Can Invisalign Treat Complex Cases?

Invisalign for Overbite

Overbite refers to the condition where the upper jaw set of teeth extends over the lower set of teeth when biting, which results in a gap between the upper and lower sets of teeth. This condition is one of the most common forms of malocclusion that’s highly prevalent in younger patients, with more than 70% of orthodontic dental disorders in children being overbites. Overbites are generally caused as a result genetic dispositions. However, it can also be the results of habits during teen years which affects the development of the upper and lower jaw.

An untreated overbite can lead of a variety of other issues such as:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Gum irritation
• Jaw pain and jaw joint pain
• Speech problems – lisps
• Faster tooth wear from grinding teeth – worn down tooth enamel which can lead to increased tooth sensitivity, trauma to the tooth or even painful tooth abscess
• Increased risk of damage to front teeth
• Increased risk of gum disease
• Increased risk of developing tooth decay
• Damage to upper palate of mouth

Can Invisalign Fix Overbites?

Yes, Invisalign can treat overbites. Depending on the severity of the overbite and the age of the patient Invisalign may be a viable treatment option.

Invisalign for Underbite

Underbites refer to the condition where the lower set of teeth extend and stick out in front of the upper set of teeth when biting. This incorrect positioning of teeth cases the lower jaw to be displaced and positioned forward. Underbites are generally caused as a results of a genetic disposition, but can also be the results of habits during teen years which affects the development of the upper and lower jaw. Underbites occur due to an over development of the lower jaw, under development of the upper jaw, or both.

An untreated underbite can lead to a variety of issues such as:

• Strange & unpleasant smile
• Speech problems
• Poor function of mouth – Patients are unable to bite or chew properly due to the underbite
• Poor oral hygiene
• Increased risk of damage to front teeth
• Increased risk of gum disease
• Increased risk of developing tooth decay

Can Invisalign Fix Underbites?

Yes, Invisalign can treat certain types of underbites. Depending on the severity of the underbite and the age of the patient Invisalign may be a viable treatment option. Severe underbites which are the result of significant skeletal misalignment of the jaw, may require additional treatment such as surgery to correct the alignment of the jaw, where a dental surgeon will manipulate and shift the lower jaw to achieve an ideal bite position.

Invisalign for Crossbite

Crossbites refer the bite misalignment where only some upper teeth sit behind lower teeth, unlike an underbite where almost all upper front teeth are behind the lower  front teeth. Crossbites are generally the result of a genetic disposition, but can also be the result of habit during teen years which affects the development of the upper and lower jaw, delayed/irregular tooth growth and mouth breathing.

Crossbites are generally come in two primary forms:

• Anterior Crossbite: One or more upper front teeth may sit behind bottom front teeth when the mouth is closed, this causes upper teeth to touch the tongue instead of the bottom teeth.
• Posterior Crossbite: One or more back upper teeth sit behind back lower teeth when the mouth is closed resulting in back lower teeth being closer to the cheek than back upper teeth. Posterior crossbites occur due to an underdeveloped upper jaw and an overdeveloped lower jaw.

An untreated underbite can lead to a variety of issues such as:

• Receding gums
• Tooth pain
• Cheek pain
• Poor facial symmetry
• Poor function of mouth – Patients are unable to bite or chew properly due to the crossbite
• Poor oral hygiene
• Increased risk of gum disease
• Increased risk of developing tooth decay

Can Invisalign Fix Crossbites?

Yes, Invisalign can treat most types of crossbites. Depending on the severity of the crossbite and the age of the patient Invisalign may be a viable treatment option.

In severe crossbite cases where skeletal development is normal, additional means may be needed to correct the crossbite alongside the use of invisalign. This might include elastic bands, metal braces placed on only a few teeth, or mini screws to help pull the teeth into position. In cases with skeletal misalignments, surgery might be needed to completely correct the crossbite

However, for the majority of patients suffering from a crossbite, surgical intervention will not be necessary to produce a desired bite and satisfactory final results.

Invisalign for Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth, also known as overcrowding is a common condition that occurs when there is not don’t have enough space in the jaw for teeth to fit properly.

Overcrowding can be caused by a wide variety of factors such as:

• Genetic defects causing teeth to be larger than the jaw resulting in teeth not being able to fit properly, causing them to twist or overlap. 
• Premature loss of primary teeth which causes other teeth shift
• Over-retained baby teeth causing permanent teeth to not properly erupt.

An untreated crowded can lead to a variety of issues such as:

• Faster tooth wear from grinding teeth- worn down tooth enamel which can lead to increased tooth sensitivity, trauma to the tooth or even painful tooth abscess
• Difficulty chewing
• Speech difficulty
• Harder to maintain oral hygiene
• Increased risk of damage to front teeth
• Increased risk of gum disease
• Increased risk of developing tooth decay

Can Invisalign Fix Crowding?

Yes, Invisalign can treat most types of crowded teeth. In crowding cases, space would be needed to push the crowded teeth into ideal alignment. This can be done through multiple ways including creating spaces between existing teeth, pushing the arch forwards to gain space or extracting a premolar tooth.