Invisalign initially began as a radical experiment in orthodontics. Treatment was limited. Results were less predictable, and some types of movements were just impossible.
But over the last 20 years of research, design, and redesign, Invisalign’s ability to treat more and more different orthodontic problems has expanded. Since 2017, Align Technology has offered mandibular (jaw) advancement to treat overbite as part of its Invisalign treatment. As a leader in Invisalign, the Irvine cosmetic dentists at Rice Dentistry are also happy to help people get overbite correction with Invisalign.
Improving Your Profile with Overbite Correction
Overbite is normal, to some extent. Ever since people started cutting food and eating it with utensils like a fork or chopsticks, a small degree of overbite became normal.
However, large overbites are both dysfunctional and unattractive. The typical treatment for overbite is lower jaw advancement. Overbite reduction is very common, occurring in 30-45% of all orthodontic treatment cases. Overbite impacts not only a person’s chewing ability, it also impacts their profile. A retruded lower jaw can give the appearance of a weak chin, leading to an unattractive appearance. Advancing the jaw improves the profile and helps to make chewing more natural and comfortable.
Lower jaw advancement is known in orthodontics as Class II correction. Class II malocclusion is defined by the relationship of the premolars to one another. When the upper premolars are ahead of the lower premolars, it is considered a class II malocclusion. This can be caused either by overjet, where the upper teeth are inclined forward, or by overbite, where the upper jaw is actually advanced forward over the lower jaw.
Jaw Advancement without Elastics
Advancing the jaw as part of orthodontic treatment involves the application of steady force to the lower jaw. With traditional wire braces, this is typically applied with elastics (rubber bands) that run from the upper jaw to the lower jaw, pulling the lower jaw forward.
But because Invisalign doesn’t have wires and brackets, it needs to utilize a different approach. Invisalign accomplishes the movement of the jaw using what it describes as “precision wings.” These wings are located on the upper and lower aligners. These wings interlock to hold the lower jaw forward, similar to the approach used in many types of oral appliances used for sleep apnea.
Benefits of Overbite Correction with Invisalign
Invisalign claims their mandibular advancement offers many benefits:
- Clinically proven treatment
- Improved compliance
- Greater patient comfort
- Reduced treatment time
Many of these benefits are simply those that they claim for Invisalign treatment generally.
Invisalign doesn’t post the clinical evidence about overbite correction on its website. However, in the years since Invisalign started offering overbite correction, multiple studies show Invisalign can correct overbite. However, overbite correction with Invisalign is limited, typically about half the amount of overbite correction possible with fixed braces.
Many people in Irvine adhere to Invisalign treatment protocol because it’s so easy to do. There are few restrictions when you have Invisalign. You get to eat and drink whatever you want, and it’s easier to brush and floss with Invisalign than traditional braces.
Without wires and brackets to poke and scrape, many people report that Invisalign is more comfortable to wear than traditional braces. In addition, switching aligners can happen more regularly than tightening braces at an Irvine dental office. This means reduced discomfort compared to orthodontic tightening appointments.
In the past, Invisalign offered comparable treatment times to normal braces. However, modern Invisalign techniques and plastics helped cut Invisalign treatment time almost in half, which means that you might be able to get faster results with Invisalign than traditional braces.
Other Cases Invisalign Can Treat
Overbite correction shows that Invisalign is a powerful orthodontic treatment that lets our Irvine cosmetic dentists treat a wide variety of cases. In addition, Invisalign can treat:
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Gap teeth
- Open bite
- Crowded teeth
- Crooked teeth
Underbite occurs when your upper jaw is behind your lower jaw. Upper jaw advancement can help correct underbite.
Crossbite occurs when the upper and lower jaws don’t line up, but one is not necessarily ahead of the other.
Gaps in teeth can occur when your teeth are too small for your jaw, you lose teeth, or teeth develop with spaces between them. Usually Invisalign is effective at treating gaps in teeth, though it’s not the only option.
Open bite is when your top and bottom teeth don’t meet. Invisalign helps teeth emerge so they can touch.
Crowded teeth occur when there’s not enough room in your jaw for teeth or when teeth aren’t properly spaced in your jaw. Invisalign can help make space in the jaw.
Crooked teeth can be tipped, tilted, or rotated. Invisalign can successfully straighten crooked teeth.
Is Invisalign the Best Orthodontic Treatment in Irvine for You?
Finding the best orthodontic treatment for your malocclusion is a complicated process. At Rice Dentistry in Irvine, we offer a wide range of orthodontic approaches, which gives us the freedom to consider many different treatment options. That way, we can match people with their ideal treatment.
For a comprehensive evaluation and orthodontic recommendations, please call (949) 551-5902 today for an appointment with an Orange County cosmetic dentist at Rice Dentistry in East Irvine near Discovery Park.
