Invisalign clear aligners are one of the many orthodontic treatments that can be used to address bite issues.
Ideal for minor to moderate cases, Invisalign can offer transformative results in a way that is also highly discreet, not to mention far less invasive than traditional braces.
Cromer House is a leading provider of Invisalign in Liverpool welcoming patients from across the North West of the UK.
Keep reading to discover whether Invisalign is the right option for you, plus the benefits of addressing any issues with your bite for your long term oral health.
What is a bite and why does it matter?
When your dentist refers to your bite (occlusion), what they are referring to is how well your teeth fit together.
The average adult has 28 teeth, although this can be up to 32 teeth if you have all your wisdom teeth. With so many individual teeth, it’s not always the case that all of your teeth fit together perfectly. Depending on your genetics, lifestyle and whether you’ve ever suffered an injury to your teeth, you may develop an uneven bite (malocclusion).
Having an ideal occlusion is important because any of the following various issues can occur when the teeth are not aligned properly.
Tooth & jaw health
An uneven bite can place additional stress on your teeth, which can make the affected teeth more prone to cracking, chipping or wearing down over time.
If you can’t access misaligned teeth very well when brushing and flossing, these teeth could be at greater risk of tooth decay.
Additionally, jaw issues such as TMJ or TMD can develop due to an uneven bite. That’s because the muscles and joints involved in chewing and moving the mouth can also become inflamed. Symptoms can include jaw pain, headaches and teeth grinding, demonstrating just how widespread of an issue a misaligned bite can be for your wider health.
Optimal breathing
The root cause of snoring as well as more serious breathing difficulties such as obstructive sleep apnea can sometimes be due to a misaligned bite.
Where your dentist has determined this is the case, the good news is that Invisalign can be an effective treatment to align the teeth and ultimately improve the airway.
Digestive health
The reason why we have teeth (especially our molars) is to help break down our food to aid digestion.
However, when the teeth are not in good alignment, this can impact how easy it is to chew certain foods. As a result, your overall health and nutrition can be compromised.
Unless the misaligned bite is properly addressed, this could lead to other health complications down the track. It can also reduce your ability to eat out and socialise, especially if you have to be very careful of what you eat.
Speech
If you have misaligned teeth, you may have speech issues such as a lisp, whistling or difficulty pronouncing certain letters. Likewise, you may have trouble enunciating certain words meaning your speech sounds unclear.
For some people, speech issues can be really bothersome especially if their job involves public speaking.
Aesthetics
If you have noticeably crooked teeth, then this can negatively impact your self-esteem especially when you talk or take a photograph.
While aesthetics may not necessarily pose any physical health issues, it remains just as important to feel confident when you smile. Invisalign can certainly help improve the appearance of your teeth by enhancing their visual appearance.
Some patients also choose to straighten their teeth using Invisalign prior to other cosmetic treatments such as teeth whitening.
How Invisalign fixes your bite
Invisalign is the name of a popular brand of clear aligners.
Every Invisalign patient has custom trays made just for them. Over time, each tray will work to
reposition the teeth until the ideal alignment has been achieved.
If you get Invisalign, you will need to commit to wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. However, the beauty of Invisalign is that their clear appearance means they are virtually undetectable when worn.
At Cromer House, our patients have had some fantastic results following the completion of their Invisalign treatment. While Invisalign is a gradual process, the technique has shown promising results across a number of different bite issues.
You may also like: See our before and after Invisalign treatment
Bite issues Invisalign can fix
Invisalign can address mild to moderate bite issues whereby there is a need to reposition teeth.
The movement of teeth can be useful in treating various bite issues such as:
Overbite: When the upper front teeth overlap too much with the lower front teeth.
Underbite: Where there is a mild to moderate protrusion of the lower front teeth.
Crossbite: A horizontal misalignment of the teeth resulting in some upper teeth sitting inside the lower teeth instead of outside.
Open bite: The upper and lower teeth do not meet correctly when the mouth is closed.
While each of these issues is different, Invisalign aligners can be beneficial across the board.
However, in some cases, Invisalign may be enough on its own to correct the bite. As a result, Invisalign may also need to be used in conjunction with other orthodontic treatments.
P.S. Don’t know which issue applies to your bite? Our dentists in Liverpool can offer a professional consultation to diagnose the correct issue and create a customised treatment plan.
Braces for severe bite problems
If your dentist determines your issue is too complex for Invisalign to treat, then other orthodontic treatments will be recommended instead.
Most commonly, braces are used to treat moderate to severe bite problems. While most people picture the standard metal braces, in recent years ceramic braces have gained popularity due to their discreet appearance.
Following a consultation, your dentist will be able to determine the best course of action specific to your bite issues and overall treatment goals.
Book a free consultation for Invisalign in Liverpool
To find out whether you’d be a good candidate for Invisalign, we recommend booking a free consultation with the Cromer House team.
Our dental practice is based in the L36 area of Liverpool, and is ideally positioned for reaching us via the M62 or Huyton Train Station.
Head over to our online booking form to make an appointment.
Or, if you have any questions about Invisalign please give us a call on 0151 489 2139.
