Table of contents

#1 What is a dental bite?

#2 Your teeth bite is unique…just like your fingerprints!

#3 Comprehensive VS cosmetic dentistry

#4 So…do aligners change your bite?

One of the most frequently asked questions when starting treatment is: will at home aligners change my teeth bite? Let’s answer that question in another episode on the science of teeth straightening with Dr. Aalok, who will give us clear answers on:

• What is the bite?
• What does an ideal bite look like?
• Is there such a thing as a perfect teeth bite?
• What is the difference between comprehensive and cosmetic orthodontics?

Let’s jump right in!

#1 What is a dental bite?

Simply put, the bite is the way your upper and lower teeth fit together. With an optimal bite, your upper teeth fit slightly over your lower ones, while the back teeth fit neatly into each other – just like the pieces of a puzzle.

If your bite is uneven, that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s a problem. It can mean that some of your teeth are subject to more jaw forces than other teeth. However, there are some extreme cases that should certainly be treated:

• extreme overbite
• extreme underbite

The reason these two bites should be fixed is that they are unbalanced, causing teeth to wear down unevenly over time, which can lead to other dental issues.

#2 Your teeth bite is unique…just like your fingerprints!

Before addressing any teeth bite problems, it is important to understand that your bite is just as unique as you! We all have different characteristics and there’s no exception when it comes to our jaws, teeth sizes, and the way teeth meet.

Taking into consideration the uniqueness of each individual person’s bite, each case needs to be treated individually – there is no one-size-fits-all solution. In fact, a standardised solution like this would be quite dangerous. 

Speaking of teeth straightening treatment, there are two different main methods available: comprehensive and cosmetic orthodontics. Let’s take a closer look.

#3 Comprehensive VS cosmetic dentistry

While both methods seek to create a straight looking smile overall, comprehensive and cosmetic approaches differ in the scope of treatment:

3.1 Comprehensive dentistry

As the name suggests, this method can cover a range of dental issues. If you want to improve both the function and appearance of your teeth, comprehensive orthodontics may be the solution for you. It makes use of a number of techniques ranging from non-invasive to invasive procedures.

Most commonly, you would have fixtures attached to your teeth, such as attachments for invisible aligners, or brackets for fixed braces. In some more extreme cases, treatment could include the extraction of one or more teeth, or even jaw surgery.

3.2 Cosmetic dentistry

If you only want to improve the appearance of your smile, cosmetic teeth straightening may be the right choice. This method was designed to achieve a balanced smile by creating enough space for teeth to move and rotate into the right position, which can be done using invisible aligners in a non-invasive way.

In general terms, aligners will mainly focus on improving your smile. As a byproduct, your dental bite adapts to the changes, but this is not the main focus of your treatment, nor is your treatment plan designed with the goal of making specific changes to your bite.

Straight Teeth Direct – a cosmetic dentistry example:

The purpose of Straight Teeth Direct aligners is to improve your smile, not your bite. Aligner treatment is therefore planned in a way that transforms your smile to its best, naturally straightest position, while still preserving the functionality of your bite.

3.3 Comprehensive or cosmetic dentistry: which to choose?

To choose between the two options,  you need to understand your smile goals. Once you know exactly what it is that you want for your smile, you will be able to look into the available treatment options. For example, cosmetic teeth straightening with invisible aligners is even available as an entirely remote option through companies like Straight Teeth Direct.

With Straight Teeth Direct, your smile safety comes first, so every at-home aligner journey starts with a free online consultation. This gives you the chance to share your smile goals, as well as pictures of your current smile and any relevant dental history information. Dentists review this to confirm your suitability for cosmetic dentistry, and they will continue to monitor your case throughout treatment to ensure you achieve your smile goals!

#4 So…do aligners change your bite?

Aligners can indeed change your bite, but that is not their purpose and they cannot be used exclusively to fix your bite. Throughout and after treatment, your bite will adapt to the tooth movement created by the aligners.

Remember: your teeth will be in a new (straighter!) position, so it’s entirely normal for your bite to feel different. It is nothing to worry about and your mouth will adapt to these changes over time. During this adaptation phase, your teeth are settling into place. At this point, it is absolutely necessary to begin using retainers: both to allow your teeth to settle and to protect them from shifting out of alignment again in the future.