Can Invisalign® Correct My Overbite?

Invisalign® clear aligners have been the orthodontic treatment of choice for countless tweens, teens, and adults since it first received approval from the Food and Drug Administration in 1998. 

In fact, over the past 25 years, the Invisalign system has predictably straightened the teeth of more than 13 million people — many of whom sought to correct a prominent overbite.  

At Lovely Smiles Orthodontics in Richmond, Texas, Dr. Nicole Thompson and her team use Invisalign to correct a full scope of common smile flaws, ranging from gapped and crowded teeth to crossbites, open bites, underbites, and — you guessed it — overbites. 

What is an overbite misalignment?

The correct term for what the lay person refers to as an overbite is an Overjet. An overjet is a misalignment of teeth or jaws that occurs when your upper front teeth protrude prominently past your lower front teeth. 

Commonly called buck teeth, an overjet or what patients refer to as an overbite can be the product of genetic disposition or jaw shape, thumb-sucking or pacifier use past 3 years of age, teeth grinding (bruxism), or excessive nail biting.

As one of the most common malocclusions in people of all ages, an overjet can be minor, moderate, or severe. 

A normal bite has less than 3 millimeters of space between the upper and lower teeth when the jaw is closed naturally. A moderate overjet has 3-5 mm of space and a severe overjet has more than 5 mm of space.

Why is it important to treat an Overjet?

A minor overjet is normal. But a moderate to severe overjet can make it harder to breathe, eat, or speak clearly.

It can also elevate the risk of developing serious oral health problems like tooth decay, gum disease, persistent jaw pain, or even a chronic temporomandibular disorder (TMD). 

How does Invisalign fix an overjet?

The Invisalign system is FDA-approved to treat mild to moderate overbites. Indeed, current research and the empirical data of millions of successful treatment cases show that Invisalign clear aligners are just as effective at correcting mild to moderate overjets as conventional braces, but without the inconvenience of having to wear bulky wire-and-bracket hardware. 

Custom clear aligners

Invisalign addresses mild to moderate overbites the same way it treats other malocclusions — through a series of custom clear aligners that are made to incrementally straighten teeth and fix a protruding bite until ideal positioning and alignment is reached. 

Roadmap to a perfect bite

Invisalign’s 3D computer imaging software allows us to diagnose your orthodontic needs and create a digital roadmap that gets you to the desired treatment outcome with an exceptionally high degree of precision. 

Your smile transformation 

Each close-fitting, custom-made aligner — which you wear for a week or two, depending on your treatment plan — makes specific changes in tooth and bite alignment, transforming your smile one step at a time. 

To address a mild to moderate overjet Invisalign aligners use precision mandibular advancement wings to help push the lower jaw forward. 

Overjet treatment time

Invisalign has an average treatment time of 12-18 months; some overjets can be corrected in as little as six months, while others may take as long as 24 months. 

Your treatment timeline depends on several factors, ranging from your age and degree of misalignment to treatment plan adherence — you must wear your aligners for at least 22 hours each day to keep your treatment on track. 

Is the Invisalign system right for me?

Just as no two people are the same, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all orthodontic treatment plan. During your Invisalign consultation, we evaluate every relevant aspect of your case to determine if Invisalign is a viable treatment option for you or your teen. 

Invisalign works well for most cases, and virtually everyone who opts to correct their teeth with Invisalign is just as pleased with the process as they are with the results. 

Are you interested in Invisalign? Lovely Smiles Orthodontics can help. Call 832-219-7687 today, or use our online booking feature to schedule a visit at our office in Richmond, Texas, any time.