Invisalign® is an adaptable orthodontic appliance that can straighten teeth, remove gaps, and treat minor dental bite issues, including underbite.

In the case of underbite, Invisalign works best when the bite issue stems from tooth alignment. If jaw issues cause the underbite, you may need braces or surgery.

What is an Underbite?

Underbites happen when a patient's lower teeth sit forward of the upper teeth. Patients with an underbite often feel uncomfortable with their smiles. They may have trouble chewing or speaking. They may also have chronic bad breath.

Why Choose Invisalign for An Underbite?

Invisalign is an efficient way to treat underbites caused by malocclusion. When treating bite issues with Invisalign, dentists use composite attachment points or buttons that blend in with the teeth. The buttons hold strong elastic bands.

 

Dentists use these buttons to connect the top molars to the lower canines, allowing the bands to pull the teeth into more appropriate positions. As Invisalign treatment proceeds, the teeth return to better positions, and the underbite disappears.

How Invisalign Works

Invisalign treatment uses a series of custom, medical-grade plastic aligners. The dentist creates these aligners using 3-D digital technology to ensure proper tooth movements. After one to two weeks, you will change to a new set of aligners throughout the treatment period. The new aligners gently move your teeth, preparing them for their final locations.

Benefits of Invisalign

• Comfortable: Invisalign fits snugly against the teeth and has no irritating brackets or wires.
• Discreet: Even with the buttons and elastics required to treat an underbite, Invisalign is more discreet than braces and will attract fewer unwanted comments.
• Effective: Invisalign has been clinically shown to work as well as braces.
• Faster than braces: Where braces typically take from 18 months to 3 years, Invisalign treatment is shorter at 12 to 18 months.
• Improved oral health: Invisalign allows better oral care, significantly improving oral health outcomes. Invisalign can easily maintain gum health, which sometimes suffers with braces.
• No food restrictions: Invisalign patients can eat their favorite foods without worrying they will damage their aligners. Invisalign comes out for eating, drinking, and cleaning.

Frequently Asked Questions About Invisalign and Underbite

What causes underbite in children?

Tongue thrusting, thumb-sucking, and pacifier use can contribute to underbite in young children. Speak to your dentist about methods to gently correct these damaging habits that can have far-reaching effects on oral health later in life.

Do I need to wear a retainer after the Invisalign treatment?

Retainer use is crucial to maintaining the results of your Invisalign treatment. You will lose your financial and time investments without proper retainer wear and potentially see your underbite return.

Call Cambridge Family Dentistry

Invisalign is a comfortable, discreet option for treating minor to moderate bite issues. Only your dentist can tell you whether you are a candidate for treating underbite. Please call our Cambridge, MA, office at 617-868-7479 to schedule your consultation today.

On average, you can expect Invisalign treatment in Cambridge, MA to cost between $3,000 and $8,000. This cost includes your alignment trays as well as a limited number of replacements. All appointments with your dentist concerning your treatment are also included in this total. 

The final cost for Invisalign treatment will be based on each individual’s treatment plan, including the complexity of your treatment, the number of aligners required, and the length of the treatment. 

It is not a secret that Invisalign does run a bit higher in cost than traditional braces, but it is more cost-effective than other solutions, such as clear bracket braces. Thanks to available financing through companies like CareCredit and Compassionate Finance, as well as dental insurance, Invisalign is more affordable than it has ever been. 

Why Choose Invisalign? 

Crooked teeth and other visible oral health issues can negatively impact an individual’s self-esteem - especially in teens and young adults. With the help of Invisalign, patients can get the treatment they need without calling attention to it. The clear aligners are discreet and have very little impact on confidence levels. 

Invisalign is a great treatment choice for all sorts of dental issues, such as: 

• Gaps between teeth
• Underbites
• Overbites
• Open bites
• Crooked teeth
• Crowded teeth

Not addressing some of these concerns now can lead to bigger issues in the future. 

What You Can Expect with Invisalign 

Interested in Invisalign? Even though the process is rather simple, it always feels good to know what to expect. 

