Can Invisalign Fix My Underbite?

The first thing that people notice about you is your appearance, especially your smile. Not only can having a bright smile make you look attractive and approachable, but it can also convey positivity. However, if you have an underbite, it can be challenging to smile more often, especially in social situations.

Apart from that, an underbite can cause speech impediments and make chewing and biting difficult for you. Over time, an underbite can cause more severe complications like jaw disorders. That’s why you need to treat your underbite issues using appropriate orthodontic treatment. Here’s why you should consider using Invisalign for underbite correction than other treatment options like traditional metal braces:

What Is an Underbite?

An underbite is an orthodontic condition where your lower teeth protrude out over your upper teeth. And when your lower jaw sticks out in front of the upper jaw, you may experience difficulties chewing and biting and can even lead to speech impediments. An underbite can also cause discomfort, jaw pain, self-consciousness, and tooth wear. The degree of your underbite can range from mild to severe.

What Causes an Underbite?

An underbite can be caused by a range of factors including, genetics, injury, or bad childhood habits. Your genetics not only determines your jaw shape, tooth spacing, and shape but also whether you have an underbite. So, if your underbite is hereditary, it’s highly likely your parents or your family members also have it.

Apart from genetics, other factors that cause an underbite include;

• Childhood habits like excessive thumb sucking and tongue thrusting, prolonged feeding on a bottle, and pacifier use after age 3.
• Abnormally shaped teeth, crowded teeth, impacted teeth, and lost teeth.
• Mouth and jaw tumors
• Poorly fitting dental appliances, braces, dental fillings, retainers, or crowns
• Jaw misalignment caused by an injury

Why Should You Fix an Underbite?

When you have an underbite, you should seek treatment earliest possible. Left untreated, an underbite can make your smile appear awkward and unpleasant, making you feel more self-conscious about your appearance and eventually negatively affecting your self-esteem.

Besides that, it’s crucial to fix your underbite condition to avoid developing severe dental issues such as:

• Faster tooth wear- With an underbite, your teeth tend to wear out faster
• Not treating an underbite can lead to joint disorders like Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
• An underbite makes brushing and flossing your teeth a challenge, leading to poor oral hygiene
• Tooth decay, primarily due to excessive tooth wear and poor hygiene
• Chronic mouth breathing, which can cause further complications if you have sleep apnea or asthma
• Treating an underbite is the best way to reduce your risk of developing the above-listed complications and improve your life in profound ways.

Does Invisalign Work for an Underbite?

There are numerous treatment options for correcting an underbite. And the right treatment majorly depends on the cause and severity of your underbite. Invisalign is one of the best-known ways to treat orthodontic issues, including an underbite. If you have mild to moderate underbite, Invisalign can help move your lower teeth back to their rightful position using clear retainers.

To ensure your Invisalign treatment works effectively, you need to wear clear aligners for at least 22 hours per day. You need to replace each set of clear aligners with a new one after every two weeks. That way, each set of aligners you wear gradually adjusts your lower teeth position until aligned with your upper teeth. Also, you should take proper care of your aligners by removing them before you eat and keeping them clean.

Benefits of Using Invisalign for Underbite

Unlike traditional metal braces, using Invisalign to correct your underbite problem comes with numerous benefits, including:

• Less noticeable: The discreet design of clear aligners makes them less noticeable by other people than when you’re wearing metal braces. This is because clear aligners don’t have metal brackets, wires, and elastics that those around you can see when you smile. Thus, you can smile confidently, knowing no one will notice you’re wearing aligners. This can positively impact your self-esteem and boost your confidence in social situations.
• Comfortable to wear: Another benefit of using Invisalign for correcting an underbite is that the clear aligners will be custom-made to fit on your teeth snugly, without causing any discomfort or pain. This way, you can comfortably wear them all day, allowing you to get your desired results faster.
• Improved oral hygiene: Clear aligners are removable, meaning you can easily get them out to brush and floss your teeth. This helps you observe good oral hygiene, avoiding tooth decay and gum diseases. Also, since they are removable, it makes it easy for you to keep them clean.
• They work efficiently: Invisalign works more efficientlyin shifting your teeth back to their correct position than traditional metal braces. Your teeth can be examined every two weeks to ensure they are adjusting according to plan, so you can entirely correct your underbite within the set treatment period.
• Dietary freedom: With Invisalign, you can easily remove the clear aligners during meals, allowing you to your favorite foods without worrying about food particles getting trapped in the braces.

How Long Does Invisalign Take for Underbite?

How long it takes to treat an underbite using Invisalign depends on several factors, including the severity of your underbite and whether you can wear the aligners for at least 22 hours each day.
Generally, minor underbite cases can take anywhere between 3 to 4 months, while moderately severe underbites can be fixed within 12 months. The best thing about using Invisalign for underbite is that you’ll get your desired results faster than when using traditional metal braces.

Pros and Cons of Invisalign for an Underbite

Not sure whether Invisalign is the best treatment option for correcting your underbite problem? Here are some pros and cons of using Invisalign for an underbite, so you can make an informed decision:

Pros

Some of the advantages of using Invisalign for underbite correction include:

• Less noticeable when smiling
• Easy to remove during mealtimes or when cleaning teeth
• Corrects an underbite faster than traditional metal braces
• Fewer visits to the dentist’s office and requires no emergency appointments
• Adjusts teeth position without metal wires and braces, making the treatment comfortable and painless

Cons

Some of the reasons you may not want to use Invisalign for an underbite include:

• It can be costly than braces
• It can be broken if worn while eating or playing contact sports, which results in additional costs.
• It can be lost easily since the clear aligners are removable
• May cause achiness and discomfort in the mouth
• May not give acceptable results
• It may also require surgery to be efficient, especially in severe underbite cases.

Braces vs. Invisalign for Underbite Correction

Both Invisalign and braces are effective in correcting an underbite. However, you may consider choosing Invisalign aligners for underbite correction over braces since they are less noticeable, comfortable to wear, and makes maintaining oral hygiene super-easy. They also correct your underbite issue faster than braces and often require no emergency appointments because they don’t use metal wires or brackets.

Are you looking for a professional and reliable Invisalign provider to help with your underbite issue? Look no further. Bracesetters offers professional Invisalign treatment in Middletown, Monroe, Newburgh, Orange County, and Monticello, NY. We’re always ready to serve you and help transform your smile in the best way possible.

Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Skrobola or Dr. Schlosser to see if Invisalign® is right for you!