Did you know that around 70 percent of the population has some form of overbite? In fact, a slight overbite is considered healthy. If you have a pronounced overbite and would like to fix it, you are not alone. Invisalign® treatment can help you reduce and ultimately get rid of your pronounced overbite.
At Lake Mary Dentistry, we will guide you through the process of getting Invisalign for an overbite. Dr. Steven Hochfelder can connect patients with excellent orthodontists in the Lake Mary, FL, area if you decide to pursue treatment.
What is an overbite?
Colloquially, an overbite is when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth. Yet many people use “overbite” when they are actually referring to an “overjet.”
An overbite specifically refers to the amount of vertical space that the upper front teeth overlap over the lower front teeth. An overjet is the amount of space that the upper front teeth protrude ahead of the lower front teeth.
An ideal bite means a slight overbite and slight overjet.
Problems Caused by Pronounced Overbites
A pronounced overbite or overjet can cause cosmetic flaws and oral health issues. Severe overbites and overjets could throw off the appearance and overall balance of your smile. Major overbites and overjets could also be the source of self-consciousness.
Overbites and overjets may also contribute to issues with dental alignments, such as pain while biting and chewing. Over time, this can contribute to a TMJ disorder (TMD), which affects the jaw joint.
These are a few reasons why patients come to our Lake Mary practice with questions about Invisalign.
How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional metal braces. Using a 3D model of your teeth and advanced computer modeling software, a series of clear plastic aligners are custom created.
Patients wear their Invisalign aligners at all times except when eating, drinking beverages other than cold water, and cleaning their teeth. That means wearing aligners for about 22 hours a day. After two weeks, patients discard the current aligner and move on to the next one in the treatment sequence. Every few weeks you will have an appointment to check on your treatment progress.
It’s as simple as that.
How long does it take to correct an overbite?
The overall Invisalign treatment timeline can vary from person to person. A severe overbite will take much longer to treat than a minor overbite. Generally speaking, it takes about six months to a year to complete Invisalign treatment. For some people, it can take up to a year and a half or two years.
During the consultation process, we can provide an estimated treatment time so you have a good understanding of what to expect with Invisalign.
How does Invisalign compare to traditional braces?
Invisalign offers comparable treatment times as natural braces. Teens and adults tend to prefer Invisalign because of the discrete and simple treatment process. Certain severe overbites and overjets may not be treatable with Invisalign, however, and will require traditional orthodontic treatment.
Join Us for a Consultation Today
Lake Mary Dentistry provides expert, patient-centered care. We are here to answer your questions and concerns about Invisalign. Give us a call today at (407) 321-8900 or send us a message online to schedule an appointment.
