There is a strong connection between your oral health and general happiness. Your smile is the first thing people will notice about you and is a direct indication of strong oral health and overall positive wellbeing. Although, there are certain conditions that can impact your smiling confidence, and one of those conditions is an underbite. Whilst you may be aware that misaligned teeth can cause biting issues, an underbite can also cause jaw concerns.
What Is Underbite?
An underbite is a condition where the lower jaw protrudes or extends beyond the upper jaw. It is a form of stage III malocclusion. When you close your mouth, your upper teeth rest behind your lower teeth. With an underbite, you will find it difficult to bite down and chew on foods. Those with an underbite also have speech problems and can cause teeth to wear down pretty quickly.
What Are The Causes Of An Underbite?
Habits and genetics are two key causes of an underbite. Genetically, it may be inherited from a family member who may also have it. Underbite can also relate to childhood habits such as thumb sucking, use of a pacifier, or drinking from a baby bottle. This can cause your jaw to shape in a different position.
There are instances that an underbite may occur if you’ve suffered from a physical injury where your jawbone has been severely impacted.
The severity of an underbite can range from mild to major and it can naturally impact your general health. Notably, it has a significant impact on your jaw. You’re likely to experience chronic jaw pain or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
Can It Be Corrected With Invisalign?
Traditional braces are commonly used to resolve several underbites, but there is a more clear alternative available called Invisalign. Invisalign is a transparent aligner that is designed to straighten teeth without the need to apply wires against your teeth. The aligner is made out of durable plastic that fits down on your upper and lower teeth. For the purpose of an underbite, Invisalign can move the lower teeth back into their rightful position just behind the upper teeth.
Invisalign is generally recommended to be worn for up to 22 hours a day, but only removed in the event of eating or cleaning your mouth. The dentist may provide an alternative treatment plan depending on the severity of the underbite.
What Are The Benefits Of Invisalign Compared To Traditional Braces?
Patients may choose Invisalign because of its transparent nature, meaning their teeth can be straightened whilst smiling. Traditional braces aren’t exactly nice to wear, and there are benefits to wearing Invisalign compared to traditional braces.
- Invisible And Transparent – With no metal wires, brackets, and elastics, Invisalign allow you to still show off your smile whilst you’re in treatment.
- Comfortable – Clear aligners fit on your teeth perfectly as they’re custom-made to fit around your teeth.
- Smiling Confidence – Particularly in social situations, you can continue to smile and demonstrate overall wellbeing
- No Discomfort – The aligners can be removed for eating and brushing, and you can enjoy your food without any discomfort.
The Invisalign treatment process is simple. The dentist will determine the best plan to fix your underbite and improve the quality of your life. If you suffer from an underbite, seek advice from our helpful orthodontic team now by clicking here! Alternatively, if you’re Invisalign is causing sensitivity, click here to learn how to reduce it.