Invisalign aligners have become incredibly popular in recent years for their ability to deal with issues of minor misalignment without the need for wires or brackets. You can enjoy the benefits of traditional orthodontic care without the need for dietary restrictions or affecting your appearance.
However, crooked and gapped teeth aren’t the only things that orthodontics can help you with—they can also correct overbites, underbites, and crossbites. You might wonder whether the same is true of Invisalign. Here’s what you should know.
Can Invisalign Aligners Deal With Bite Misalignment?
Changing your bite isn’t necessarily what Invisalign aligners are best at, but it’s something that they can manage if you and your dentist go about it intelligently. What can be done depends a little bit on your age, or more importantly, whether your jaw is still growing.
Patients 12 and under
If you’re under 12, there’s a strong possibility that your jaw is still growing. In that case, it’s usually possible to fix bite issues by directing this growth in a different direction. Invisalign even has particular aligners for exactly this situation, called Invisalign Mandibular Advancement. These aligners subtly direct the jaw in a more healthy direction while simultaneously straightening the teeth.
Teenage and Adult Patients
After adolescence your jaw is unlikely to still be growing, which means that you’ll need to take a different approach to fixing your bite. Instead, you’ll likely need to make use of Invisalign attachments. For minor bite issues, you can make use of elastics that draw the teeth together, much like you might have seen with braces.
There’s also a small metal bar called a “motion” appliance that works by a similar principle but puts more leverage on the teeth, allowing Invisalign aligners to deal with much more substantial issues than are otherwise possible.
What Can’t Invisalign Do?
However, there are things that Invisalign isn’t really capable of. In the case of incredibly substantial bite misalignment, it may still be necessary to rely on traditional orthodontics. This is also the case if you have a tooth that has twisted more than a few dozen degrees around.
If you want to deal with these kinds of issues, it’s usually a good idea to talk to your dentist about what options will work for you.
About Our Practice
At Soleil Dental, everyone on our team is thoroughly dedicated to providing our patients with dental care informed by compassion. As a result, we make it a point to get to know our patients as individuals and to tailor treatment to them. When you come to our office, you can expect to get gentle, compassionate, and detail-oriented care.
If you have any questions about Invisalign aligners, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (214) 304-2112.