Treat Orthodontic Conditions with Invisalign
At Harner Orthodontics, we care about the oral health of our Orange County patients. Dr. Harner is able to utilize his expert orthodontic knowledge and skill to transform a variety of structural jaw and tooth problems into a healthy, beautiful smile using the effective Invisalign treatment. Our mouth is a contributing key to our overall health. Even if you aren't considering straightening your teeth, keep in mind that some of these conditions can cause serious other health problems. Besides straightening crooked teeth, the Invisalign aligners can also assist in treating the following conditions:
Overly Crowded
If your teeth outgrow your mouth, you could have teeth crowding. If you don't treat your overly crowded teeth, it could get worse with time and you could end up with very crooked teeth. Overcrowded teeth are also more susceptible to plaque accumulation, tooth decay and gum disease.
Gapped Teeth
Invisalign can bring together those unsightly gaps between your teeth. They can be caused by missing teeth that leave space for other teeth to move around, and also by a jawbone that continues to grow abnormally. Gaps between teeth can result in gum problems, and increased risk of gum disease.
Crossbite
With a crossbite, your upper and lower jaws don't properly align, leaving your top teeth just over your bottom teeth. It could be that the lower jaw, called the mandible, protrudes too far causing an underbite. Or the maxillary (or upper jaw) might stick out too far causing an overbite. This disorder can make it difficult to chew your food. It can also lead to pain in the mouth, head, and neck. If a crossbite isn't fixed, it can lead to worn down teeth, gum disease, and bone loss.
Open Bite
There are different types of open bites, but the most common is the anterior open bite. With this type of disorder there is a gap between the top and bottom center teeth so that the top teeth don't overlap the bottom teeth in front at all. This can be caused, again, by hereditary factors or by childhood habit such as thumb-sucking. Treatments include orthodontics and surgery.
Overjet (or Protrusion)
In this case, the lower teeth are too far behind the upper front teeth. Your Kansas City orthodontic office should be consulted to fix overjet because it could keep the front teeth from operating properly and result in premature wear on those teeth. Habits such as thumb sucking, finger sucking or tongue thrusting can make the condition worse. Overjet should be corrected because it can prevent proper functioning of the front teeth lead to premature wear.
OVERbite
Whether it's hereditary, caused by a malformed jaw, or the result of a bad childhood habit, you may have an overbite. An overbite means your top teeth stick out farther than desired over your lower teeth. Habits like thumb-sucking, lengthy bottle-feeding or nail-biting can contribute to an overbite.
Underbite
Similar to overbite, except that the lower teeth jut out past the upper teeth. This is usually caused by an upper jaw that did not grow or a lower jaw that grew too much. Sometimes missing upper teeth can cause an underbite. An underbite may stop the front teeth or molars from functioning properly which can lead to worn teeth. It can also be painful.
Dr. Harner is an orthodontic specialist and a top dentist in Orange County. He has the skill and technology to implement the Invisalign treatment to correct these common teeth problems. Don't wait to get started on a beautiful smile! Give him a call today at his Huntington Beach Office at (714) 842-9933, or complete the online appointment request form for a fast and convenient way to schedule an appointment that fits your schedule. We'll get back to you right away to confirm.