Can Invisalign Correct Overjet in Adults?

If an overjet has you feeling uncomfortable and hiding your teeth behind closed-mouth smiles, you’re not alone. Fortunately for you and the many US adults with overjet, there are plenty of ways to correct it — and Invisalign is one of the absolute best. Powerful, comfortable, and discreet, it’s got a long track record of stunning smile transformations.

But don’t base your decision on reputation alone. Invisalign certainly isn’t the only option out there. In this guide, we’ll examine how to treat overjet with Invisalign and provide a few affordable alternatives in case it’s not right for you.

What Is Overjet?

Overjet is a type of misalignment in which the upper teeth protrude horizontally beyond the lower ones. Not all cases are severe, and it’s actually normal for your front teeth to overlap your lower ones slightly. However, an overjet represents an excessive protrusion of those front teeth. It’s not a serious medical concern, but it can cause some discomfort and a lack of confidence in your smile.

Other common overjet symptoms include:

• Jaw discomfort and temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD)
• Difficulty chewing
• Speech issues
• Irregular facial appearances
• Headaches
• Toothaches

Overjet also distributes your bite pressure unevenly, putting excess pressure on certain teeth and wearing down their enamel. They also make cleaning your teeth more difficult, potentially causing plaque buildup that can lead to tooth and gum decay.

Overjet vs. Overbite

Many people often confuse these two conditions, and for good reason — they’re fairly similar and often coexist. However, overbites are vertical misalignments, while overjets are horizontal. In other words, with an overbite, your top teeth still point straight down, but an overjet sticks out at an angle.

Either way, however, Invisalign is a good option, since it can treat overbite as well.

What Causes Overjet?

Some cases of overjet are hereditary, while others come from overcrowded teeth or a late eruption of permanent teeth. However, it can also come from certain childhood habits. Thumb sucking, pacifier use, or bottle use beyond age three can potentially cause bite issues, as can excessive tongue thrusting. They most often appear in children as the teeth and jaw develop, but can persist into adulthood as well.

Can Invisalign Fix Overjet?

Yes! Invisalign is widely considered effective for correcting a variety of adult bite issues, including overjet.

Two decades ago, Invisalign came on the scene as an innovative method for straightening teeth. And over the years, the company has expanded its catalog of treatment offerings to include more complex issues like overjet, overbite, underbite, and more. Today, Invisalign provides similar results to traditional braces at a comparable price ($5,000 on average), but without all the metal wires and brackets.

When administering Invisalign, dentists can use the company’s proprietary “Smartforce” attachments to create a program that’s perfectly customized to each individual’s condition. These attachments are tiny tooth-colored devices they can affix to your teeth during treatment to allow for more intricate tooth movements, without sacrificing the aligners’ low profile.

Your provider can also utilize standard dental appliances like elastics and additional procedures like tooth shaving throughout treatment. All these integrations make Invisalign a comprehensive system capable of correcting even severe cases of overjet.

That said, Invisalign isn’t the most affordable option on the market. Even though you might receive insurance coverage (depending on your plan), the average cost of Invisalign is $3,000–$8,000. Yet given their power, quality, and long track record of stunning results, that cost might just be worth it for you.

What’s It Like to Wear Invisalign?

Adults often favor Invisalign over braces because they’re 1) clear, and 2) removable. This means that they’re much less noticeable, and you can take them out to eat, brush your teeth, or attend an important meeting or other special occasion. If your treatment plan includes Smartforce attachments, they’ll stay on the entire time — but again, they’re hardly noticeable.

Invisalign is also typically more comfortable than braces. Since they’re made of plastic, clear aligners irritate the cheeks and tongue far less than metal wires and brackets. Of course, moving your teeth always causes some discomfort, no matter which treatment you pick. But ‌Invisalign offers more comfort and flexibility than conventional braces.

On the flip side, Invisalign treatment requires a lot more discipline than traditional braces. Since Invisalign trays are removable, you have to wear them for 22 hrs each day to align your teeth and jaws successfully. If you’re not motivated enough to play through the pain for the long-term payout — or frequently forget to wear them — Invisalign might be TOO flexible of an option for you.

If you think you’d have trouble integrating Invisalign into your day-to-day routine, consider braces instead. These days, there are many more options available than the traditional metal braces you remember from your childhood. We cover the types of braces that exist today (and much more) in our guide to correcting overjet with braces.

