Can Invisible Braces Fix Bite Issues?

For those of you who wish to have straight teeth and a beautiful smile, clear aligners are a great treatment choice. Although most people may have heard a lot about this treatment, many are unsure as to how clear aligners resolve bite issues. Looking at simple clear aligner trays, you may not understand how they work and may even wonder if they are effective.

So in this blog, we will help you understand how clear aligners work and how they can be used to correct your bite. 

Clear aligners: The basics

Clear or invisible aligners are made of soft, hypoallergenic plastic and are made to measure to fit your teeth. After your initial consultation with our dentist in Dubai, a 3D image of your teeth is generated using a special software. This information is then used in a series of custom aligner trays that fit and apply gentle pressure to your teeth, pushing them into place throughout the treatment. Although the treatment experience may be unique for each patient, the whole process is generally pain-free, discreet, and easy to manage. Ideally, the treatment lasts for 6 to 18 months if you follow all the instructions as recommended by the dentist and wear the invisible aligners for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours every day.

Treating bite issues with clear aligners

Until a few years back, dentists only recommended clear aligners to treat mild to moderate cases of malocclusion. However, with better materials and treatment plans, invisible aligners can now be used to facilitate more complex dental movements.

Generally, invisible aligners are very effective in treating gapped or crowded teeth. Spacing issues like these are mostly due to genetics, oral habits, or imbalance in the tooth-to-jaw-size relationship. Apart from being a cosmetic issue, spacing issues like gaps or crowding will negatively impact your oral health, paving the way for gum diseases and tooth decay. With the help of a series of invisible aligners, dentists can now close gaps or reduce the crowding of teeth to bring them back into a straight and even position. 

Bite correction on the other hand is a bit more complicated. There are – kinds of bites, which are-

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Open Bite 
• Crossbite

Let us understand them better-

Overbite or overjet is a condition where the top teeth stick out too far in front of the bottom teeth. It is to be noted that almost everyone has some degree of overbite. However, it is considered an issue if the space between the upper and lower teeth is too large and will require some treatment. Dentists note that genetics and habits such as tongue thrusting or prolonged thumb sucking can lead to the development of an overbite. Untreated overbite can lead to uneven wear and injuries of the top teeth and unexplained jaw pains.

With clear aligners, overbites can be reduced by shifting the protruding teeth back, improving the aesthetics and functionality of your teeth.

An underbite is the opposite of an overbite, where the bottom teeth are in front of the top teeth when you close your mouth. Most of the time, this issue is skeletal; meaning your lower jaw is visibly larger and far too forward than the upper jaw. Underbites cause difficulty with speech, lead to uneven wear, and make it difficult for the patient to chew or talk.

Most cases of underbite are diagnosed in childhood. The younger the patient, the better the issue can be addressed. As this condition can be rectified by manipulating the jaws and guiding the growth of the teeth using clear aligners, you can start the treatment at the earliest. In case the patient has a severe case of an underbite, invisible aligner treatment is used along with orthodontic surgery to correct the jaw placement.

The next one is an open bite. Here the top and bottom teeth don’t touch even when the mouth is closed. Tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, prolonged use of a pacifier, or poor jaw growth leads to open bites. People with open bites find it hard to chew food properly and cause uneven wear and tear on the teeth.

While resolving an open bite is quite challenging with traditional methods. But with invisible aligners, you can target the movement of a specific tooth in a particular direction and coordinate with others.

Crossbite is also a complex case of a bite issue. When a patient has a crossbite, he or she may have a back cross or front crossbite. Untreated crossbite may cause permanent change to the facial structure or wear down the teeth, paving way for gum issues or bone loss.

With invisible aligners, we can work on correcting every single tooth that is crossed with the upper or lower teeth. If the crossbite is due to issues with your jaw structure, your dentist may recommend clear aligner treatment in conjunction with other orthodontic procedures.

Clear aligners- Are they right for you?

Book an appointment with our expert dentist at Emirates Dental in Dubai today. After a comprehensive consultation with our expert, invisible aligner treatment may be recommended to you based on the degree of your malocclusion and your personal choices. So talk to our dentist today to see if you are a candidate for clear aligner treatment.