Your software plans 3 mm of intrusion. The patient achieves 1.7 mm. A 2026 systematic review found that clear aligners typically deliver only 50-60% of planned lower incisor intrusion in deep-bite cases. The movement is real. The predictability gap is real too. This article explores what that means for case selection, treatment planning and why many deep-bite refinements can be predicted before the first aligner is delivered.

Overcorrection is a topic that often arises in conversations with colleagues who, like us, work with clear aligners. It’s a concept borrowed from fixed appliances, where the idea is to anticipate and counteract limitations in movement predictability by applying extra force or modifying the appliance. While this approach has its place in traditional orthodontics, applying the same mindset to clear aligners can lead to challenges that may compromise treatment outcomes. What is