I had metal braces as a teen, along with: headgear (that I didn't wear enough) to move my top jaw forward and an expander on my top jaw. My lower jaw was never treated.
My orthodontist at the time refused to do anything and insisted on doing orthognathic surgery. I'm still not sure about orthognathic surgery, since my insurance provider will not cover it and it would wipe out my saving or leave me with debt.
Can Invisalign be used to help pull my upper jaw forward to the point where I would have a functional bite?
August 19, 2011
Answer: Jaw misalignment and Invisalign
It sounds like you have a skeletal problem where your upper jaw is too far behind your lower jaw (or the lower is too far in front of the upper). Invisalign does not address jaw alignment problems at all, and so would not be a reasonable alternative. Sometimes, if the discrepancy is not too great, a mild underbite can be corrected by extacting one front or two back lower teeth and using conventional appliances to pull the lower front teeth back into a normal bite. However, this "camoflage" treatment does not actually correct the skeletal problem and will not appreciable affect the facial profile. An experienced orthodontist can evaluate your case and discuss all the options with you.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
August 19, 2011
Answer: Jaw misalignment and Invisalign
It sounds like you have a skeletal problem where your upper jaw is too far behind your lower jaw (or the lower is too far in front of the upper). Invisalign does not address jaw alignment problems at all, and so would not be a reasonable alternative. Sometimes, if the discrepancy is not too great, a mild underbite can be corrected by extacting one front or two back lower teeth and using conventional appliances to pull the lower front teeth back into a normal bite. However, this "camoflage" treatment does not actually correct the skeletal problem and will not appreciable affect the facial profile. An experienced orthodontist can evaluate your case and discuss all the options with you.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
November 16, 2009
Answer: Alternatives to Orthognathic Surgery Your orthodontist should of treated both arches when you were an adolescent. As an adult you should seek a new evaluation from an orthodontist, have them take a panoramic and cephalometric radiograph to assess what can be done to help improve your bite. Braces and the use of elastics/rubber bands can help your bite slightly, but if you have a skeletal abnormality it can only be fixed by orthognathic surgery. Your teeth sit on the bone, you can't move the bone, you can only tip the teeth.
Helpful
November 16, 2009
Answer: Alternatives to Orthognathic Surgery Your orthodontist should of treated both arches when you were an adolescent. As an adult you should seek a new evaluation from an orthodontist, have them take a panoramic and cephalometric radiograph to assess what can be done to help improve your bite. Braces and the use of elastics/rubber bands can help your bite slightly, but if you have a skeletal abnormality it can only be fixed by orthognathic surgery. Your teeth sit on the bone, you can't move the bone, you can only tip the teeth.
Helpful