Can Invisalign Fix an Overbite? What to Expect

We understand that if your top front teeth sit well over your bottom ones, it can play on your mind in photos and conversations. You may also be wondering whether clear aligners can fix it, or whether you would need fixed braces. For many adults, Invisalign can correct an overbite. Whether it can correct yours depends mostly on what is causing it.

For how Invisalign works in general, see our Invisalign treatment page and our guide What Are Invisalign Aligners and How Do They Work? This post focuses on overbites: what aligners can change, where their limits are, and how to judge your own chances before you commit.

What counts as an overbite, and does it need treating?

A few millimetres of overlap between your upper and lower front teeth is normal. When the overlap is deeper than that, dentists call it an increased overbite or a deep bite. In a very deep bite, you may barely see your lower front teeth when you smile.

People also say "overbite" when their upper front teeth stick forward. Dentists call that an overjet. Many people have a mix of both, and our overbite page describes the common signs.

Not every overbite needs treatment. People usually choose to correct one for these reasons:

• Appearance. Many adults simply want a smile they feel happier with, and that is a perfectly good reason.
• Comfort and wear. A very deep bite can make the lower front teeth press on the gum behind the upper teeth, or wear down the edges of the front teeth.
• Protection. Front teeth that stick out are more exposed. A large review of observational studies found that an overjet above about 3 to 4 mm was linked with roughly twice the odds of injuring a permanent front tooth.1 This shows a link, not proof that treatment prevents injury.

You may also read that an overbite causes jaw joint pain. A systematic review of 25 studies found no clinically relevant link between how the teeth meet and jaw joint disorders,2 so we don't offer aligners as a treatment for jaw pain.

Can Invisalign fix an overbite?

Often, yes, when the overbite comes mainly from the position of your teeth. The key question is whether your teeth or your jaws are the main cause.

How aligners reduce a deep bite

To open a deep bite, the aligners gently move the front teeth up into the gum and bone (known as intrusion) and adjust their angle, so the upper and lower teeth overlap less. Small tooth-coloured bumps called attachments are bonded to some teeth so the aligners can grip and push in the right direction. Some plans also include bite ramps: small raised areas on the inside of the upper aligners that your lower front teeth meet when you bite.

How aligners bring prominent teeth back

To move upper front teeth back, the aligners need room. That space can come from closing existing gaps, from polishing tiny amounts of enamel from between the teeth (known as interproximal reduction), or from moving the back teeth slightly backwards. Some plans add elastics: small rubber bands hooked between the upper and lower aligners to help guide the bite.

When is an overbite beyond what aligners can do?

Aligners move teeth. They cannot change the size or position of your jaws once you have stopped growing. If your lower jaw sits well back, aligners may improve how your teeth look and meet without fully correcting the bite. Research on aligners for bites caused by the jaws is limited, and suggests they are less effective than fixed braces in these cases.3

For larger jaw differences, the usual route is fixed braces, sometimes combined with jaw surgery, planned by a specialist orthodontist. If this applies to you, Dr Edward Young, our Invisalign dentist, will explain your options clearly, including where you could be referred.

If you are asking on behalf of a teenager, the approach is different because their jaws are still growing, and fixed braces may be more appropriate.

Will Invisalign fully correct my overbite?

For mild to moderate overbites caused by tooth position, the evidence is encouraging. A 2025 systematic review of 18 studies found that clear aligners reduced deep bites by between 0.4 mm and 3.8 mm, and concluded that they can correct mild to moderate deep bites of this kind.3 The authors rated the evidence as low certainty because of limitations in the studies available.

The limits are worth knowing from the outset, because bite correction rarely happens in one straight run:

• The first set of aligners usually achieves only part of the plan. In a study of 355 adults treated by 12 experienced orthodontists, those whose treatment did not involve removing teeth achieved just under half (46%) of their planned overbite reduction by the end of their first set of aligners. Planned reduction of prominent upper teeth fell short in a similar way.4
• Extra aligners are normal. Bite cases often need refinements, a further short series of aligners made from a new scan, and some plans build in deliberate over-correction from the start.3
• Wear time matters. Aligners only work while they are in, so wearing them for the full 20 to 22 hours a day makes a real difference.

None of this means treatment has failed. It is why your plan, your progress checks and your expectations should allow for it. Individual results vary.

How long does Invisalign take to fix an overbite?

Most Invisalign patients at Zenith finish within 6 to 18 months. Bite correction usually sits towards the longer end of that range, and refinements can add time. Your personal timeline is set out in your ClinCheck simulation, a 3D preview of how your teeth are planned to move, before any aligners are ordered.

You wear each aligner for around two weeks and attend regular progress checks with your dentist throughout.

What should you ask at your consultation?

Your journey starts with a free consultation and an iTero 5D digital scan, with no putty impressions. The scan builds your ClinCheck simulation, which you review with Dr Edward Young, our Invisalign dentist and an Invisalign Platinum Elite Provider, before you decide.

These questions are worth asking about an overbite:

• Is my overbite mainly from my teeth, my jaws or both?
• How much of the correction do you expect from aligners alone?
• Will I need attachments, bite ramps or elastics?
• Are refinements included in my quote?
• What would you suggest if aligners can't fully correct it?

Bite correction is normally planned as an Invisalign Moderate or Comprehensive case, which we quote individually after your scan. You will receive a clear written quote, and you can ask about our finance options to spread the cost.

What happens after your overbite is corrected?

Once your bite is where it should be, custom retainers hold it there. Retainers are included, and wearing them is a long-term commitment, because teeth tend to drift back without them. Every Invisalign case at Zenith also finishes with complimentary professional whitening.

If years of a deep bite have worn the edges of your front teeth, this is the point at which they can be rebuilt, for example with composite bonding. Your dentist stays your point of contact for retainer care after treatment.