Updated on February 22, 2024
4 min read

Can Invisalign Fix an Open Bite?

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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, leaving a space between them.

Open Bite

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

What Types of Open Bites Can Invisalign Fix?

Invisalign treatment is best for mild to moderate cases of anterior open bites. Anterior open bites occur when the front teeth of the upper and lower jaws don’t overlap when the jaw is closed.5

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

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

What Causes an Open Bite?

Causes of an 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.

Straighten your teeth at a fraction of the cost. Learn about clear aligners.

How Does Invisalign Treat an Open Bite?

Invisalign treats an open bite by steadily applying pressure to your teeth. The constant force will fix the misalignment causing the open bite.

woman placing invisalign retainer

Invisalign is the leading in-office clear aligner brand. They provide several advantages over traditional metal braces, including:

  • 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 

These are the general steps of Invisalign treatment:

  1. You will have an initial consultation at an Invisalign-certified dental office
  2. Your orthodontist will digitally scan your mouth and bite to design customized aligners
  3. Once you receive your aligners, wear them for 22+ hours a day for two weeks
  4. Visit your orthodontist regularly for checkups and to switch out your aligners
  5. At the end of treatment, wear retainers to maintain your corrected bite

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

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.

Adults with moderate open bites may need to wait anywhere between 18 to 24 months to see the final results. For children and teenagers, it can take 12 to 18 months.2

Those with more severe open bites 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

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

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

Fortunately, most cases of an open bite can be fixed. Correcting an open bite can lead to a better smile, higher self-esteem, and improved oral health.

Find the best at-home clear aligners for mild misalignment. See our expert recommendations.

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 your 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?

3D render of teeth with metal braces in gums

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

Braces

Those with a posterior open bite or severe cases of an 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. 

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

Straighten your teeth conveniently at home. Compare the best clear aligner brands.

Summary

Invisalign can treat moderate anterior (front) open bites. If the case is more severe, you may be better suited for braces or surgery.

Invisalign can cost anywhere between $3,000 and $8,000. Treatment time can take 18 to 24 months to finish for moderate open bite cases.

What’s Next?

Discover the best fit for your smile.

Explore top at-home clear aligner brands.

Last updated on February 22, 2024
6 Sources Cited
Last updated on February 22, 2024
All NewMouth content is medically reviewed and fact-checked by a licensed dentist or orthodontist to ensure the information is factual, current, and relevant.

We have strict sourcing guidelines and only cite from current scientific research, such as scholarly articles, dentistry textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. This also includes information provided by the American Dental Association (ADA), the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
  1. Chang, Ming Jen. “Introduction to Invisalign Smart Technology: Attachments Design, and Recall-Checks.” Semantic Scholar, 2019.
  2. Open bite.” Invisalign.
  3. Can Invisalign Fix Open Bite?” iSmile Specialists.
  4. Tsai et al. “Treatment Efficacy of Invisalign: Literature Review Update.” Taiwanese Journal of Orthodontics, 2020.
  5. Schupp et al. “Treatment of Anterior Open Bite with the Invisalign System.” JCO Inc., 2010.
  6. Weir, T. “Clear aligners in orthodontic treatment.” Australian Dental Journal, 2017.
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