Can Invisalign Fix an Overbite? (And an Underbite, Crossbite or Open Bite?)
Updated: Oct 7
Often, yes: Invisalign can usually correct a mild to moderate overbite when the cause is the position of the teeth rather than the jaws. It can treat many crossbites and some open bites as well. What clear aligners cannot do is change the size or position of the jaws themselves.
So the useful question is not only how big your overbite is, but where it comes from. That decides whether aligners are the right tool, whether braces would do the job better, or whether the honest answer is to leave it alone.
The short version
• An overbite is how far your top front teeth overlap the bottom ones, up and down. Overjet, often confused with it, is how far they sit forward.
• Clear aligners usually manage mild to moderate overbites caused by the teeth, and many crossbites and open bites.
• An overbite caused by the jaws may need braces, another appliance or jaw surgery instead.
• A small overbite that causes no problems can be left alone.
Written by Dr. Gloria Jung, DDS, BSc, at Lux Dental in downtown Vancouver. Reviewed on 2 October 2026 against the published research listed at the end of this post.
What is the difference between an overbite and an overjet?
Direction. An overbite is vertical: how much your top front teeth cover the bottom ones when your back teeth are together. An overjet is horizontal: how far the top front teeth sit in front of the bottom ones.
Some of each is normal. A healthy bite has a small overlap in both directions.
In everyday speech, people often say "overbite" when they mean front teeth that stick out. That is overjet. The two often appear together, but they are treated differently, so it helps to know which one you are asking about.
When the vertical overlap is large, it is called a deep bite. In a severe deep bite, the lower front teeth can bite into the gum behind the upper teeth, or the upper teeth can slowly wear the lower ones.
Underbites, crossbites and open bites usually come up in the same conversation. They are drawn side by side further down.
Can Invisalign fix an overbite?
Yes, in many cases. The most direct evidence is a 2017 study by Khosravi and colleagues in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, which measured 120 patients treated with Invisalign. Deep bites opened by a median of 1.5 mm. Open bites closed by a median of 1.5 mm.
How it happened matters just as much. Almost all of the change came from moving the front teeth, with very little change at the back teeth or in the angle of the jaw. Aligners correct an overbite by repositioning teeth. They do not reshape a jaw.
Not every movement is equally easy, either. A 2020 study by Haouili and colleagues found that moving the lower front teeth down into the jaw, one of the main ways a deep bite is corrected, achieved about 35 percent of what was planned, against about 50 percent across all tooth movements.
That is why the cause matters more than the number. A dental overbite, where the front teeth are tipped or have grown too far down, is a tooth problem, and aligners suit it. A skeletal overbite, where the lower jaw is short or sits well back, is a jaw problem, and moving teeth can only disguise part of it.
Can Invisalign fix an underbite, crossbite or open bite?
Sometimes. The same rule applies: teeth, often; jaws, not on their own.
Underbite. A mild underbite where the front teeth are simply tipped can often be corrected with aligners. When the lower jaw itself sits too far forward, a full correction in adults usually means orthodontics combined with jaw surgery. In children, appliances that guide jaw growth may be used instead.
Crossbite. One or two tipped teeth are often straightforward. A crossbite caused by a narrow upper jaw is harder, because aligners widen the upper arch mostly by tipping the teeth outward. A 2017 study by Houle and colleagues in The Angle Orthodontist found that, on average, about 73 percent of the planned upper-arch widening was achieved. Where the jaw itself is narrow, an expander may be the better tool, and in adults it sometimes needs surgical help.
Open bite. Results are the least predictable of the three. Closing an open bite often means bringing the front teeth down, and a 2015 systematic review by Rossini and colleagues found it was the hardest movement for aligners to control. Many open bites still close well, as the Khosravi study showed, particularly once any tongue or thumb habit behind them has stopped.
The same information is in the table below.
The bite | Can aligners usually help? |
Deep overbite. Top front teeth cover too much of the bottom ones, up and down | Often, when the cause is the teeth. Something else is better when the lower jaw is short or set well back |
Overjet. Top front teeth sit too far forward of the bottom ones | Sometimes, when the teeth are flared forward. When the lower jaw is set back, a growing child may need an appliance that guides growth |
Underbite. Bottom front teeth sit in front of the top ones | In mild cases caused by tipped teeth. When the lower jaw is too far forward, adults may need surgery with orthodontics |
Crossbite. Some top teeth bite inside the bottom ones | Often, especially for one or two tipped teeth. When the upper jaw is narrow, an expander is better, sometimes with surgical help in adults |
Open bite. Front teeth do not meet when you bite | Some, with less predictable results. Less likely when the jaws are shaped this way or a tongue or thumb habit continues |
Is my overbite too severe for Invisalign?
