Invisible aligners, or Invisalign, provide a revolutionary treatment option for correcting patients’ dental issues. These custom-made, clear braces can align teeth into their correct place over time. However, they offer distinct advantages over metal braces, such as being easily removable, less noticeable, and easier to clean. 

Below, we’ll go over several examples of before and after Invisalign overbite cases, demonstrating how effective they are for patients who have malocclusion.

Why Overbites Need Treatment

Treating an overbite goes beyond just mere cosmetics. In most cases, it is a necessity as it may have adverse side effects, such as the following:

• Increased risk of tooth decay
• Sleep apnea
• Mild to severe pain in the jaw
• Speech impediment
• Difficulty chewing food

Some patients might feel like they don’t need an overbite addressed immediately by an orthodontist. However, it is best to get treatment sooner rather than later, especially for younger patients who are still growing and developing. If left untreated, the symptoms mentioned above can get worse over time. Getting your overbite treated as soon as possible will save you from pain and further issues later in your life.

Invisalign Benefits

As mentioned earlier, invisible aligners offer several crucial benefits, which is why many orthodontists opt to use them instead of traditional braces with brackets and wires. These clear braces can be used to fix some of the most common alignment problems:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Open bite
• Misaligned teeth
• Gap teeth
• Crossbite
• Crowded teeth

Invisalign also allows patients to eat any food they prefer. They can be easily removed, making them easier to clean than regular metal braces. When you use Invisalign, you don’t need to visit your orthodontist as often since they don’t require tightening or adjustments.

In addition, they’re more comfortable to wear and use. You don’t feel much tension in your teeth, which means no soreness in the gums. Whenever you eat, floss, or brush your teeth, you can remove them.

Below, we’ve covered several examples of Invisalign before and after overbite cases.

Can an Invisalign Fix an Overbite

Plenty of Invisalign before and after overbite examples serve as evidence of its efficacy. Dental practitioners use invisible aligners to treat overbites, underbites, and overcrowding. These are the three classes of malocclusion or misalignment of human teeth. 

Treatment for Class 1 Malocclusion

Class 1 is one of the most common types of malocclusion treated by orthodontists.

Patients suffering from this issue will have a normal bite. However, you can quickly notice that the upper teeth overlap slightly with the lower ones.

In class 1 Invisalign before and after overbite cases, the patient will have a normal molar position. However, the other teeth can be misaligned in one way or another. Specific issues such as gaps, rotated, and overcrowded teeth may contribute to a class 1 malocclusion. 

Orthodontists can use Invisalign as an effective treatment for this type of overbite. Clear aligners gently pull teeth into alignment by slowly reshaping the underlying bones in the tooth sockets.

Treatment for Class 2 Malocclusion or Retrognathism

This class is called an overbite. It occurs when one’s upper jaw and teeth severely protrude over the teeth of the bottom jaw. In some cases, the overbite can be accompanied by overcrowding. The treatment type will vary depending on the degree of severity of a patient’s overbite.

Orthodontic specialists can use invisible aligners as part of one’s overall treatment. In some before and after Invisalign overbite cases, orthodontists may recommend corrective and preventive therapies, especially when treating children who are still growing.

Can Invisalign fix an overbite in children? From the case above, invisible aligners can help improve mandibular growth. However, in some cases, orthodontic specialists may recommend using Invisalign along with elastics.

This treatment is usually used for mild cases of overbites, especially in adults. It is important to note that your orthodontist may recommend surgery, especially in more severe cases of malocclusion. Since each overbite case is different, you must consult your dental health provider to help determine the best treatment.

Treatment for Class 3 Malocclusion

A class 3 malocclusion is also known as an underbite or prognathism. An underbite occurs when a person’s lower jaw protrudes forward. This dental condition can cause the lower teeth to overlap the teeth on the upper jaw. Treating underbites using Invisalign is an effective corrective measure without impacting the long-term stability of the lower teeth, mouth, and gums.

Orthodontic specialists will consider the underlying causes of an underbite to determine the best course of treatment. Professionals will look into genetic causes such as a misaligned jaw and the size of one’s teeth. Other potential causes include facial injuries and tumors. Orthodontists can use Invisalign to correct alignment and prevent future recurrences.

