Do Clear Aligners Work For Overbite?

When you visit your orthodontist in Columbia, SC, you may be allowed to use clear aligners rather than braces for your alignment issues. Clear aligners have transformed the field of orthodontics by providing a low-profile treatment approach to patients with a range of dental issues. While clear aligners can’t solve all the problems that traditional braces can, they can resolve some very common troubles, including overbite. Having said that, clear aligners don’t work for every overbite condition.

Mild to Moderate Overbites

Clear aligners can treat overbite depending on the specific circumstances of the patient’s dental structure. However, due to their limitations, clear aligners are primarily used for mild to moderate cases of overbite. For severe cases of overbite, traditional braces far surpass the capabilities of clear aligners. Your orthodontist is the dental professional who is qualified to determine the severity of your overbite.

Partial Treatment With Clear Aligners

If a dental patient with severe overbite has worn traditional-style braces for a time, and the overbite has been successfully brought into a range of mild to moderate, it’s possible to continue treatment with clear aligners. In a hypothetical situation like this, the traditional braces might be able to be safely removed early while the final phase of the treatment continues using clear aligners. Again, only your orthodontist would be able to determine if this kind of treatment is appropriate for your individual circumstances.

Not Ideal For Every Circumstance

In some cases, clear aligners alone may not be sufficient to correct a severe overbite, especially if the issue is rooted in the jaw rather than just the teeth. In such cases, orthodontic treatment might need to be combined with surgical interventions to reposition the jawbones. In other situations, traditional braces alone may be able to treat severe overbite successfully. The best course of action will depend on several factors, including the patient’s age, the severity of the overbite, and other possible factors.

When you visit your orthodontist, you’ll be able to discuss all treatment options, including the possibility of wearing clear aligners in Columbia, SC. Contact Tomkins Orthodontics today to learn everything you need to know about correcting your overbite.