You may have already heard of Invisalign, a modern alternative to traditional orthodontic braces which uses a series of clear plastic aligners to move the teeth. Since Invisalign has many significant benefits over traditional braces, many of our patients are interested in the treatment. However, not every smile is a good fit for Invisalign, and certain circumstances might require the traditional method.
Only your dentist can determine whether Invisalign is right for you, but here are some signs we look for when assessing whether a patient is a good candidate.
Dental Issues Helped by Invisalign
Generally, Invisalign is best-suited for patients with mind dental and orthodontic issues, such as:
- Mildly crooked teeth
- Protruding teeth
- Mild overbites
- Mild underbites
- Wide gaps in the teeth
- Overcrowding of teeth
- Mild open bites (teeth that do not touch when the mouth is closed)
- Mild crossbites (when the upper and lower teeth are misaligned)
When Invisalign May Not the Best Choice
Invisalign is usually not recommended for harsher dental issues, especially issues that require the jaw alignment to be corrected, such as extreme overbites and underbites. . Invisalign aligners can move crooked teeth, but they do not have the ability to actually shift a person’s jaw into a different position.
Invisalign is also generally not recommended for children. This is because juvenile teeth are still growing and have not reached their final stage of development. Children also generally do not have the dedication or self-control to successfully finish the Invisalign treatment. Since the Invisalign trays can be easily removed at any time, and since all tooth realignment will cause some soreness, it is usually very difficult for children to keep the trays in for the recommended 22 hours per day they should be worn.
Get Invisalign and More at our Apex NC Dentist Office
If you live in the Raleigh, Cary, or Apex NC area, and are interested in correcting your smile with Invisalign, stop by Hansen Dentistry for a consultation. Dr. Hansen will examine your teeth and determine whether Invisalign is a good treatment option for you. Remember that only an experienced dentist should make this decision—if you have already decided that you don’t qualify for Invisalign, you might be wrong!
To schedule a dentist appointment with us, click here.