Alternative Invisible Aligners

While Invisalign pioneered the mass-market clear aligner and remains among the most popular providers out there, there are a few other clear aligner brands that present equally intriguing alternatives. Plus, there’s a whole new industry on the rise for at-home teeth aligner brands that don’t require a single trip to the dentist.

Whether you’re simply interested in an alternative clear aligner brand or you’re looking to correct your overjet from home, there’s most likely a solution on this list for you. Below, we’ve broken down some of the most popular alternatives to Invisalign.

In-Office Brands

Align Tech (makers of Invisalign) is no longer the only company that partners with dentists and orthodontists to provide treatment with clear aligners. Like Invisalign, these treatments include regular in-person care from your dentist or orthodontist, and they can all incorporate attachments and appliances to correct more complex jaw misalignments like overjet.

• ClearCorrect: Founded in 2006, ClearCorrect isn’t as experienced as Invisalign, but they’ve still been delivering quality results for over a decade. They typically charge dentists and orthodontists less for lab fees, which can make their aligners slightly more affordable. Plus, they have multiple treatment plans — including one where you pay per aligner — so they can tailor your plan to your condition.

Check out our full ClearCorrect review to learn more.

• SureSmile: Another one of Invisalign’s oldest competitors, SureSmile launched its clear aligners in 2007. It can treat the same scope of misalignments as Invisalign, and the company says that their patients are less likely to need refinements after treatment. Despite this, they boast lower prices and, since they don’t have a specific mandatory scanner, providers can save money and pass those savings on to you.

Interested? Read through our complete SureSmile review for more.

• 3M Clarity Aligners: 3M — the company behind Scotch Tape and Post-Its — creates clear aligners with incredible teeth-moving power thanks to their unique attachment placement. They’re only available to orthodontists, who can use two different proprietary materials to deliver a treatment highly customized to your condition. Since 3M also makes Clarity Clear Braces, orthodontists can also design a combination treatment that uses them simultaneously with aligners.

Our full 3M Clarity Aligners review has a ton more information.

Home Invisible Aligners:

In recent years, several online companies have entered the industry to provide a more affordable option for adults seeking to correct mild tooth and jaw misalignments from home. Similar to Invisalign, you’ll receive a set of clear, removable aligners customized to your teeth by a dental professional. But unlike Invisalign, they don’t require any trips to the dentist’s office — and treatment often costs a lot less. They can’t handle severe misalignments or significant bite issues, but they’re a convenient choice for milder cases.

• Byte: Byte claims an average treatment plan length of just 4–5 months, and with every aligner package, they include their HyperByte — a high-frequency vibration device to better seat your aligners for a more comfortable aligner fit and possibly faster dental shifts. Plus, they put a lifetime guarantee on your smile, and for those who’d prefer to straighten their teeth at night, they offer “At-Night” aligners designed with plastic selected specifically to withstand nighttime teeth grinding.

See our comprehensive review of Byte for an in-depth look at their services.

• Candid: Candid started as a fully remote clear aligner service, but have since shifted to a hybrid treatment that combines elements of in-office and at-home care. After an initial in-person consultation and examination with a local dentist, you’ll check in virtually via their CandidMonitoring service every 14 days for the rest of your treatment. It usually costs $3,500 or more, but you’ll get a higher level of care than other at-home options.

Our complete Candid review has a lot more important information.

• SmileDirectClub: SmileDirectClub was one of the first companies to offer at-home clear aligner treatment and continues to be the most popular option. Founded in 2014, SmileDirectClub has treated over 1.5 million patients to date. With SmileShops across the country where you can get a free teeth scan, they’ve also gone the extra mile to make the treatment process as easy as possible. Plus, they have a lifetime smile guarantee and extensive refund policies.

Check out our SmileDirectClub review for a deep dive into their treatment.

Final Thoughts

If you’re concerned about your overjet, now’s the time to take a deep breath… and exhale. Overjet is not a serious medical issue, and one that’s relatively easy to treat. If you’re interested in pursuing corrective treatment, in our opinion, there are several quality options out there, and Invisalign is one of the best.

However, it’s not the right choice for everyone. Before deciding on a treatment method, consider the pros and cons of each one, think about how they would fit with your lifestyle and finances, and consult a dentist for an analysis of your unique dental condition. With all that info in your back pocket, you’ll be able to choose your ideal treatment and start smiling confidently again.