Underbites are common dental alignment problems. Clinically referred to as a Class III malocclusion or prognathism, an underbite occurs when your lower jaw and bottom teeth protrude further forward than your upper front teeth.
An underbite can affect your smile, but that’s not the only potential problem. It can interfere with your ability to bite through food, cause speech problems, and mouth and face pain.
Fortunately, whether you want to enhance your smile or need to correct the function of your teeth and jaw, treatment is available to correct the alignment of your teeth. Jessica Pandich, DDS, provides expert exams and Invisalign® treatments to fix malocclusion issues like underbites.
What are my options to fix an underbite?
Dr. Pandich begins with a thorough exam, including X-rays, to evaluate your underbite and any other dental issues. Underbites range in severity. Depending on your specific condition, you might need surgery and traditional metal braces to correct the alignment of your jaw and teeth. However, in mild to moderate cases Dr. Pandich can restore your smile with Invisalign.
What should I expect during Invisalign treatment for an underbite?
The first step in Invisalign treatment includes a detailed scan and photos of your teeth. Dr. Pandich uploads these images to specialized Invisalign design software.
Using this innovative tool, Dr. Pandich maps the migration of your teeth needed to correct your underbite. Then, she sends this plan to the Invisalign lab where your series of aligners are custom-made to guide your teeth into the correct position.
When your aligners are ready, you meet with Dr. Pandich and she gives you your first set of aligners and reviews the instructions for wearing and caring for them. You wear each set of aligners for one week.
For the first eight weeks (or so) of treatment, you meet with Dr. Pandich every two weeks to change your aligners and check on the progress of your treatment.
Once Dr. Pandich is satisfied that your treatment is progressing as expected, she can give you several sets of aligners at a time, and you can change them out at home instead of coming into the office.
The duration of your treatment depends on your needs. In most cases, Invisalign treatment takes 12-18 months.
What are the benefits of Invisalign?
In addition to being nearly Invisible while they’re on your teeth, you can also take your aligners out to eat and brush your teeth. This means that you don’t have to give up any of your favorite foods.
And you can brush and floss your teeth normally without having to work around metal brackets and wires.
Invisalign is also more comfortable than traditional braces. You will have some discomfort as your teeth migrate, but you won’t have to deal with irritation from metal braces.
So what are you waiting for? If you have an underbite or another dental alignment issue, call Dr. Pandich or schedule an appointment online today.