Some people shy away from needed orthodontic treatment because they don’t like the look of metal braces. With this in mind, the makers of the Invisalign® system developed a virtually invisible but still effective way to reposition teeth to optimize the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment while minimizing the look of wearing any appliances – invisible aligners.
If your smile is less than perfect because of crowded or crooked teeth, you have a right to be concerned. Crooked teeth may not only be unsightly but the tight spacing traps food particles which may contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. If your teeth do not meet correctly, those bite alignment issues may cause premature tooth wear and contribute to joint disorders of the jaw. You can spare yourself these problems and more by seeing Lansdowne Orthodontics to address concerns about correcting your bite.
Could Invisalign work for you? Chances are that it may. The system works well with many bite problems and is appropriate for use by patients with all their adult teeth. Let’s examine some of the other criteria that lead to successful Invisalign treatments.
Mild to moderate orthodontic conditions
If you have minor or moderate teeth alignment problems, then Invisalign may be ideal for you. Minor problems include teeth spaced too far apart or some teeth spaced too closely. Moderate problems can include spacing, crooked teeth or certain teeth sized disproportionately that require appropriate spacing for caps or crowns. While there are some major orthodontic problems that aren’t advisable for Invisalign, most people have conditions that are ideal for Invisalign correction.
Problems with jaw discrepancies or jaw size are usually too severe for correction with aligners. Severely impacted permanent teeth that require surgical exposure may also be too severe a problem for correction with aligners. Congenitally missing permanent teeth may present another major problem that may be too severe for Invisalign correction.
The best way to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign is to schedule an orthodontic evaluation that will reveal whether your orthodontic problems are too severe and complicated or simple and straightforward and ideal for correction with Invisalign.
Nearly invisible appearance
While it may not matter to some younger patients, some teen and adults may be very concerned with the look of metal or even clear braces. Some teens and adults may have serious reservations about comments from their peers or being taken less seriously, or even having others think they are much younger than they are (not always a bad thing). While any stigma attached to wearing braces is largely fading as more adults seek correction for teeth alignment issues, Invisalign side steps any concerns of how the orthodontic process affects your appearance. The clear aligner trays are almost invisible and very hard to detect.
Invisalign aligner trays are made from a clear, rigid thermoplastic and they resemble close-fitting teeth whitening trays. These appliances secure firmly into place, and they’re safe to use throughout the day, including while you sleep. Secure, effective and barely noticeable, Invisalign clear aligner trays may be the perfect choice for your perfect smile.
Speed, convenience, and comfort
Another advantage for Invisalign clear aligners is that while conventional braces require frequent adjustments with frequent trips to the orthodontist, your Invisalign treatment may require fewer visits. The Invisalign aligners are made in sequence. Using a series of progressive aligner trays, each tray nudges your teeth toward the next stage of treatment. Wearing one aligner tray for about two weeks, 20 to 22 hours a day, moves your teeth into position for the next aligner in the progression. In many cases, you can change to the next aligner trays yourself. You’ll only need monitoring appointments about every six weeks. With consistent daily wear, Invisalign treatment often proceeds very quickly through completion of treatment.
Invisalign trays snap out for easy, frequent brushing of your teeth. The trays may also be removed for eating, so no dietary restrictions; you can eat your all of your favorite foods. Conventional braces are not removable and require more attention to dental hygiene since there are so many more places to trap food. There are dietary restrictions with conventional braces as well. With conventional braces, at times the metal bands and brackets may irritate your cheeks or come loose, requiring an emergency visit for re-cementing. These problems are never an issue with Invisalign. When patients are diligent about wearing (not losing) their clear aligners as directed, their treatment progresses as planned.
The cost of Invisalign is about the same as conventional orthodontic treatment and many (not all) dental insurance plans cover Invisalign treatment. With all these advantages to offer, contact Lansdowne Orthodontics today to learn more about how Invisalign may provide that beautiful new picture perfect smile while no one notices.