Possibly, and the teeth alone will not tell you. For a sense of scale, Align Technology, the company that makes Invisalign, describes mild to moderate cases as an overbite or overjet of up to 6 mm. Beyond that, aligners are not ruled out, but the case is harder and the argument for braces grows.
A few things are worth mentioning at the consultation:
Your lower jaw looks set back, or pushed forward, when you see your profile.
Close family members have the same bite.
Your lower front teeth bite into the gum behind your upper teeth.
This is where imaging helps. Lux has CBCT (cone beam computed tomography, a 3D x-ray) on site, which shows the jaws and tooth roots rather than only the crowns. It is not required for Invisalign, and many straightforward cases are planned without one. It is an x-ray, so it is used when the answer would change the plan, such as whether the jaw itself is the problem.
If the jaw is the problem, aligners may still improve how the teeth meet, but they would be disguising a jaw difference rather than correcting it. Some people are content with that. Others would rather hear about the surgical route, which means a referral to an orthodontist and an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
Not sure whether yours is the teeth or the jaw?
The Invisalign consultation at Lux is free. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Is Invisalign or braces better for an overbite?
Neither, for everyone. It depends on what has to move.
Braces hold each tooth with a bracket, so they control difficult movements more reliably: bringing teeth down, moving roots, and working with elastics or other appliances on a jaw difference. Aligners are removable, easier to keep clean and hard to spot, but they only work while they are in, which Align Technology puts at 20 to 22 hours a day.
A 2017 comparison of 96 patients by Gu and colleagues, also in the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, captures the trade. Invisalign patients finished sooner, in about 13 months on average against about 19 for braces. Braces, though, more often produced a large improvement in the bite.
As a rough guide: for a mild to moderate dental overbite in an adult who will wear the aligners, Invisalign is a reasonable first choice. For a severe deep bite, a large jaw component, or someone who knows the aligners will spend more time in a drawer than in their mouth, braces are often the better answer.
Why not try aligners first and switch if progress stalls? You can. The cost is time, and sometimes a second treatment, so it is better to decide with the full picture at the start.
How long does Invisalign take for an overbite?
Often around a year, with wide variation. In the Gu study, Invisalign treatment averaged about 13 months, with individual cases well either side of that. Your own estimate depends on how much movement your plan needs, and it comes from the plan itself.
These are the steps, in order:
Consultation and scan. One visit. The bite and jaws are checked, photos are taken, and a 3D digital scan is made of your teeth.
Your plan. A 3D simulation shows the planned tooth movement. You see it, and the fee, before you commit to anything.
Aligners. Worn 20 to 22 hours a day and changed every one or two weeks, as directed. This is the longest stage.
Refinements. Common, and not a sign that something went wrong. Because teeth achieved about half of the planned movement on average in the Haouili study, a new scan and extra aligners to finish are normal.
Retainer. Teeth tend to drift back after any orthodontic treatment, so a retainer, usually worn at night, keeps the result. Our post on fixed and removable retainers covers that choice.
The same steps are written out above.
What do Invisalign overbite before and after photos really show?
Usually the best results. Before and after photos are chosen to show what is possible, which is not the same as what is typical, and a photo rarely tells you whether the bite was a tooth problem or a jaw problem to begin with.
The more useful before and after is your own. At the planning stage you see a simulation of your teeth at the start and at the end of the plan. Treat it as a plan rather than a promise: the research above shows teeth do not always follow the simulation, which is what refinements are for.
Do you need to fix an overbite at all?
Not always. A small overbite is normal, and a mild one that is not damaging your teeth or gums, and does not bother you, can simply be left alone.
Treatment is worth considering when:
The lower front teeth bite into the gum behind the upper teeth, or the upper teeth bite into the gum in front of the lower ones.
The front teeth are wearing down or chipping.
Crowding around the overbite makes the teeth hard to clean.
You do not like how it looks. That is a legitimate reason, and it is yours to weigh.
If none of these apply, I would rather tell you to leave it than sell you a year of aligners.
How much does Invisalign for an overbite cost, and does insurance help?
It depends on the plan, so there is no honest figure to give here. The fee depends on how complex your case is and what kind of plan it needs, which is only known once the plan is made. At Lux, you see the plan and the fee before you agree to anything.
