Overbites and underbites are among the most common bite problems that dentists and orthodontists encounter, and they cause a wide range of issues for patients — from aesthetic concerns about the appearance of the jaw and teeth, to practical difficulties with chewing, speaking, and long-term tooth wear. Many people who have been told they have one of these bite problems wonder whether Invisalign clear aligners are a viable treatment option. The answer depends very much on the severity and nature of the problem, and this article explains what Invisalign can and cannot achieve when it comes to bite correction.
Understanding Overbites and Underbites
Before looking at treatment options, it helps to understand exactly what these terms mean, because they are sometimes used loosely or interchangeably in everyday speech.
An overbite refers to the vertical overlap of the upper front teeth over the lower front teeth. A small degree of overbite — typically around 2 to 4 millimetres — is completely normal. Problems arise when this overlap becomes excessive, which is known as a deep bite or increased overbite. In this case, the upper front teeth may significantly cover the lower teeth, sometimes making contact with the gum tissue behind the upper teeth. A pronounced overbite can cause tooth wear, gum damage, and jaw discomfort over time.
An underbite is a different problem: here, the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth when the mouth is closed. In a normal bite, the upper teeth should sit slightly in front of the lower. An underbite can be caused by the lower jaw growing further forward than the upper jaw (a skeletal problem), by the position of the teeth themselves, or by a combination of both. Underbites are generally considered more complex to treat than overbites, particularly when the underlying cause is skeletal rather than dental.
What Causes These Bite Problems?
Bite issues can have several causes, and understanding the cause helps determine the most appropriate treatment:
- Genetics — jaw size and shape are largely inherited, and bite problems often run in families
- Childhood habits such as prolonged thumb-sucking or dummy use, which can affect jaw and tooth development during growth
- Premature loss of baby teeth, which can cause the remaining teeth to shift and alter the developing bite
- Tongue thrusting habits, where the tongue pushes against the front teeth during swallowing, which over time can cause an open bite or increase an overbite
- Natural variation in how the teeth and jaws develop during growth
As noted in NHS Inform Scotland’s overview of orthodontics, bite problems range considerably in severity, and treatment options — as well as what is available on the NHS — depend heavily on the degree of the problem and its underlying cause. A clinical assessment by a dentist or orthodontist is essential before any treatment decisions are made.
Can Invisalign Treat Overbites?
Yes — Invisalign can be effective at treating mild to moderate overbites, and this is one of the bite problems where clear aligner therapy has advanced significantly in recent years. Invisalign uses a combination of planned tooth movements and, where appropriate, small precision bite ramps or elastics (rubber bands worn between upper and lower aligners) to help reduce an excessive overbite. The elastics apply forces between the upper and lower jaws to encourage the lower jaw forward and the upper front teeth to intrude slightly.
For patients with a dental overbite — where the bite problem is primarily caused by tooth position rather than jaw size — Invisalign can achieve meaningful correction. Patients with a skeletal deep bite, where the jaw relationship itself is the primary issue, may find that Invisalign can improve things but cannot fully resolve the underlying problem without surgical intervention. The distinction between dental and skeletal overbite is made during the clinical assessment, and it is central to setting realistic expectations for what Invisalign treatment can achieve.
Can Invisalign Treat Underbites?
Mild underbites that are primarily dental in nature — where the lower teeth are positioned too far forward or the upper teeth too far back, rather than the jaws themselves being significantly misaligned — can potentially be treated with Invisalign. In these cases, aligners combined with elastics can help move the upper teeth forward and the lower teeth back to achieve a more normal bite relationship.
However, moderate to severe underbites — particularly those with a significant skeletal component where the lower jaw is substantially larger or positioned further forward than the upper jaw — are among the most challenging orthodontic problems to treat with aligners alone. In these cases, traditional fixed braces may achieve better results by allowing more precise and powerful forces to be applied to individual teeth. In severe cases, orthognathic (jaw) surgery in combination with orthodontics may be the only way to fully resolve the problem and achieve a functional, stable bite.