The very first step of Invisalign is finding out whether or not you are a candidate for the treatment. You will meet with the dentist and undergo an evaluation to make this determination. 

Moving forward with Invisalign, dental images and scans will be taken. This will help your dentist create a 3D image of what your smile will look like after the treatment is complete. And, from your images, a plan will be created and your custom aligners will be developed so that you can begin your treatment. You will wear and change out your aligners as instructed by your dentist, following up occasionally throughout the length of the treatment. 

The removable aligner trays must be worn for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours per day. Not doing so will result in delayed - or failed - treatment. The reason for this is that the tray encourages your teeth to move into their new position. As you switch to new trays, they will move your teeth along a path to the finished product. Without wearing the aligners, your teeth are not being treated.

It doesn’t take long before you will begin to visibly see the changes in your smile. Some notice this within just a few short weeks! 

As long as your treatment progresses as it should, your teeth and bite will be perfectly aligned and your smile straight by the time you finish with your last clear aligner. 

Keep in mind that, just as with traditional braces, you will be required to wear a retainer after your treatment is complete. This keeps your teeth from shifting back into their old position. 

Interested in Invisalign Treatment? 

If you are in the Cambridge, MA area and would like to see if Invisalign is right for you, the dental team at Cambridge Family Dentistry can help. 

Contact us today at 617-868-7479. Or, request an appointment online.

Unlike traditional metal braces that come with restrictions and the need for lifestyle changes, Invisalign’s removable aligners give you freedom. 

You won’t have to worry about damaging the hardware due to eating something chewy or sticky - nor will you have to worry about food particles making their way into spaces that are nearly impossible to reach. 

Can you eat with Invisalign? Sure. Simply remove your aligners and enjoy! 

Keep reading to see all the additional perks that you get when Invisalign is your chosen method of treatment. 

What is Invisalign? 

Invisalign is a type of treatment that can treat a long list of orthodontic issues, such as: 

• Gaps between teeth
• Overcrowding
• Crossbites
• Overbite
• Underbites
• Open bites
• Crooked teeth

It does this successfully using clear aligners that are nearly invisible when worn. The trays fit snugly against the teeth and encourage them to move into their new position. The trays are replaced every week or two to continue to move your teeth through the progression of treatment. Consider this equivalent to going to the orthodontist for tightening appointments with traditional braces. 

Invisalign aligners need to be worn for a minimum of 20 to 22 hours every single day to complete your treatment on schedule. How long treatment will take will depend on the severity of the issue it is curing - as well as your compliance with wearing them. On average, most Invisalign treatment plans are completed within 9 to 15 months. 

Invisalign Benefits Your Oral Health

Invisalign aligners can be removed at any time - and this is one of the main reasons so many patients seek this option. It is much easier to maintain life as you know it and fix your misalignments and straighten crooked teeth. For instance, with Invisalign, you can:

• Thoroughly clean your teeth by removing the aligners - and always feel confident about it since there are no sneaky hiding spots like with traditional braces. 
• Floss as you normally word without having to find your way through wires to get between the teeth. 
• Enjoy no scraping or lacerating of your surrounding cheeks and other soft tissues. Invisalign aligners are smooth and won’t leave you with anything more than a little temporary pressure. 

Invisalign can help you to maintain your oral health while receiving treatment. 

Lifestyle Benefits of Invisalign

While Invisalign helps maintain good oral health, it does so much more. It gives patients the opportunity to transform their smile while maintaining discretion and the ability to eat what they want. 

For adults, the idea of treating some oral health issues is put aside for fear of wearing traditional braces with metal brackets. But with Invisalign, they can maintain their life with treatment unnoticed. This can keep confidence levels up. 

Finally, Invisalign aligners can be removed when needed. Wearing them as much as possible is required for successful treatment, but when you need a momentary break, you can remove them. This is something that cannot be said for traditional braces. 

Is Invisalign Right For You?

If you are interested in Invisalign treatment and want to know if it can benefit your oral health needs, then our dental team at Cambridge Family Dentistry can help. We welcome the opportunity to determine if you are a candidate for this treatment.  

To learn more, contact us today at 617-868-7479. Or, request an appointment online.