Insurance varies. Some extended health and dental plans include orthodontic coverage and some do not, so it is worth checking your plan and bringing the details with you.
Want the plan and the fee in front of you?
Invisalign consultations at Lux Dental, downtown Vancouver
A treatment room at Lux Dental, downtown Vancouver.
A few practical things:
The consultation is free, and it is where the plan, the timeline and the fee are set out.
Imaging on site. A 3D digital scan for planning, and CBCT 3D imaging when the jaw needs a closer look.
Hours. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, at 1631 Davie Street. Saturday appointments make the scan and the check-ins easier to fit around work.
Languages. I speak English, Korean and Mandarin, and Korean and Vietnamese are both spoken at the clinic.
For a general introduction to living with aligners day to day, see our earlier guide, Align your smile with Invisalign, or our Invisalign page.
Frequently asked questions
Can Invisalign fix an overbite?
Often, yes. Clear aligners usually correct mild to moderate overbites caused by the position of the teeth. A 2017 study of 120 Invisalign patients found deep bites opened by a median of 1.5 mm, almost entirely by moving the front teeth. Aligners do not change the jaws, so an overbite caused by a short or set-back lower jaw may need braces, another appliance or surgery instead.
How long does Invisalign take to fix an overbite?
Often around a year, with wide variation. In a 2017 study comparing aligners with braces, Invisalign treatment averaged about 13 months. Your estimate depends on how much movement your plan needs, plus any refinement aligners at the end, which are common. After that, a retainer worn at night keeps the result. You get your own timeline once your plan is made.
Can Invisalign fix an underbite?
Sometimes. A mild underbite caused by tipped front teeth can often be corrected with aligners. When the lower jaw itself sits too far forward, aligners can only disguise part of it, and a full correction in adults usually means orthodontics combined with jaw surgery. In children, appliances that guide jaw growth may be used. An examination, sometimes with 3D imaging, shows which kind you have.
Is Invisalign or braces better for an overbite?
Neither is better for everyone. Aligners suit mild to moderate dental overbites in adults who will wear them 20 to 22 hours a day. Braces control difficult movements more reliably and are often better for severe deep bites or a jaw difference. A 2017 study found Invisalign finished sooner on average, but braces more often produced a large improvement in the bite.
Is my overbite too severe for Invisalign?
It might be. Align Technology, the maker of Invisalign, describes mild to moderate cases as an overbite or overjet of up to 6 mm. A larger overbite, lower teeth biting into the gum behind the upper teeth, or a lower jaw that looks set back all suggest a harder case, and possibly a jaw problem that aligners cannot correct alone. A consultation and imaging answer it properly.
What is the difference between an overbite and an overjet?
An overbite is vertical: how much the top front teeth cover the bottom ones when you bite. An overjet is horizontal: how far the top front teeth sit in front of the bottom ones. People often say "overbite" when they mean teeth that stick out, which is overjet. A small amount of both is normal. They often appear together but are treated differently.
Do I need a retainer after Invisalign for an overbite?
Yes. Teeth tend to drift back toward their old positions after any orthodontic treatment, including aligners. A retainer, usually worn at night, holds the result. Some people have a thin wire bonded behind the front teeth instead, or as well. Plan on wearing a retainer for as long as you want the teeth to stay where they are, and replace it if it cracks or stops fitting.
Book an Invisalign consultation in downtown Vancouver
The overlap you can see is the easy part. Where it comes from is the part worth knowing, and that takes one visit.
Lux Dental is rated 4.9 from 179 Google reviews at the time of writing.
Or call 604-670-1256. Lux Dental, 1631 Davie Street, Vancouver. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Sources: R. Khosravi et al., Management of overbite with the Invisalign appliance, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 151(4), 2017; N. Haouili et al., Has Invisalign improved? A prospective follow-up study on the efficacy of tooth movement with Invisalign, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 158(3), 2020; J. Houle et al., The predictability of transverse changes with Invisalign, The Angle Orthodontist 87(1), 2017; G. Rossini et al., Efficacy of clear aligners in controlling orthodontic tooth movement: a systematic review, The Angle Orthodontist 85(5), 2015; J. Gu et al., Evaluation of Invisalign treatment effectiveness and efficiency compared with conventional fixed appliances using the Peer Assessment Rating index, American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics 151(2), 2017; Align Technology, invisalign.com, wear time and aligner changes (April 2026) and its definition of mild to moderate cases, read 2 October 2026. Review count from Google, 2 October 2026.
Dr. Gloria Jung, DDS, BSc, Lux Dental
Comments