Invisalign for Bite Issues
Improve Your Bite with Clear Aligners
Did you know misaligned teeth influence more than just the appearance of your smile? Alignment issues can also impact your bite. An improper bite can cause several complications with your oral health, like uneven enamel erosion, difficulty closing your mouth, or disorders of your temporomandibular joint, which connects your lower jaw to your skull on either side of your face. Unfortunately, your quality of life can also suffer as you struggle to perform simple tasks, such as chewing. Thankfully, you don’t need to live with a poorly aligned bite with the help of your dentist. Invisalign in Charlottesville is a discreet solution to move your teeth into their ideal positions.
Why Do I Need to Fix My Bite?
A perfectly balanced bite is essential to your oral health and functions, both of which can harm your quality of life if they are compromised. When the upper and lower teeth don’t rest in harmony on one another, it can cause uneven distribution of pressure on your teeth. This can lead to unequal wear on your enamel, increasing your risk of broken or fractured teeth.
The uneven pressure can also cause stress on your temporomandibular joint, which can result in jaw pain and tenderness. In some cases, it can even make it difficult to open and close your mouth, as well as several other symptoms.
How Can Invisalign Fix My Bite?
Your cosmetic dentist in Charlottesville uses a series of clear plastic aligners worn over your teeth to gradually move them to fix your bite. Although brackets and wires aren’t used, Invisalign is an effective solution to correct several alignment issues, including:
Overbite
When the upper teeth extend too far over the lower jaw, the bottom teeth can bite into the roof of the mouth.
Underbite
In some cases, the upper teeth can rest inside of the lower teeth, making it difficult to bite and chew.
Dental Midlines
The back teeth may not fit together properly, causing an unbalanced dental midline. This often leads to a disorder of the temporomandibular joint if it isn’t corrected.
Open Bite
Bad habits as a child, like tongue thrusting and thumb sucking, can cause the upper and lower teeth to not overlap.
Am I a Candidate for Invisalign?
If you’re ready to invest in your oral health and your quality of life, you might be a candidate for Invisalign. You’ll need to commit to wearing the clear aligners for at least 22 hours per day. You’ll also need to switch to the next aligner in the series on time, about every week.
Your oral hygiene is also essential, so you’ll need to brush at least twice a day, floss nightly, and clean your aligners regularly, too. Although you won’t need appointments for adjustments, you’ll still need to maintain regular visits with our office to monitor the movement of your teeth.
Promote a Healthy, Functional Smile
If you’re ready to achieve your best smile without brackets and wires, it’s time to see if you’re a candidate for clear aligners. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.