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Invisalign® treatment: More than just a smile you love.

May 2024

Invisalign clear aligners could be ideal for giving you that brand-new, straighter smile. The treatment works on a range of simple to complex cases.

But did you know Invisalign treatment can help with far more than smile-shyness?

Misaligned teeth, known as malocclusions, occur in various types and can have an impact not just on oral health, but also on wider health and wellbeing issues. Headaches,1 jaw pain2,3 or even bone loss4 can all stem from tooth malocclusion, along with direct issues including uneven wear on the teeth,5 tooth decay and gum disease.6

Types of malocclusion include:

  • Crowded teeth, where there isn’t enough room in the jaw for teeth to fit properly.

  • Spacing, where the teeth are too far apart.

  • Overbite, where the upper front teeth overlap with the lower front teeth.

  • Underbite, where the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth with the mouth closed.

  • Crossbite, when some of the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth with the mouth closed.

  • Open bite, where the teeth don’t touch when the mouth is closed.

Spotlight on overbite:

We’ll now look at overbite specifically. There are various degrees of overbite that can affect chewing.7 To determine if your overbite needs to be corrected, bite on the back of your teeth and smile in front of a mirror while examining your lower teeth. If more than half of your bottom teeth are covered by your top teeth, then you might want to make an appointment with a dentist or orthodontist to examine your bite.8 This way, you’ll know if your overbite needs correction or not.

How to fix an overbite:

If a dentist or orthodontist advises you to correct your overbite with teeth straightening treatment, you’ll have several options. One of them being Invisalign clear aligners. Invisalign aligners is the #1 doctor trusted brand of clear aligner for teeth straightening.9 They’re also more comfortable than braces10 and allow predictable tooth movement,11 ensuring your treatment follows your dentists’ or orthodontist’s treatment plan.

What’s the next step?

Are you unsure about the severity of your overbite and want to know about your treatment options? Use the Invisalign doctor locator tool to find an orthodontist near you. Some doctors offer free consultations so be sure to ask if they offer one when you schedule an appointment.


Disclaimer: The information contained in this website are for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the advice of your health care provider with any questions you may have regarding any dental or medical-related condition and never disregard or delay seeking such advice because of something you have read on this website.

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  1. Malocclusion as a risk factor in the etiology of headaches in children and adolescents - PubMed (nih.gov)
  2. Van't spijker, a, et al. “occlusal wear and occlusal condition in a convenience sample of young adults.” Journal of dentistry, vol. 43, no. 1, jan. 2015, pp. 72–77., doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2014.11.001
  3. Riolo, michael l., et al. “associations between occlusal characteristics and signs and symptoms of tmj dysfunction in children and young adults.” American journal of orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, vol. 92, no. 6, 1987, pp. 467–477., doi:10.1016/0889-5406(87)90228-9
  4. José M Barrera-Mora, Eduardo Espinar Escalona, Camilo Abalos Labruzzi, José M Llamas Carrera, Emilio Jiménez-Castellanos Ballesteros, Enrique Solano Reina & Mariano Rocabado (2012) The Relationship Between Malocclusion, Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, Condylar Position and TMD Symptoms, CRANIO®, 30:2, 121-130, DOI: 10.1179/crn.2012.018
  5. Carlsson GE, Egermark I, Magnusson T. Predictors of bruxism, other oral parafunctions, and tooth wear over a 20-year follow-up period. J Orofac Pain. 2003;17:50–7
  6. Staufer, Kirsten, and Helga Landmesser. “Effects of Crowding in the Lower Anterior Segment - a Risk Evaluation Depending upon the Degree of Crowding.” Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics, vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 13–25.
  7. Current therapy in orthodontics, Nanda & Kapila, 2010
  8. Does Everyone have An Overbite? California Association of Orthodontists. https://caortho.org/does-everyone-have-an-overbite/ (Accessed 4/8/24)
  9. Based on a survey in March 2021 by iQVIA. If a dentist (n=911) or orthodontist (n=53) has performed 1+ teeth straightening treatment in the past week, they were asked, “which brand of clear aligner do you trust the most for teeth straightening?” From the list, Invisalign was chosen the most often at the 99% confidence interval. Data on file at Align Technology, as of May 4, 2021.
  10. Study sponsored by Align Technology and based on adult Class I, nonextraction, mild to moderate crowding cases with SmartTrack material. David W. White, Katie C. Julien, Helder Jacob, Phillip M. Campbell and Peter H. Buschang, Discomfort associated with Invisalign and traditional brackets: A randomized, prospective trial. The Angle Orthodontist Nov 2017, Vol. 87, No. 6 pp. 801-808
  11. Compared to Invisalign aligners previously made from single-layer (EX30) material.