Reliable Orthodontic Care At Advanced Orthodontics

Treating an overbite as soon as possible helps reduce the risk for specific dental health issues such as tooth decay, gum disease, and jaw pain. At Advanced Orthodontics, our specialists use Invisalign to provide holistic treatments to patients, improving their quality of life. Call (480) 357-4900 today for more information and schedule an appointment.

Are you concerned about how your child’s adult teeth are popping up? A simple trip to the orthodontist’s office will put your mind at ease. By heading to an orthodontist early in your child’s dental development, a dental professional can check on your little one’s oral health and explain what’s happening with their teeth and any potential steps forward. 

Straightening your child’s teeth and checking for other dental issues will put them on a track to good dental health. At Advanced Orthodontics, we often encounter worried parents and kids that we aim to reassure. Our experienced orthodontists will advise on when to get treatment with braces or Invisalign clear aligners, whether they are necessary, and what is happening with your child’s teeth, bite, and jaw development. Not everyone with crooked teeth will require braces, but an assessment is essential. 

If you are feeling nervous and have questions such as “how old do you have to be to get braces?”, this article will help you get the answers you need. Here, we’ll cover what age kids’ permanent teeth come in, answer the question “what age do kids get braces?”, and other factors to consider. Remember, visiting an orthodontist and treating any dental issues as early as possible is essential in ensuring minor problems don’t escalate. 

Why Would Young Kids Need Braces?

There are a few things you can look out for that will help you determine if your child will need braces. First off, braces aren’t only for fixing crooked teeth. They can also be vital for overall dental health. Here are a few things to ask yourself if you’re wondering whether your child may need braces.

• Did your child lose their baby teeth very early or very late?
• Do they have trouble chewing or biting?
• Do they breathe through their mouths only?
• Do they still suck their thumb or finger?
• Are their teeth crowded or misplaced?
• Is there something odd about their jaws? For example, do they make a sound, are they recessed, or do they protrude?
• Does your child have difficulty speaking?
• Does your child bite their cheek or the roof of their mouth a lot?
• Do their teeth fail to meet?
• Do they grind their teeth or clench their teeth excessively?

If you’ve answered yes to one or more of these questions, it’s advisable to make an appointment with an orthodontist as soon as possible. This way, you are not delaying treatment and proactive early intervention can help fix a minor problem so that it doesn’t evolve into a serious or long-term issue.

How Can You Tell If Your Kid Needs Braces?

As children lose their baby teeth and their adult teeth move up, they don’t always pop into the perfect position – all aligned. Their teeth may come up at an angle but then straighten and move as your child grows, and more of their teeth fall out and move in. However, as your child grows older, if you notice that these misaligned teeth are not straightening, it’s time to book an appointment with the orthodontist. 

How old do you have to be for braces? The American Association of Orthodontics recommends children at the age of 7 be seen for their first orthodontic evaluation. This is when their permanent teeth are beginning to come in, so it’s a good time for an orthodontist to check whether they may suffer from dental issues or crooked teeth. At age 7, the orthodontist will assess your kid’s airway, bite, and general oral habits. They will be able to determine if your child may need braces and when this will be. Although children can get braces from this very young age, most kids are between 9 and 14 years old when braces are put on. 

If the orthodontist determines that braces may be a good idea, they will take a state-of-the-art 3D X-ray to check the teeth’s alignment, and they can determine if the adult teeth will come in straight or not. As mentioned, there are many reasons a child may need braces, aside from crooked teeth. The type of braces your child may get and how long they must wear them will vary according to their dental issues. 

How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Braces?

Although children can get braces from the age of 7, generally the best time for braces is once all or most of the permanent teeth have settled in. The average age for braces varies from 9-14. 

What Other Problems Will Braces Fix?

A couple of early problems an orthodontist can help fix include:

• Limiting the risk of overcrowding by making room in your child’s mouth for their new teeth
• Enhancing facial symmetry
• Limiting any possible trauma from protruding teeth
• Holding space for teeth that are slow to move in
• Decreasing the need for removing teeth or surgery
• Correcting a bad bite that can lead to further issues such as wearing down of teeth, speech issues, accidental chipping, or gum diseases

What Happens If You Opt Out of Getting Your Child Braces?

