Your upper arch of teeth jut out over your lower arch of teeth, which means you have an overbite. Maybe you’ve thought about getting it treated multiple times, but have never really been sure if it would be worth it. After all, an overbite is primarily a cosmetic concern, right?
Not necessarily. Bite issues can actually cause several oral health problems that won’t go away on their own. Here are three good reasons to talk to your dentist about correcting your bite with Invisalign!
#1. Overbite Goes Hand-in-Hand with Tooth Misalignment
If you have an overbite, it’s probably a no-brainer that your jaw is misaligned. However, this means that your teeth also don’t line up quite right. Crooked pearly whites can harbor bacteria in hard-to-reach places, making it more difficult to prevent cavities and gum disease with at-home oral hygiene. They can also be uncomfortable, especially when there’s overcrowding that forces neighboring pearly whites to push against each other.
Straightening out your teeth will make them much easier to clean and fix the root problem of your dental discomfort.
#2. Treatment Can Prevent or Stop Jaw Pain
Both tooth and jaw alignment affect how pressure is distributed over your bones and muscles when you chew. That might seem dramatic, but it’s true! Misalignment creates areas where more pressure is exerted over some areas than others. This can put immense stress on your jaw and cause soreness or outright pain.
After correcting your overbite with Invisalign, pressure will be distributed more evenly, and your jaw will feel more and more comfortable as tension alleviates.
#3. Your Teeth Are More Prone to Damage
Because an overbite makes your teeth overlap at odd angles, there’s a pretty good chance your pearly whites are gnashing against each other when you chew. That, along with the uneven pressure mentioned above, means your teeth are more prone to cracking and chipping. An impact that wouldn’t normally damage or dislodge a tooth could be a problem for your smile, and grinding or clenching could cause breakage.
To protect your pearly whites, it’s best to treat your overbite with Invisalign.
Planning Your Overbite Treatment
Now, every patient’s treatment needs are a little different. Two patients with an overbite won’t necessarily have the same experience with Invisalign. That’s what your dentist is for: evaluation and effective treatment planning. During your consultation, they’ll take precise impressions of your mouth to get a sense of the severity of your overbite. They’ll customize your Invisalign aligners, designing them to address your unique bite issues. When all is said and done, you’ll have a perfectly straight smile and healthier teeth!
About the Practice
At Boston Smile Center, our three dentists combine their unique skills to provide our patients with comprehensive service. Dr. Ahmed Abugad, for example, is an Invisalign certified provider, and would be happy to help you create a treatment plan for correcting your overbite. To schedule your Invisalign consultation today, call 617-739-1017 or submit your request online.