dental professional will need you to put on retainers to give your jawbone time to harden around the new tooth position.

Invisalign aligners are more pleasing as they are almost transparent on the teeth. That is why they are becoming a popular option to treat an overbite. If you see that putting on braces will make you hide your teeth more and smile less, you may go for Invisalign instead.

The Duration of the Treatment

Like braces, the period it takes Invisalign to correct an overbite varies based on the specific tooth condition of the patient, how severe the overbite is, and the intensity of work needed to realize alignment. Here is a breakdown:

Patients can anticipate wearing their Invisalign for between six and 24 months.
A patient who takes out their aligners for over two hours daily will likely have to put them on for an extended period. Aligners should be removed for teeth brushing and meals, and a person should wear them overnight.
Once the orthodontist has completed the Invisalign treatment, the patient will continue wearing a retainer to ensure their teeth remain in their new, proper alignment.

The retainer gives the jawbone enough time to recover the bone tissue required to hold teeth in place. If someone does not wear a retainer, their teeth might return to their initial position. The orthodontist determines the number of hours a patient will need to wear a retainer and the number of hours per day they (the patient) should have it on.

The Cost of Fixing an Overbite Using Invisalign

Invisalign treatment for overbites usually costs between 3500 and 8000 dollars for a complete treatment. These costs vary from one patient to another since Invisalign needs customized aligners for every patient. The number of aligners necessary to realize the desired outcome might also change based on the complexity of the overbite treatment. If the overbite requires an entire year of Invisalign treatment, a patient may use as many as twenty to thirty varying customized aligners.

Other factors that might determine the cost of treating an overbite with Invisalign include the patient’s geographical area and the dental professional of their choice. A highly experienced dental professional will charge more, and the reverse is also true.

Most dental insurance plans cover Invisalign treatment for an overbite and adhere to a pricing structure resembling that of braces, with insurers covering a given percentage of the whole treatment or paying a flat dollar amount.

Inquire from your insurance provider to ensure they cover Invisalign treatment for an overbite, so you are not surprised when you go for treatment. Additionally, check to see whether your insurance plan covers cases of damage to or loss of aligners since replacements increase the treatment cost.

Other Traditional Treatment Options for an Overbite

To alter your teeth's alignment, your orthodontist needs to exert pressure over a given period of time to realize the desired results. Before, there were few treatments to fix an overbite. Usually, tooth extraction, metal braces, or a surgical procedure were applied to rectify tooth alignment.

Wire or metal braces are the most prevalently used option. However, braces have many challenges, including pain or discomfort, irritation, eating restrictions, and difficult cleaning. Additionally, braces are not appealing to the eyes and cause diminished confidence in children and adolescents.

Sometimes, orthodontists use the tooth extraction method alongside metal or wire braces to correct an overbite. They remove the teeth and then retract the upper front teeth into the gap left by the extracted tooth. However, this procedure is painful for most people and can result in other dental problems along the way.

Invisalign Precautions

Because Invisalign is made of plastic, it is less harsh on the gums and requires fewer precautions. Take out the Invisalign when eating, drinking, or engaging in sports. It is much easier to maintain the teeth and aligners than it is for wire braces. For aligners, thoroughly washing them with soapy water suffices, and for the teeth, clean them by flossing and brushing after removing the tray.

Contact a Los Angeles Orthodontist Near Me

Overbites are more than just an aesthetic problem. They can lead to tooth damage and jaw pain, or even make you cut or injure your tongue. For these reasons, you need to address an overbite as soon as possible if you have one. Remember, age is one of the factors affecting your jaw and mouth's adaptability. Correcting an overbite sooner can shorten the treatment period.

At Washington Dental, we have orthodontists experienced in treating overbites using various options, including Invisalign. Our treatment procedures are faster, more comfortable, and more affordable.

If you wish to correct your overbite in Carson, Los Angeles, Torrance, or Lomita, CA, and acquire a more confident and radiant smile, contact us to find out how Invisalign treatment can help and whether it is the right treatment option for you. We will analyze your case, and if Invisalign is not an option, we will recommend a more suitable treatment based on your teeth, goals, and budget. Contact us to start your journey to obtaining a beautiful smile.