Invisalign® can treat most dental irregularities, from teeth that are a bit crooked or gapped to more serious problems, such as underbites, overbites, and crossbites.
Invisalign® was designed to treat bite and jaw issues just like braces are—plus, Invisalign® offers greater comfort, is removable, and is nearly invisible.
Dr. King has before and after pictures below that can give you a better idea of the kinds of bite problems and malocclusions that Invisalign® treats in adults and teens. Although everyone will notice your improved smile, it’s just as important that your teeth and mouth are healthy. Healthy, correctly positioned teeth help with correct speech, chewing, and are less likely to have to be replaced by dentures as you grow older.
Take a look at each of these pictures to see what dental conditions Invisalign® corrects. Dr. King can also answer any questions about bite or spacing problems that you may not see here.
GAPPED TEETH
A too-wide jawbone or missing teeth may be the cause of this. It can produce chewing problems and lead to periodontal disease due to the lack of protection around the teeth. Your teeth may also shift because of extra room in your mouth.
OVERBITE
An overbite is the common term for an “overjet,” which is when your upper teeth bite over your lower teeth. Since it can unevenly wear down your lower teeth and cause gum irritation, it can lead to jaw problems.
UNDERBITE
An underbite is caused by growth problems on either the upper or lower jaw or by missing upper teeth. It causes your lower teeth to jut past your upper teeth and can interfere with your front teeth and your molars’ normal function.
OPEN BITE
When your upper and lower teeth do not touch as you close your mouth, it is an open bite. It can be due to an abnormal jaw structure or because of too much thumb sucking. An open bite can affect your chewing and your speech, and should be corrected before it leads to serious problems like TMJ (thermo-mandibular joint disorder).
OVERLY CROWDED
If your jaw and mouth aren’t large enough to comfortably fit all of your adult teeth, you will experience crowding. Not only can this cause crooked teeth, but adult teeth may not be able to erupt because there simply is no room. Having crowded teeth can also make it difficult to properly brush and floss, leading to possible tooth decay.
CROSSBITE
A crossbite is usually caused by a misalignment of both the upper and lower jaws. With this occurs, your upper teeth are likely to bite on the inside of your lower teeth, which will cause improper wearing of your teeth, and more seriously, bone loss.
