Table of contents
What Is an Underbite?
An underbite occurs when the lower jaw is positioned in front of the upper jaw, also known as a class III malocclusion.
Ideally, in a normal occlusion, your upper teeth will bite outside of your lower front teeth, so the lower teeth are slightly covered. With a class III malocclusion, this is reversed, so instead your lower front teeth bite outside of your upper front teeth, covering them slightly.
What Causes an Underbite?
There are several reasons why someone might have an underbite, including:
- Oral habits like thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, using a pacifier after age three, or being bottle-fed after this age.
- Facial trauma that has affected the alignment of the jawbones.
- Genetics, as this issue can run in families.
Is It Necessary to Fix an Underbite?
Some people want to have an underbite corrected because they are concerned about their appearance. Using Invisalign can help to enhance the facial profile.
However, an untreated underbite can cause dental problems, including:
- Problems with your jaw joints, an issue called temporomandibular joint disorder.
- Increased wear and tear on your teeth.
- Jaw or facial pain.
- Issues maintaining good oral hygiene.
- Speech issues.
- Problems with biting and chewing food correctly, which can affect nutrition.
Can Invisalign Fix an Underbite?
Invisalign can be suitable for mild or moderate underbites, but it may not be the right solution for more severe underbites. When the issue is more severe, jaw surgery might be needed to achieve a successful treatment outcome, sometimes in combination with orthodontic treatment.
When Invisalign is the right solution, it can provide significant benefits during treatment.
Benefits of Choosing Invisalign for Underbite Corrections
The benefits of choosing this treatment can include:
- Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible.
- They are custom-designed to be smooth and comfortable to wear, with no brackets and wires to dig into cheeks and lips.
- The aligners are removable, so no dietary or oral hygiene modifications are required.
- Digital treatment planning provides predictable results.
Invisalign Treatment Process for Underbites
The treatment process for underbites is straightforward, and a brief outline of what you could expect is below.
Step One: Consultation & Diagnostics
Your first step is to schedule a consultation with our Invisalign dentist to learn more about this treatment and determine if you are a suitable candidate. During this consultation, our dentist will conduct a comprehensive dental exam to assess the severity of your underbite and ensure your teeth are healthy and strong enough to undergo treatment.
If they consider you a suitable candidate, a 3D digital scan enables us to plan your treatment stage by stage. We may also take digital 2D X-rays and digital photos for advanced treatment planning, allowing us to produce virtual images that show how your teeth and facial appearance will look upon completion.
Once you are satisfied with the treatment plan, it is finalized, and we order your computer-generated aligners.
Step Two: Invisalign Treatment
Our Invisalign dentist will show you how to insert and remove the aligners. We discuss how to clean them, how frequently, and general guidelines for everyday usage.
You remove the aligners for meals and oral care, but ideally, you should wear them for at least 22 hours a day. This helps ensure your treatment plan is successful and is completed within the predicted timeframe.
Step Three: Invisalign Checkups
You will need to schedule regular checkups during your treatment, typically every 6 to 8 weeks, to ensure that your underbite is being corrected according to your treatment plan. If necessary, we can adjust your treatment plan during these checks, and we can also provide additional sets of aligners as required, as well as address any queries you may have.
These checks continue until your teeth are straightened and your underbite corrected.
Step Four: Invisalign Retainers
The final stage of your treatment is to progress on to wearing Invisalign retainers. Wearing retainers is essential because they hold your teeth in their new positions, ensuring your underbite cannot return.
Invisalign retainers are made from the same clear BPA-free plastic material and are easy to wear. You treat them like aligners, except they will be more comfortable since your teeth are no longer under pressure to move.
Treatment Duration
The time needed to correct your underbite depends on its severity. A mild underbite can be corrected within just a few months. A more moderate underbite may take a year or more to correct. Typically, most people complete treatment within 12 months.
Invisalign can be a suitable solution if you have a mild or moderate underbite and would like to correct it, especially if it is causing you problems in your daily life.
A consultation with our Invisalign dentist at NYC Dentistry Center will quickly determine if you are a suitable candidate for Invisalign. Otherwise, we can explore alternative ways to address this issue.
NYC Dentistry Center6 E 45th St #801
New York, NY 10017
(45th St. btw 5th Ave / Madison Ave)
(212) 518-6096