How to Know If Invisalign is Right For Me?

27

Nov

When meeting people, they first notice your smile regardless of the circumstances. Therefore, you should begin by improving your smile so that you feel and look good. Sadly, tooth misalignment due to genetic predisposition or oral conditions can hinder the quality of your smile, leaving you highly conscious. Orthodontic solutions have considerably advanced, making it easy to continue your everyday life while changing your smile.

One popular and effective orthodontic treatment is Invisalign, which offers multiple benefits over conventional orthodontic solutions like braces and brackets. If you are investigating Invisalign, you must wonder if the treatment suits you. Determining your eligibility for the treatment requires consideration of several factors and consultation with a professional.

Invisalign Overview

The Invisalign system utilizes a series of clear, removable plastic trays or aligners that gradually adjust your bite or occlusion to restore proper tooth alignment. The aligners' clear or transparent nature makes them virtually invisible, so even someone near you cannot notice them.

Many people avoid traditional orthodontic solutions like metal braces because they are mouthful and unattractive, which could interfere with daily activities and appearances. However, with Invisalign, you continue avoiding all the disadvantages of braces. Invisalign is a procedure you can trust for quality outcomes, primarily because your orthodontist will evaluate all factors that could affect the efficacy of the treatment and find solutions.

While you believe clear aligners are the solution to your orthodontic problem, you must know that if your tooth misalignment condition is in advanced stages, Invisalign will not help as it fixes mild and moderate misalignment. In these situations, you will turn to traditional solutions like metal braces. Before commencing treatment, ensure you undergo a thorough oral evaluation to establish the extent of misalignment for optimum results.

The Significance of Invisalign

Metal braces are critical in tooth realignment as they use archwires to push teeth to their desired positions. If you are a candidate for the treatment, your orthodontist will craft a treatment tailored to ensure your teeth shift to the desired position and have proper spacing. Before the treatment begins, your orthodontist performs multiple tests, including X-rays and physical assessments.

The goal of Invisalign is the same as that of metal braces: to realign moderately misaligned teeth. The two treatments only differ in terms of design. Invisalign is made of tooth aligners that mimic the natural structure of your teeth but are slightly altered to shift teeth to the correct position. 

The clear aligners are made of durable plastic, keeping you comfortable, unlike metal braces, whose arch wires can cause discomfort in the teeth and gums. Aligners are tailored to meet the patient’s specific needs. Therefore, because your needs are unique, no aligners resemble those of another patient.

Similarly, because of the varying dental needs, Invisalign procedures differ. You could be required to change the Invisalign after two weeks, while another patient changes it after four weeks. Every time the aligners change, they come in a different fit or size to push the teeth further toward the desired direction. Even though the approaches and timelines differ, the objective is to shift teeth in the predetermined position.

Your plates are susceptible to breaking. Therefore, your dentist will provide you with storage cases to safeguard the plates from damage or breakage. You should properly care for the aligners to avoid extra costs and achieve the desired goal.

Invisalign Candidacy

Orthodontists approve Invisalign for teenagers and adults with fully erupted permanent teeth who can adhere to the dental professional's instructions. Discipline is critical in this treatment because you must wear the aligners for at least 22 hours daily to achieve the desired results. Again, you should avoid certain foods and beverages because they could stain your aligners. Following the dentist’s instructions determines the outcome of the treatment.

Therefore, when considering clear aligners, you should consult an orthodontist to understand the procedures, their merits and demerits, and your expectations. Only after you have understood the method can you determine if it suits you. Additionally, your dentist will evaluate the condition of your teeth to establish whether the treatment is suitable.

The elements you should consider to determine if Invisalign is suitable for you are:

The Kind of Teeth Misalignment You Seek to Address

Many problems relating to self-consciousness stem from the smile. One primary factor that makes people highly conscious of their smile is misaligned teeth, which lead to additional and severe oral conditions when left untreated. The type of tooth misalignment you suffer from depends on your oral habits, like thumbing, injuries, or genetic predisposition. The orthodontic solution for each misalignment differs, so you must start by identifying your kind of misalignment to find the appropriate treatment.