How Invisalign Addresses Bite Problems
Invisalign uses several mechanisms to address bite issues:
- Precision bite ramps: Small built-in features on the palate of upper aligners that encourage the lower jaw forward and prevent the back teeth from over-closing, helping to reduce a deep bite
- Elastics: Worn between small hooks or attachments on upper and lower aligners to apply inter-arch forces that influence jaw position — similar in principle to the elastics used with traditional braces
- Planned tooth movements: Individual teeth are moved in ways that collectively improve the bite relationship — for example, intruding the front teeth to reduce a deep bite or flaring the upper teeth forward to address an underbite
- Attachments: Tooth-coloured composite bumps on certain teeth help the aligners grip and apply more targeted forces than the aligners alone could achieve
What Can and Cannot Be Achieved: An Overview
| Bite Problem | Invisalign Effectiveness | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mild overbite (deep bite) | Good — often very effective | Bite ramps and tooth movement can reduce vertical overlap |
| Moderate overbite | Moderate — often improved significantly | May need elastics; full correction not always possible |
| Severe skeletal overbite | Limited — may need surgical support | Jaw surgery may be required alongside orthodontics |
| Mild dental underbite | Good — can be effective | Elastics and tooth movement can help correct position |
| Moderate underbite | Variable — improvement likely | Full correction may require fixed braces |
| Severe skeletal underbite | Limited — surgery usually needed | Orthognathic surgery typically required for full correction |
| Crossbite | Good for dental crossbites | Skeletal crossbites may need additional intervention |
| Open bite | Good — Invisalign performs well here | Often responds very well to clear aligner therapy |
The Importance of a Thorough Assessment
The figures and categories above are generalisations, and no guide can substitute for a proper clinical assessment. Whether Invisalign can resolve your specific overbite or underbite depends on a detailed evaluation of your bite, X-rays (including a cephalometric X-ray that shows the relationship between your jaw bones), and in some cases a referral for orthodontic specialist assessment. Attempting to treat a bite problem with Invisalign when fixed braces or surgical intervention are more appropriate will not deliver the results you are hoping for and may waste both time and money.
When you attend a consultation, your dentist will assess not just the teeth but the underlying jaw relationship. This is what determines whether the bite problem is dental (involving tooth position), skeletal (involving jaw position and size), or a combination of both — and this distinction is central to choosing the right treatment approach for your case.
What About Crossbites and Open Bites?
Whilst overbites and underbites are the focus of this article, it is worth briefly noting that Invisalign can also be effective for crossbites — where some upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth when biting — and open bites, where the front teeth do not meet when the back teeth are together. Open bites in particular are an area where Invisalign often performs very well, as the design of the aligners naturally encourages the front teeth to extrude (move downward) into a position where they meet the opposing teeth. This has historically been a difficult problem to treat with traditional braces, and Invisalign’s effectiveness in this area is one of its recognised clinical strengths.
The Role of Elastics in Bite Correction
For many bite correction cases, your dentist will ask you to wear small rubber elastics — also called interarch elastics — between upper and lower aligners for part or all of your treatment. These are the same concept as the elastics used with traditional braces. They apply forces between the upper and lower jaws that the aligners alone cannot generate. Wearing these elastics consistently is just as important as wearing the aligners themselves — skipping them will slow progress and may compromise the final bite result. Your dentist will show you how to use them and specify how many hours per day they should be worn.
Retention
Once a bite problem has been treated, whether with Invisalign or another method, retainers are essential to maintain the result. Bite correction in particular tends to be vulnerable to relapse if retainers are not worn consistently, because the muscular forces of the jaw continue to act on the teeth after treatment ends. In some cases of bite correction, fixed retainers bonded to the back of the teeth may be recommended in addition to removable clear retainers, to provide an additional layer of stability. Your dentist will advise you on the specific retention protocol appropriate for your case.
If you have an overbite, underbite, or other bite concern and would like to find out whether Invisalign could help, our team at Tarbert Dental Surgery would be very happy to carry out a thorough assessment and discuss your options honestly with you. Call us on 01880 820387 to arrange a consultation.