Can Invisalign Fix an Underbite or Overbite?

Can Invisalign fix an underbite? In many mild to moderate cases, clear aligners can help correct an underbite or overbite caused by the position of the teeth, sometimes with the help of elastics. Bite problems caused mainly by jaw size or position may need orthodontist involvement or other treatment. In Welland, suitability is confirmed at your consultation.

Fixing Your Bite With Clear Aligners

• An underbite is when the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth; an overbite is when the upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much.
• Aligners move teeth, not jawbones, so they are best suited to bite problems caused by tooth position.
• Elastics and small tooth-coloured attachments are often used to help aligners correct a bite.
• Bite problems rooted in the jaw may need orthodontist involvement or a combination of treatments.
• At Rose City Dental Centre, Invisalign is used for bite alignment issues, and suitability is always confirmed at your consultation.

Bite problems are among the most common reasons adults ask about clear aligners, and also among the most misunderstood. Whether aligners can help depends less on the name of your bite problem and more on what is causing it. This guide explains the difference, so you know what to expect when you have your bite assessed in Welland.

What Is the Difference Between an Underbite and an Overbite?

Your bite is how your upper and lower teeth come together. The Canadian Dental Association calls a bite that does not fit together properly a malocclusion, or a bad bite, and describes several types:

People often use "overbite" to describe both a deep bite and upper teeth that stick out. Your dentist will tell you which one you have, because each is corrected differently.

Why Does the Cause of Your Bite Problem Matter?

Bite problems generally fall into two groups, and the group yours belongs to shapes what clear aligners can realistically do.

• Dental bite problems come from the position or angle of the teeth. The jaws are a normal size and position, but the teeth do not meet as they should.
• Skeletal bite problems come from the size or position of the jaws themselves, such as a lower jaw that sits well forward of the upper jaw.

Aligners move teeth within the jawbone. They do not change the size or position of the jaws. That is why many dental bite problems can be improved with aligners, while significant skeletal problems in adults may need orthodontist involvement and, in some cases, a combination of orthodontics and jaw surgery.

Can Invisalign Fix an Underbite?

In many cases where the underbite comes from tooth position, aligners can help. The treatment plan usually aims to move the lower front teeth slightly back and the upper front teeth slightly forward, so the upper teeth end up in front of the lower teeth again.

Several tools help aligners do this:

• A staged series of aligners, each one moving the front teeth a small step toward the planned position
• Elastics, small rubber bands that connect the upper and lower aligners and help guide the bite into place
• Attachments, small tooth-coloured bumps that give aligners extra grip; see our guide to Invisalign attachments
• Regular check-ins, so the dentist can confirm that the bite is tracking with the plan

The results depend on how far the teeth need to move and how consistently the aligners and elastics are worn. A mild underbite is a very different case from one where the lower jaw is noticeably forward.

Can Invisalign Fix an Underbite Without Surgery?

For many adults with an underbite caused by tooth position, aligners may correct the bite without surgery. When the lower jaw itself is too far forward, moving the teeth alone may not be enough to create a healthy bite.

In those cases, treatment may involve orthodontist involvement and a plan that combines different approaches. Your consultation and digital assessment help show which group your underbite falls into, so you can make a decision with a clear picture rather than guessing.

How Does Invisalign Correct an Overbite?

Can Invisalign correct overbite problems in adults? In many mild to moderate cases, it can help. How it does so depends on which type of overbite you have:

• Deep bite: aligners can move the front teeth so that the upper teeth no longer cover the lower teeth as much, often with the help of attachments.
• Overjet (protruding upper teeth): aligners can gradually draw the upper front teeth back, and elastics may be used to help adjust how the upper and lower teeth meet.

As with an underbite, the cause matters. When the answer to can Invisalign correct overbite is no, it is usually because the jaws, rather than the teeth, are the main source of the problem.

Why Is It Worth Correcting Your Bite?

A bite problem is not only about appearance. According to the CDA, a bad bite can make it hard to chew some foods, may cause some teeth to wear down and can cause muscle tension and pain. Teeth that stick out are also more easily chipped or broken.

Signs that your bite may need attention include:

• Uneven wear on the edges of your front or back teeth
• Chipping of upper front teeth that stick out
• Difficulty biting into food with your front teeth
• Jaw muscle tension or discomfort when chewing

A dental exam is a good first step if you notice any of these, because wear and chipping are easier to manage when caught early.

How Is a Bite Case Assessed at Rose City Dental Centre?

At Rose City Dental Centre, Invisalign is used for adults with bite alignment issues, as well as crowding, gaps and orthodontic relapse. Bite cases follow the same careful process as every Invisalign case:

• Initial consultation and digital assessment, where your bite type and its cause are reviewed
• Treatment by an Invisalign-certified dentist, with oversight from a dentist with advanced Invisalign experience
• Orthodontist involvement when required, for cases that need it
• Custom aligners provided in stages, with regular in-person follow-up visits
• Refinements included if treatment goals evolve along the way

The oversight of your case is explained during your consultation, so you know who is involved and why. For timing, cost and insurance details, see Invisalign in Welland.

What Is It Like to Correct a Bite With Aligners?

Bite correction often asks a little more of you than straightening alone. Here is what adults can usually expect:

• Wearing elastics, if your plan includes them, as directed by your dentist
• Snug new aligners for a day or two each time you switch to the next set
• A bite that feels different as your teeth move, especially at the front
• Attachments on some teeth, which stay on until treatment is complete
• Consistent wear time, because bite changes depend on the aligners and elastics being in place

Keeping your aligners clean is part of the routine, too. Our guide on how to clean Invisalign aligners covers a simple daily approach. For the bigger picture on whether clear aligners suit your life, read Invisalign for adults: is it worth it?.

FAQs About Correcting a Bite With Invisalign

Ready to Find Out If Invisalign Can Fix Your Bite?

Still wondering whether your underbite or overbite comes from your teeth or your jaws? An assessment answers that question for your own smile.

• Bite-focused planning: a digital assessment reviews your bite type and its cause before treatment.
• The right people involved: an Invisalign-certified dentist provides treatment, with orthodontist involvement when required.
• Monitored progress: regular in-person visits, with refinements included if goals evolve.

Book an Invisalign consultation in Welland to find out what aligners could do for your bite.

Rose City Dental Centre, 429 Thorold Road, Welland, ON L3C 3W4