Visit an orthodontist or general dentist near you for an oral evaluation. After a thorough examination, the dentist can identify the misalignment type, its cause, and the most appropriate treatment. The typical mild oral problems you can fix using Invisalign are overjets, tooth gaps, overcrowded teeth, and crooked teeth.

Teeth overcrowding happens when you have a tiny jawbone that cannot accommodate all your teeth. Teeth crowding causes some to grow outside the jawline. The spaces between the crowded teeth act as perfect grounds for plaque accumulation, leading to harmful bacteria breeding. The presence of harmful bacteria in the mouth exposes you to several oral concerns, like periodontitis, tooth decay, and cavities. The conditions develop because you cannot sufficiently clean the teeth' enamel when brushing to remove all the plaque and debris. The only way to address the problem is to talk to an orthodontist to align the teeth and fix the overlaps, making it easy and efficient to brush teeth.

Another misalignment type is an overbite. Also called an overjet, the oral concern occurs when the lower anterior teeth overlap or bite over the upper anterior teeth. The misalignment problem adversely affects your appearance and facial structure because the teeth tend to protrude, making it difficult to close the mouth and appear older than your actual age. Overjets happen due to the constant pushing of the tongue against the front teeth when the mouth is closed. It could also stem from overcrowding, where you have excess teeth in the mouth, forcing others to push protrude. Even though overbites do not cause severe pain, the protrusion of the teeth can make you uncomfortable. So, when having problems closing your mouth because of an overjet, Invisalign is the right orthodontic solution to the oral concern.

An underbite is a misalignment type that you can fix with clear aligners. An underbite is a condition where the anterior teeth in the lower jaw push further forward than those in the upper jaw, causing pain when speaking or eating as the teeth clash. The clashing exposes you to dangers like chipping or cracking. Invisalign moves the misaligned teeth to the proper position, preventing clashing.

Crooked teeth are another type of tooth misalignment that you can address using clear aligners. The condition happens when you have extra permanent teeth, causing some to grow outside the jawbone line. Thankfully, your orthodontist can formulate a treatment that pushes the teeth into the desired line, enhancing your appearance and preventing other oral concerns.

Besides, you should consider Invisalign if you have teeth gaps or spaces. Widely spaced teeth allow food particles and debris to build up, creating a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. When the bacteria spread to the gums, it causes oral conditions like gum disease or dental abscesses. You can close these gaps or reduce the spacing through clear aligners, pushing the spaced teeth close together. 

Crossbite is the last form of misalignment you can fix using transparent aligners. It combines an overjet and underbite and stems from overlapping teeth in the upper and lower jaws. The misaligned teeth clash a lot, exposing your gums to harm. Also, attempts to prevent the crossbite by adjusting your mouth so that the teeth do not crash can affect the jawline. Thankfully, when you wear the plastic transparent aligners, they give immediate protection to the teeth and gradually move them to the correct position, preventing clashing. 

You Prefer Fewer Dental Visits

Metal braces are hectic because of the multiple visits to the dental office to adjust the archwires. If you have a tight schedule, these various appointments can be inconvenient. Furthermore, your schedule could lead you to skip some scheduled meetings. If you skip the alignment, you will delay the treatment, translating to a more extended treatment duration. Apart from the adjustments, you will require frequent appointments to replace the braces, as they are susceptible to breakages and damage, significantly if you do not drop the foods and beverages your dentist warns you against.

Thankfully, you can avoid these multiple visits to the dental clinic by opting for a clear aligner or Invisalign. The procedure involves fewer treatments, usually once or twice a month, and only lasts for a short period as they entail replacing the existing aligners with new ones with a tighter fit.

Fixing teeth misalignment using clear aligners is simple, thanks to the advancements in dental technology. The orthodontic solution does not start immediately. First, you should arrange a meeting with your dental expert to explain your expectations from the start to the end of the procedure. Also, they will give a rough estimation of the treatment duration, which is considerably shorter than braces. Again, the meeting is the appropriate time to raise any concerns you have regarding the treatment.

After the consultation, the orthodontist will perform a thorough oral evaluation to ensure that the health of your gums and teeth is suitable for Invisalign. Once the dentist is comfortable with the health of your teeth for the procedure, they will take dimensional measurements of your teeth and mouth using a unique mold that makes an impression of the teeth. The mold replicates your teeth, which the dentist uses to design your aligners.

