Invisalign Lite and scissors bite in your 40s?

Hello,

This is Apgujeong Orthodontic Clinic.

Let me introduce Invisalign Lite and scissors bite in your 40s.

When you are in your 30s or 40s, orthodontic treatment can feel burdensome for anyone.

This is especially true if treatment requires extracting premolars because of protrusion or crowded teeth.

Extraction-based orthodontic treatment usually takes about two years, and considering middle age, it often takes more than two years.

It is also a time when your gums may feel weaker, so the burden feels even greater.

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In cases where extraction is needed, I will show you a simple treatment completed within 10 months using Invisalign Lite by setting a lower treatment goal.

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What the patient wanted to correct was the upper left front tooth from the patient’s perspective, which had come down and protruded.

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The upper teeth cover the lower teeth too much, showing a deep bite, or overbite.

The large molar at the far back indicated by the blue arrow is a scissors bite, where the upper and lower teeth bite in an offset manner.

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From the side, the protrusion of the front teeth is visible.

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You can see that the second molar has tipped toward the tongue.

Because of this, it is not properly occluding with the opposing upper second molar, resulting in a scissors bite.

A condition in which the teeth bite in an offset way like this and do not come together properly is called a scissors bite.

To perfectly improve the molar relationship and protrusion, full orthodontic treatment would be necessary, along with extraction of the premolars, and the treatment period would take at least two years.

The patient’s need was only the upper left front tooth, so they did not want to spend that much time and money.

With Invisalign Lite, we decided to accept what had to be accepted and correct the front teeth within a possible range while also trying to address the scissors bite and protrusion as much as possible.

From March to July 2024, treatment continued over four months, with the first set of 14 aligners changed sequentially every seven days.

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To achieve a clear improvement in the scissors bite, mini-screws were placed in the palate.

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Likewise, mini-screws were placed to firmly upright the far back molar that had tipped over.

A total of two mini-screws were placed.

Invisalign Lite treatment is originally intended for mild malocclusion, so placing mini-screws is not common.

They were placed to achieve the maximum effect within the allowed period.

To further correct the remaining areas, additional appliances were remade, and this is the result after wearing a second set of 14 aligners for four months from August 2024 to December 2024.

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During the second set, to more strongly upright the tipped molar, an MTA appliance was partially attached and a wire was inserted.

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This is the result after treatment was completed.

The deep bite of the front teeth was improved.

Interproximal reduction can reduce the size of black triangles, but it should not be excessive, so a small amount of black triangle remained.

Let’s look at the before and after.

Left - before treatment / Right - after treatment

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Improvement of the protrusion of the front teeth through interproximal reduction

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Improved front tooth alignment and scissors bite

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The tipped molar was successfully uprighted.

Improved lower front tooth alignment through interproximal reduction

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Improvement in overbite and the midline

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If the patient diligently wears the Invisalign aligners and the attending doctor makes various efforts such as mini-screws and partial attachment of mini-tubes,

then even Invisalign Lite can achieve good results in a short period of time with a treatment plan that accepts what must be accepted.

Please visit a nearby orthodontic clinic.