It’s always best to follow your orthodontist’s advice, but if you’re considering not getting your kid braces, for various reasons, know that it could have an impact on their dental health. For example, they may endure pain when chewing food, the gaps in their teeth may widen – causing teens to become very self-conscious, or their teeth may permanently shift and eventually cause discomfort or their jaw to protrude. 

Braces will positively impact your child’s life and dental health as an adult. They can also help reduce cavities, gum disease, and plaque buildup. Braces can even help make chewing, brushing, and flossing easier. Additionally, the beautiful, healthy smile they will enjoy once their braces are removed is worth the effort.

Contact Advanced Orthodontics today to schedule an initial consultation and to find out more about the average age for braces.

When it comes to bonding braces, your orthodontist doesn’t just see you once, bond them, and off you go for the magic to begin. Having braces and Invisalign requires regular reviews, adjustments, and visits to your orthodontist. 

The top two ways to get your braces off on time are to go for your regular adjustments; this way, your orthodontist can assess all oral health challenges and braces adjustments as needed. The second way is, if recommended, to wear your elastics for at least 22 hours daily. Braces and Invisalign are the safest and most effective way to realign your teeth, and you must attend all your appointments to complete your treatment in the shortest possible time. Remember, braces are a marathon, not a sprint. 

This article explores the questions: how long can you go without tightening your braces, and when do you get your braces adjusted? It also delves into why regular adjustments are needed and the potential oral health issues that may crop up if your orthodontic appointments are avoided. 

It’s Essential To Get Your Braces Adjusted

Orthodontists are specialists in straightening teeth, but sometimes their best plans may need to be adjusted as your teeth move in ways they don’t expect. Sometimes your doctor may need to apply more pressure than expected and in a different direction to achieve the desired results. This is why attending your regular adjustment appointments is so vital. 

If you don’t come in to adjust your braces, there is a possibility you won’t obtain the results you desire. For your teeth to move as planned with your braces, the tension that the wires and elastics produce will need to be changed too. Once you can feel the pressure on your teeth decreasing or even stopping, it’s probably time for an adjustment. It’s not just the pressure you need on your teeth to make them move; it’s the correct pressure. 

By attending all your scheduled appointments, your orthodontist will check all movement is going according to plan, change your elastics, and replace or adjust your wires. 

Frequency of Adjusting Your Braces

The reason your orthodontist must reevaluate your braces often is because they need to plan each stage of your teeth’s movement and assess whether the pressure is working as expected. If not, adjustments need to be made. 

Every person’s treatment plan is unique and will differ according to your dental needs. At the outset, your orthodontist will assess your alignment requirements and create an adjustment schedule. Your schedule will be determined by assessing your age, oral health, and jaw and teeth alignment. The more crowded or crooked your teeth, the more frequently your doctor will want to adjust them. 

If you’ve asked yourself the question, “do you get your braces tightened every month?”, the answer is that it’s not required that often. Generally speaking, braces are adjusted only every 10-12 weeks. 

Possible Oral Health Issues from Skipping Your Checkups

If you skip your appointments, you may run into some oral hygiene issues. When visiting for these checkups, your orthodontist can assess your overall oral health and ensure everything is in order. And sure, skipping an appointment or two may be fine, but it will most likely delay your treatment for a couple of months, meaning you will be wearing your braces for longer. 

Here are a couple of things that you need to keep an eye on when your braces are fitted and why you shouldn’t skip your adjustment sessions:

• Brushing can be tricky. Brushing and flossing correctly with braces can be challenging. Tiny bits of food can get stuck between the brackets and wires without you noticing, making it tricky to get your teeth cleaned effectively. 
• Plaque build-up. If you aren’t cleaning your teeth well, you give plaque a chance to build up on your teeth. And if this turns to tartar, your dentist will have to remove it before it leads to gum disease. 
• Nerve damage. This is possible if you wear your braces for too long. Your orthodontist will know how to look for this potential problem.
• Snapped wires and brackets. If you wear your braces for too long without having them checked and adjusted, there is a chance they dislodge or break, which in turn can teeth to move in unwanted directions.

How Can We Help?

Scheduling bi-annual professional cleans and exams are highly recommended when you have braces or Invisalign fitted to keep your oral health in good condition. 