However, many dentists today prefer using X-rays and 3D images to capture clear photographs of your mouth and teeth. The advantage of these images is that they can be manipulated using a computer to pre-design aligners for future treatment. Technology has made the design of aligners fast as you await your next appointment.

Once your aligners are ready, you will be prepared for the next visit when fitting happens. The clear aligners are tailored to meet the size and shape of your teeth with the help of 3D imaging or special molds. Invisalign is about correctly aligning your teeth to the correct position. Therefore, after placing the first aligners, you should expect regular meetings to adjust the fit. The average time your teeth shift towards the proper position is two to four weeks. Therefore, you should expect to make dental visits within these periods for new aligners. Your dentist will only call you in two to four weeks to find out how you are progressing. They will only require you in the office to replace the existing plastic trays with new ones, which will take only a few minutes.

On average, the Invisalign process requires twenty to thirty aligners to complete. For the desired results to be attained within the duration, you must wear the aligners for at least twenty-two hours a day. This means you can only remove the plates when brushing or eating. It shows that you require discipline to achieve results with clear aligners.

Changing your aligners every two or three weeks is a lot of appointments to the dentist. However, some dentists will allow you to carry extra aligners so you do not visit every two weeks. They will only call during this time to establish how the treatment progresses. Primarily, you only require three appointments. The first is for the evaluation of your teeth and making an impression. The second is for placing the first aligner, and the last will assess the teeth to see if the desired results have been attained. These are very few visits compared to the typical braces, where you must appear in the dentist’s office to adjust braces. So, when looking for an orthodontist solution with fewer dental appointments, Invisalign is right for you.

You Want an Inconspicuous or Discreet Orthodontic Solution

Metal braces are conspicuous and draw a lot of attention. You cannot keep the treatment a secret because everyone can notice the braces, even from a distance. Therefore, to avoid this negative attention, you should opt for clear aligners, as they mimic the shape and size of your teeth. Their clear nature means that they assume the color of your natural teeth, making them unnoticeable.

When you are in a profession like acting or are a TV personnel and you want to undergo an orthodontic procedure to fix your teeth without people noticing, clear aligners are the best option as you maintain the beauty of your smile without drawing any negative attention.

However, you must regularly clean the plastic plates to prevent discoloration that could make your aligners unattractive. Discoloration will not be a significant problem because you will replace the aligners with new ones every two weeks. Also, the fact that you remove them when eating means the risk of staining or discoloration is minimal.

Before exiting the dentist’s office, ensure you have instructions on how to wear braces and clean them to keep them clear throughout the treatment.

You are Looking for Comfort

3D imaging to capture the impressions of your teeth to be used to design your plates means that the measurements of your final aligners will be accurate and will comfortably fit in your mouth, preventing discomfort. Besides, the serried design ensures the teeth adjustment is gentle and gradual, avoiding the pressure and pain linked with conventional braces.

Similarly, when you opt for Invisalign, you avoid the scratching and scarring caused by archwires used in metal braces. The abrasions happen on the inner lips because they are soft and in direct contact with the braces. Luckily, when you use Invisalign, you will not have to deal with scratching. Aligners are smooth plastic trays that are gentle on your soft tissues and fit perfectly on the teeth.

Also, because braces are unremovable, you must avoid some foods because eating them exposes you to a heightened risk of abrasion. However, when you wear aligners, you do not have to restrict your diet to avoid injuring your mouth. Aligners are removable, meaning you can remove them when eating to prevent discomfort. Furthermore, you can remove them when brushing, enabling you to maintain proper oral hygiene. The appliances can also be cleaned to keep them clear and appealing. All these features that aligners possess promote comfort and are, therefore, more suitable than metal braces.

Find a Competent Orthodontist Near Me

When considering orthodontic solutions, particularly Invisalign, you should understand the pros and cons of the treatment. It means you must investigate the procedure and understand everything about it. If you have questions, consult an experienced Invisalign dentist to discuss your case. At The Whittier Dentist, we have the best orthodontist who will explain clear aligners, the benefits, and how to achieve the best results. Call us at 562-632-1223 for a no-obligation consultation.