Can Clear Aligners Fix An Underbite?
Clear aligners are primarily used to straighten teeth, but they can also correct bite misalignment. Although they are often considered to be a cosmetic treatment, clear aligners are also an orthodontic treatment, meaning they improve the alignment of the teeth for better oral health.
Clear aligners can accomplish many things, but can they fix an underbite? Learn the answer to this and more about clear aligner treatment.
What Are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners are plastic trays that fit over your teeth, sort of like retainers. They are made of clear plastic in order to blend in with your teeth for a discreet appearance. Clear aligner treatment consists of a series of aligners, each shaped slightly different, that are designed to gradually shift your teeth into the desired position. You wear each aligner for about 2 weeks, then switch to the next one in order, until you have worn the entire set. Treatment is complete when your teeth are in the proper position.
What Clear Aligners Can Do
Clear aligners are most effective for mild to moderate orthodontic cases. They can often correct the following orthodontic issues:
- Crowding
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Cross bite
- Open bite
What Clear Aligners Can Not Do
There are some orthodontic conditions that clear aligners cannot correct, such as:
- Severe bite misalignment
- Bite problems due to skeletal structure of the jaw
- Teeth that need to be rotated more than 25 degrees.
- Teeth that need to be moved vertically in the socket.
What is an Underbite?
When your top row of teeth meet behind your bottom row of teeth when you bite down, you are considered to have an underbite. This is not an ideal bite alignment because your teeth are not meeting together properly, which can result in dental damage over time and put excess strain on your jaw, potentially causing TMJ disorder.
Mild to moderate underbites can be corrected with clear aligners. More severe underbites may require braces. In rare situations an underbite can be severe enough to require jaw surgery. Surgical correction of an underbite may be necessary if abnormalities of the bone structure are the cause of the bite misalignment.
Who Provides Clear Aligners?
Clear aligners can be provided by dentists as well as orthodontists in many cases. Clear aligners don’t require the expertise of an orthodontist because they are a simpler form of treatment. Computer software is used to design your treatment to achieve the desired results. Your dentist will monitor your progress periodically to ensure that your teeth are shifting in the proper position.
Frequently Asked Questions About Clear Aligners
Are clear aligners truly invisible?
Clear aligners fit snugly to your teeth, which helps them blend in. Unless you know they are there, most people won’t notice them. You can keep your aligners invisible by cleaning them carefully and avoiding eating or drinking anything other than water while wearing them.
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you first start wearing your aligners, your teeth may feel a little tender for the first few days. This is because the teeth are being shifted out of their usual position for the first time. With each new aligner you may have some tenderness again, but it is typically milder and subsides more quickly each time.
Am I a Candidate for Clear Aligners?
To determine if you are a candidate for clear aligners, you will need an evaluation. El Paso Family Dental can assess the position of your teeth and determine the best course of treatment to straighten your teeth and properly align your bite.
Call 915-585-2020 or contact us today to learn more and schedule an appointment.