Am I a Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign is a treatment that uses clear trays to align your teeth. The trays cover your teeth and gently pull them into the proper position. As custom-made molds of your teeth, they will fit and shape your teeth. With time, as your teeth change, you will receive updated trays. It will continue until you achieve your dream smile.
Unlike metal braces, there are no wires or metal brackets. They are a comfortable, effective, and discreet treatment for aligning your teeth.
What Makes a Good Candidate?
To know if you are a good candidate for Invisalign, you need to answer some questions. These questions will act as a guideline.
Is Your Problem Straightforward?
Invisalign aligners do not apply to severe issues. The issues that Invisalign deals effectively with include mild overbites and underbites and protruding teeth. It also works for gaps in teeth, mildly crooked teeth, and overcrowded teeth.
If your case is severe, you may need to settle for another treatment option. You may have to try the traditional metal braces.
Do You Have All Your Adult Teeth?
Most orthodontists will not recommend this treatment to you if you do not have all your adult teeth. Children’s teeth are still growing; hence, it is unpredictable how they will grow. Invisalign may not be the best way to align their teeth.
However, older teenagers and adults prefer it. Invisalign aligners do not get in the way of the social life of older teenagers. They would, therefore, really enjoy them. A top reason adults would love them is that, unlike metal braces, Invisalign is clear. It would not make them look like a teenager.
Are You Responsible?
You must commit to removing and wearing your Invisalign aligners. Otherwise, it is not the solution for you. Invisalign aligners require you to wear them for at least 22 hours a day. You can remove them to eat, drink, or brush your teeth.
You need to be responsible and remember to return the aligners after doing what you need to do. You must be responsible or your teeth will shift back into their previous position. Without care and responsibility, Invisalign will not be effective.
Do You Have Good Oral Hygiene?
Good oral hygiene is important for Invisalign so that you do not get infections or other issues. You need to clean your Invisalign aligners at regular intervals. If you can, brush after every meal so that food does not get in your teeth and your aligners.
Another part of your oral health is ensuring you do not smoke. Since your aligners are in for most of the day, smoking may make them dirty or interfere with them. If you keep removing them to smoke, they may not be as effective as they should be.
Take your time to consider the benefits of having Invisalign. Align them to your preferences and find out what the pros and cons are for you. If you do not have complex issues, Invisalign is a good option for teeth alignment.
For more information on Invisalign, visit Robert A. Rees, DDS, at our office in La Jolla, California. You can call (858) 454-6181 to schedule an appointment today.