Everyone aspires for that perfect Hollywood smile with a perfect set of dentitions. While some may have it naturally, others need to work a little on their smile. This includes people with misalignment issues such as overbites, underbites, gaps, or crooked teeth. Not all of these issues require traditional braces, extractions, or surgery to fix them, as most misalignments can easily be handled at home with clear aligners. Overbite is one of these conditions.
What are Overbites?
Most people develop overbites due to sucking their thumb or pacifier for an extended period of time. Children can also develop overbites by frequently chewing on objects like pens, pencils, etc. Overbites basically refer to a condition where the upper teeth overlap the lower teeth in a significant manner, ranging from 2-6mm or more. Overbites are of two types – Vertical overbites (upper teeth overlap the lower teeth significantly) and Horizontal overbites (upper teeth protrude outwards over the lower teeth). Both need realigning as they can lead to oral injuries. While many people live with small overbite issues, it doesn’t really affect them in any way. In others, it might range from mild to moderate severity, and in such cases, clear teeth aligners are very effective for overbite correction. Severe overbite issues might need other forms of treatment.
What are Clear Aligners?
Clear aligner trays are made of invisible BPA-free clear plastic and fit snugly onto the teeth. They are easily removable at home, unlike traditional braces. They can be snapped off when it’s time to eat, which also means there are no dietary restrictions. After brushing and flossing, you can pop the aligners back on again.
Treatment with clear aligners includes the creation of an impression of the teeth after which a 3-D image is created and a series of aligner trays are made, with each one creating slightly more pressure to shift the teeth in position. Each tray needs to be worn for around 22 hours daily and after 2 weeks, another tray will be posted to replace it. Treatment can range from 10-24 months depending on the extent of alignment needed.
How do Clear Aligners fix an overbite?
Clear teeth aligners, also known as invisible aligners, work by creating constant gentle pressure on the teeth. Over time and with consistent wearing, this gradually increasing pressure is sufficient to move the teeth involved in the overbite, to their natural positions. Do note that clear aligners are only effective in realigning mild to moderate overbite issues.
For treatment to be effective, strict discipline is required when using clear aligners and they should be worn for 22 hours religiously, even when sleeping. Each tray should be changed every 2 weeks or so when the next tray gets delivered to you. Noticeable changes are usually seen within 6 weeks or so.
One of the best clear aligner brands in the market is OrthoFX; it’s known for producing faster and more efficient results by virtue of the unique design and material used.
