Invisalign is the perfect way to fix common alignment and bite issues when you don’t want the burden of having metal braces. These plastic aligners are custom made for your teeth and involve a series of trays that move your teeth into place slowly over time. Although Invisalign is great for some patients, it’s not effective for everyone. Here are some of the most common ways to determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Your orthodontist can assist you further by examining your teeth and talking with you about your options!
Alignment and Bite Problems
What issues are you looking to fix with your teeth? If you have common problems like an overbite or crowded teeth, Invisalign can easily fix these problems. However, if you have complex bite issues or misalignment problems that are too severe, metal braces may be your only option to properly address these conditions.
Invisalign can treat a variety of bites included overbites, underbites, and even crossbites. Invsialign can also pull gapped teeth together and push crowded teeth apart. Talk with your orthodontist about what issues need to be fixed. This will be a major determining factor in whether or not Invisalign is right for you!
Your Age
Many people don’t realize that their age can be an issue in their Invisalign candidacy. This is because children younger than 13 often still have teeth coming in. Of course, this will depend on your unique smile, but if you’re younger than 13 years of age, Invisalign likely won’t work for your case. Teenagers that have all of their adult teeth in as well as adults make great candidates for Invisalign. Your orthodontist can take a look at your teeth to determine if Invisalign would properly fix your issues without your age being a problem!
Level of Commitment
Invisalign aligners require a level of commitment that braces don’t. This is for a few reasons:
You control when you wear Invisalign. Since Invisalign aligners are fully removable, you need to be committed to wearing them for the proper amount of time every day—at least 20-22 hours.
Invisalign takes a little longer. Invisalign doesn’t put quite as much force on your teeth as traditional braces do, so the treatment period may be a little longer. This means you need to be committed to wearing your Invisalign for the required amount of treatment time.
Wearing a retainer. After your teeth are fixed, you’ll need to wear a retainer to ensure they don’t shift over time. Orthodontists recommend wearing the retainer every night for life! If you can’t commit to wearing the retainer, treatment is often futile.
People love Invisalign because it gives them the option of having removable aligners that they wear when they want. It also eliminates the appearance of metal braces, which many people associate with teenagers. Invisalign also offers no food restrictions since they’re fully removable. Are you interested in having Invisalign aligners to perfect your smile? Talk to your dentist about this attractive option!