Advanced Orthodontics uses the latest in orthodontic treatment to help minimize soreness associated with braces. Self-ligating brackets allow the teeth to be moved with a constant, lighter force versus heavy on-and-off adjusting. Our team is known for creating beautiful, healthy smiles throughout the Valley. We use the latest orthodontic technology to treat patients of all ages from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, and the Globe. See the difference in our clients’ smiles by visiting our Smile Gallery.

Advanced Orthodontics offers high-tech self-ligating braces, which are smaller and more discreet than traditional braces and don’t involve colored elastic ties. Contact the team at Advanced Orthodontics for a professional answer to any of your braces or oral health questions.

Most of us wish we had a beautiful smile and wonderfully straight teeth. If you’ve had braces put on by an orthodontist, you’re already halfway there. But don’t think of braces as a quick or easy fix. In fact, they require regular adjustments and assessments by your orthodontist and for you to actively participate in your treatment to get your smile just right. 

Your braces will need constant adjustment because of the pressure they put on your teeth to reposition them. Each time your teeth move slightly, the braces lose grip, and your orthodontist must adjust them again. These regular adjustments and reviews are the best way to safely and effectively align your teeth.

For your treatment to stay on track, you must work with your orthodontist and dentist, attend appointments, and follow their advice. This will ensure your oral health and teeth alignment are on track. 

This article looks at the process and frequency of adjusting braces, what happens if you don’t get your braces tightened, how to manage the discomfort, and why it’s so essential. 

Why is the Braces Adjustment Process Necessary?

Your teeth may need pressure applied in different directions to get those ever-so-straight pearly whites. This is the main reason your orthodontist will insist on regular checkups and adjustments. Skipping adjustments prevents your teeth from being guided into their correct position. 

With your braces, your teeth may move in directions the orthodontist doesn’t anticipate, so skipping appointments is not advised. If your orthodontist doesn’t have the opportunity to check whether unexpected things are happening, they can’t correct any potential problems. Regular appointments are the best way for your doctor to know whether anything unusual is happening and correct your treatment plan if needed. It’s better in the long run for you to stick with your adjustment appointments.  

How Often Do Braces Need to be Adjusted?

In your first appointment, your orthodontist will assess your teeth and devise a treatment plan and schedule specifically for you. This treatment plan will be based on your teeth and jaw alignment, age, and oral health. Of course, everyone’s needs are unique, so there is no exact timing for everyone. However, braces generally need adjusting every 10-12 weeks. If you feel your braces are losing grip or you don’t feel any pressure from your braces while eating, make sure to schedule an appointment for a checkup. 

How do Braces Get Adjusted?

Here’s what happens during the adjustment process:

• Firstly, your doors are opened and archwires are removed.
• Next, a checkup takes place to examine your oral health and how your teeth have been repositioned, and a way forward is determined. 
• If necessary, your archwires are changed or brackets are repositioned
• Lastly, your metal archwires are put back onto the metal brackets.

Are There Side Effects of Adjusting Your Braces?

If you’re worried about adjusting your braces, Advanced Orthodontics can assure you that there is nothing to worry about. You will undoubtedly feel pressure with each and every appointment and some sensitivity in your teeth, gums, and jaw afterwards. However, the discomfort is relatively mild. The discomfort is more like a feeling of bruising in your teeth instead of aching pain. This discomfort may last a few days, but most people find that pain lessens as treatment progresses. 

There can be adverse side effects from not having your braces adjusted for an extended period of time. As mentioned before, without regular adjusting, braces will become ineffective as they need to put the correct amount of pressure on your teeth to reposition them as planned. Avoiding adjusting will only lead to a longer treatment time. Ensure you make all your appointments and follow your treatment plan set out by your orthodontist so your braces are effective.  

How Can We Help?

As your treatment progresses, not only will the discomfort and pain from regular braces adjusting decrease, but you will also start to see the results you want. 

Advanced Orthodontics uses the latest in orthodontic treatment to help minimize discomfort associated with braces. Self-ligating brackets allow the teeth to be moved with a constant, lighter force versus heavy on-and-off adjusting. Our team is known for creating beautiful, healthy smiles. We use the latest orthodontic technology to treat patients of all ages from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, and the Globe. See the difference in our clients’ smiles by visiting our Smile Gallery.

Advanced Orthodontics offers high-tech self-ligating braces which are smaller and more discreet than traditional braces and don’t involve colored elastic ties. Contact the team at Advanced Orthodontics for a professional answer to any of your braces or oral health questions.

