clear braces

How Invisalign Can Fix Your Underbite Without Metal Braces & Surgery

October 1st, 2015

How Invisalign Can Fix Your Underbite Without Metal Braces & SurgeryHaving an underbite is no fun. Not only does can it look strange, but it may also cause serious health issues. Back in the day, the only way to fix underbites was with surgery, braces or expanders. Thankfully, there are less invasive and revealing ways to deal with underbites nowadays. We’re here to tell you how Invisalign can help fix your underbite without braces and surgery.

What’s Wrong With Having an Underbite?

If you have an underbite, you may be wondering why you should spend the time and effort to correct it. An underbite, which is a condition that involves your bottom teeth overlapping your  top teeth, can cause your mouth to look strange or convey an expression that you don’t really mean. Since it affects your appearance, it can cause social issues.
But even if your underbite doesn’t change the way you look, underbites can cause severe dental issues. Underbites can make your teeth harder to clean and can affect chewing, causing your enamel to wear unevenly and promoting tooth decay. Severe cases of underbites can also cause TMJ, a painful jaw joint disorder.

Can Invisalign Fix an Underbite?

The answer comes down to what’s causing your underbite. In certain cases, Invisalign can completely fix your underbite without the help of any other treatment! Underbites are typically caused by two things: a bad jaw position or irregular teeth position. If your underbite is caused by your teeth, then Invisalign will be able to effectively fix your problem. Your bottom or top teeth can cause an underbite by being tilted too far forward or backward. Tooth crowding can also cause an underbite. You’ll want to speak to your dentist to find out exactly why you have an underbite.
[caption id="attachment_2163" align="aligncenter" width="386"]Underbite Before Invisalign Treatment An example of an underbite that can be treated with Invisalign.[/caption]

How Exactly Does Invisalign Help?

The Invisalign treatment relies on technology, really proving how far we’ve come in the world of dentistry. At Water Tower Dental Care, Dr. Aneszko and Dr. Stino use a 3D scanner to plan your entire treatment, from the first day you put your clear braces on until the day you take them off for good. Then, we create custom aligners for you to wear 22 hours a day. These are clear braces, so they are virtually invisible. While you wear them, they will gently push your teeth into their correct position. We’ll check up on your teeth and give you a new aligner to wear about every two weeks.

Benefits of Using Invisalign to Correct Your Underbite

Invisalign has many advantages over traditional metal braces. Here are a handful of benefits of using Invisalign to correct your underbite.

  • On average, treatment time is shorter than traditional metal braces (about 12 months).
  • The clear braces are virtually invisible.
  • Invisalign is comfortable and easy to wear.
  • It’s also removable and BPA-free. You can pop the clear braces off your teeth and pop them back on whenever you want. This makes it extremely easy to clean your braces and your teeth.
  • They cause no food restrictions! You can take out your aligner for short periods of time and chew all the gum you want.

At Water Tower Dental Care, we offer comprehensive Invisalign treatments for underbites along with a level of service that’s anything but ordinary. If you’re interested in learning more about Invisalign and if it can help with your underbite, don’t hesitate to contact us.

What Is Invisalign Treatment?

June 26th, 2014

Invisalign treatment Invisalign is one of the best dental advancements in the recent decades. By using a silicone-based mold to shape a person’s teeth, the use of traditional metal braces is no longer needed. This helps reduce unsightly and embarrassing moments with wire braces along with painful side effects. The aspects of Invisalign are quite simple, and with just a few visits to your dentist, you can start the process to a straighter smile.

Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable teeth aligners that slowly realign your teeth for a better, healthier smile. Crooked teeth are not only an aesthetic issue. Slanted teeth can promote bacteria buildup as it provides unique pockets within the gums. Straighter teeth help reduce the risk of periodontal disease and gingivitis. So choosing to straighten your teeth is a terrific idea, and with the help of Invisalign you’ll find it to be a simple process.
Invisalign works by first having your dentist take an Itero Digital 3D Scan of your teeth. Along with the scan, your doctor will take a series of photos and radiographs (x-rays). Both the photos and scan are emailed to an Invisalign manufacturing facility to be designed. Your dentist will communicate with an Invisalign technician to create a customized course of action. No two aligners are alike, and your aligners are for you and you alone. Because of this, your dentist will take careful measures to create aligners that will help shape a new smile you will love.
Once the aligners are designed, the Invisalign manufacturer creates a 3D ClinCheck video and sends it to your dentist. At this point, your dentist is able to guide you through the proposed plan for prospective results. Using 3D imaging, you’ll be able to see the aligners being used and how they will move your teeth for their optimal shape. Once all is approved, you are given your first set of aligners.
Invisalign Before and AfterInvisalign aligners are replaced every two weeks for approximately six months to a year. The aligners are recommended to be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day and should only be removed for eating meals and when drinking any liquid that is not water.
Some patient’s teeth can require additional straightening depending on the severity of their teeth. For some cases, the lower premolars, with a rounded shape, can be difficult for the Invisalign mold to grasp. A bonded attachment made from a composite material can sometimes be required. Other patients may find that many of their teeth require a vertical movement. Invisalign works by applying pressure that moves teeth slowly throughout the six to twelve month period. However, some teeth may require a pulling or pushing technique to properly align. In these cases, different styles of composite attachments called buttons are used to help certain teeth.
As said before, all Invisalign aligners are unique to the patient. With that in mind, some patients might find traditional braces actually more efficient due to their specific issues. When preparing for Invisalign, this is something that both you and your doctor will discuss.
Invisalign is a simple and effective way to change a crooked smile into a straight and healthy one. If you or someone you know is interested in the Invisalign treatment, don’t hesitate to contact Water Tower Dental. We can help you get on the right track to a better smile.
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