Burke & Redford Orthodontists Can Treat Adult Overbites Without Braces

Burke & Redford Orthodontists—an orthodontic practice that serves patients of all ages in Southern California is proud to announce it offers adult patients the opportunity to treat an overbite without having to wear braces.

“Many of our adult patients do not want to wear braces,” said Dr. Ryan Redford. “They prefer the flexibility and appearance of Invisalign instead. However, Invisalign cannot predictably correct every bite issue, such as moderate overbites. For these cases, we first treat the overbite with an appliance known as a Carriere Distalizer. Once the bite is corrected, the patients then use Invisalign to move their teeth into optimal positions.”

Overbites are one of the most common bite issues among children and adults alike. Typically, overbites are treated with braces, particularly in adolescent patients. However, if a patient does not want to wear braces, using a Carriere Distalizer and Invisalign can accomplish similar results.

An overbite happens when the upper front teeth extend out over the bottom front teeth. If this bite issue is left untreated, it can result in numerous problems, including difficulty chewing, speech problems, jaw pain, stiffness, and uneven wear on tooth enamel.

A Carriere Distalizer corrects an overbite by shifting the upper teeth into the correct position relative to the lower teeth. The appliance consists of a curved bar that is attached to a canine tooth and a molar tooth on each side of the mouth. Once the appliance is attached, elastics are used to produce forces that are strong enough to correct the excess overbite.

The Carriere Distalizer comes in two versions—metal and clear. “The majority of our adult patients opt for the clear version of the Carriere Distalizer because it is less noticeable,” said Dr. Redford.

Patients typically wear the Carriere Distalizer for 6 to 8 months to correct the overbite. Once the device is removed, patients begin treatment with Invisalign to straighten and align teeth.

Invisalign consists of wearing a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually move teeth into their correct positions. Many adult patients prefer Invisalign to braces because they are less noticeable and do not have any of the restrictions that come with braces. For example, Invisalign allows patients to remove their aligners while eating or brushing their teeth. This means there are no dietary restrictions, and following a good oral hygiene program is much easier.

Invisalign aligners are made with a patented flexible plastic called SmartTrack. The aligners are approved by the FDA and do not contain BPA, BPS, latex, or gluten.

“The Carriere Distalizer is very effective at correcting overbites that cannot be corrected with Invisalign alone,” said Dr. Redford. “The adult and teen patients who chose this treatment option instead of wearing braces have done well.”

Adults and teens in Riverside County can contact Burke & Redford Orthodontists to schedule a free orthodontic consultation and determine if this treatment option is viable for their case. Offices are in Temecula and Lake Elsinore, CA.