Many children are anxious about getting braces. Often, children are scared it will hurt, that they may look silly and get teased and that eating will be difficult. After a chat with your orthodontist, they should feel confident that although it may be uncomfortable and odd at first, there’s no reason to feel scared.

If you can help them conquer their fear and realize braces aren’t forever, they will be on their way to confidently achieving the beautiful smile they are after. Advanced Orthodontics will put any fears at ease with a treatment plan tailored to your dental health needs. With various orthodontic options available, we will turn your fears into excited and healthy smiles. 

This article tackles a few questions that most people ask, like: should I be scared to get braces? Does getting braces hurt? 

Does Getting Braces Hurt?

Bonding braces isn’t an uncomfortable process. In fact, it’s a relatively gentle process to realign your teeth. Once they’re bonded, you may experience some discomfort at first. For a few days after having them placed, your teeth and mouth may feel slightly uncomfortable, but this is because your mouth is getting used to having them there.

Sometimes the metal brackets might poke the inside of your mouth at first, but your orthodontist will give you wax to put over the brackets to keep them from causing you further discomfort.

You can also expect discomfort after regular adjustments and tightening, which happen regularly – about every 10-12 weeks. Although this may sometimes be sore, it feels more like bruising, which makes them slightly tender, but it’s not painful. The truth is, getting metal braces is uncomfortable and feels a bit strange at first, but you won’t be in pain all the time. Your mouth will feel normal in no time. 

 While Invisalign is said to hurt less than metal braces, you will still experience mild discomfort when having them fitted. These plastic aligners are known to be more comfortable to wear, but the initial process of having them fitted and the first few days of each cycle of the new Invisalign may be uncomfortable. New aligners are usually fitted every 7 days with Invisalign. However, as with metal braces, you’ll get used to wearing your aligners and the mild discomfort that comes from them. 

Are Your Children Worried About How Braces May Change Their Appearance?

Looking different and being teased is a real fear for children. And most children will feel shy about showing their braces at first because of how it changes their appearance. It’s a good idea to remind them that although having braces may last a year or two, the result will be a straight smile for the rest of their lives.  Also, remind them that they will likely not be the only ones at school with braces. Plenty of kids go through orthodontic treatment during their tween and teen years. 

Some children might like knowing they can accessorize their braces with many fun color elastics and brackets. If this still doesn’t calm their fears, looking into Invisalign is a good idea. These are primarily invisible and will more likely help get skeptical children on board. 

Will All My Food Get Stuck in My Braces? 

Another issue children worry about when getting braces is whether their food will get stuck in them. Although this seems like a mundane factor to worry about – especially considering food gets stuck in people’s teeth even when they don’t have braces – it is something children will naturally fear. Their embarrassment, too, can last for days after the event. Drinking water after eating will help wash away any food clinging to their braces, and they can choose to have a pocket mirror to use after eating.

3 Things Aren’t True About Having Braces

1. You can’t play sports with braces. Although this isn’t the case, orthodontists recommend wearing an orthodontic mouthguard when playing contact sports.
2. Braces give you a lisp. This one is partly true, but it’s only slight and temporary. Also, not all people will develop a slight lisp; if they do, it often goes away once your mouth is used to having the braces. 
3. Your braces will rust. Orthodontists do not use metal that can rust. 

A little research and a thorough talk with your orthodontist will quickly alleviate any fears you or your child may have about wearing braces. You’ll hopefully never hear the phrase “I’m scared to get braces” again. Remind your children that braces are proven to be a safe and effective way to straighten or align teeth, and it is worth the slight discomfort you go through to have a confident smile in the end. 

How Can We Help?

There is no reason to be scared to get braces. Advanced Orthodontics uses 3D Image scans to help determine what treatment type is best for you. We offer high-tech braces with self-ligation and custom-fit Invisalign to help correct bites, eliminate crowding and spacing, correct impacted teeth, and correct any potential growth complications. 

Our team is known for creating beautiful, healthy smiles throughout the Valley. We use the latest orthodontic technology to treat patients of all ages from Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale, and the Globe. See the difference in our clients’ smiles by visiting our Smile Gallery.

Contact the team at Advanced Orthodontics for a professional answer to any of your braces or oral health questions.