Can Invisalign Fix an Open Bite?

Key Takeaways

• Invisalign treatment can correct some open bite cases
• The cost of Invisalign treatment for open bite is between $3,000 and $8,000
• Open bites vary in type and severity
• Depending on the case, Invisalign can correct an open bite in 18 to 24 months
• Sometimes braces or surgery are better open bite treatment options

Can Invisalign Fix an Open Bite?

Invisalign clear aligner treatment can correct an open bite, depending on its type and severity.

An open bite is a type of malocclusion or bite alignment issue involving the top and bottom sets of teeth. The teeth don’t fit together neatly when the jaw is closed. This leaves a space between them.

Open bites can negatively affect your speech and oral health. They also make it more difficult to chew certain foods such as apples.

Causes of open bite include:

• Tongue thrusting
• Thumb-sucking
• Sucking the lower lip
• Macroglossia (disorder in which the tongue is larger than normal)
• Mouth breathing
• Excessive pacifier or bottle use
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)

Invisalign clear aligners slowly move your teeth into their correct positions. This eliminates the spaces that lead to open bites.

What is Invisalign & How Does it Work?

Manufactured by Align Technology, Invisalign is the leading in-office clear aligner brand. Since 1998, almost 11 million people have used Invisalign.⁷

Invisalign aligners provide several advantages over traditional metal braces.

Advantages include: 

• Nearly invisible appearance
• More comfortable than braces
• Removable, which makes eating, brushing, and flossing easier
• No metal wires or brackets to cut your mouth
• Easy to clean 

Invisalign treatment starts with an initial consultation at a dentist’s or orthodontist's office. 

There, they will digitally scan your mouth and bite. An experienced orthodontist will then design an aligner to fit your mouth.

Invisalign clear aligners are made from polyurethane resin, a special type of flexible plastic. Referred to as SmartTrack, this material is FDA-approved for medical use and free of toxins like BPS and BPA.¹

Align Technology claims this material makes Invisalign treatment 50% faster and 75% more accurate than other clear aligners. They also claim it helps make Invisalign more comfortable and durable. 

You should wear your Invisalign aligners for 22+ hours a day for about two weeks at a time.⁵ During this time, the aligners will move your teeth between 0.25 to 0.3 millimeters.⁵

Types of Open Bites Invisalign Can & Can’t Fix 

There are certain kinds of open bites Invisalign can and can’t correct.

Invisalign treatment is best for mild to moderate cases of anterior open bite. Anterior open bites occur when the incisors (front teeth) of the upper and lower jaws don’t overlap when the jaw is closed.⁴

More complicated open bites, however, are not ideal for Invisalign. These include: 

• Posterior open bite
• Dental open bite
• Skeletal open bite

How Long Does it Take Invisalign to Fix Open Bites?

The time it takes to correct an open bite with Invisalign depends on the severity of the case. 

For adults with moderate open bites (about 2 to 3mm), it takes between 18 to 24 months.² For children and teenagers with moderate open bites, Invisalign treatment can take 12 to 18 months.²

Those with open bites of more than 4mm require more advanced treatment. These cases may take between 24 to 28 months or longer.²

Ultimately, each case is different. Speak to your dentist or orthodontist for more detailed information on how long Invisalign treatment may take.

Read more information on Invisalign treatment time here.

Invisalign Treatment Cost for Open Bite

Depending on the severity of the open bite, as well as where you live and where you go for treatment, Invisalign treatment can cost between $3,000 to $8,000.

Pros and Cons of Invisalign for Open Bites

The pros of using Invisalign for open bites include:

• Discrete form of treatment
• Convenient with fewer check-ups
• Equally or more affordable than braces
• Clear, removable aligners that make it easier to eat food and brush teeth
• Comfortable
• Can prevent bruxism
• Improves your smile

Cons of Invisalign include:

• Not suitable for all forms of open bite
• Requires more effort than braces (you have to remember to wear them)
• Sometimes attachments or rubber bands are necessary (making treatment less discrete)

When are Alternative Treatments Necessary?

In the hands of an experienced orthodontist, Invisalign can sometimes correct open bites. For more difficult cases, other treatment options might be better:

Braces

Those with posterior open bite or severe cases of anterior open bite may benefit from braces. Treatment also sometimes involves orthodontic headgear and behavior modification (in cases of tongue thrusting, for example).

There are several varieties of braces, including metal, clear, and lingual braces. Depending on which kind of braces you have, the cost can range between $3,000 to $10,000. 

Surgery

When an open bite is due to skeletal problems, an orthodontist may recommend orthognathic or jaw surgery as a last resort. 

This surgery involves removing a section of the upper jaw to realign the jawbones. The surgeon will then use plates and screws to secure the jaws in the correct position. 

Surgery is typically more common for children whose teeth and jaws are no longer developing.

There are various kinds of orthognathic surgery. Cost can range anywhere from $20,000 to $50,000, depending on the type.

Do Open Bites Need to Be Fixed?

Without treatment, open bites cause a variety of problems, including:

• Difficulty eating
• Irregular smile
• Speech impediments
• Snoring
• Self-esteem issues
• Digestive problems from poor chewing
• Temporomandibular disorder (TMD)
• Headaches and earaches 
• Sleep issues
• Teeth damage due to abnormal contact with each other

The good news is, most cases of open bite can be fixed. Invisalign, braces, and surgery are different options. Correcting an open bite can lead to a better smile, higher self-esteem, and improved oral health.

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