Are Invisalign Aligners Right for Your Teeth? Find Out Now

Are Invisalign Aligners Right for Your Teeth? Find Out Now

Remember dreading the teeth straightening journey with braces when you were young? Words like unattractive, uncomfortable, and painful would instantly creep into your head. Luckily, orthodontic treatments have had many technological advancements to give you a perfect smile and a flawless bite.

Today if you try asking anyone with a newly done, straight, and beautiful smile; chances are they underwent a teeth-straightening treatment with Invisalign aligners. You can consider them to be God-sent invisible braces that can align your crooked teeth without giving you the undesired discomfort that comes with the metal braces.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment which involves custom-fit clear trays that are fixed on your teeth to help you improve mild to moderately misaligned teeth and also the bite. It does so by moving your teeth into proper alignment gradually when worn for at least 22 hours a day. The aligner is made from a flexible thermoplastic material that uses SmartTrack™ technology. Invisalign aligners can fix malocclusion types, such as overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite, and crowded teeth.

These invisible braces are great for teenagers above the age of 14 as well as adults. Here’s something super interesting and useful: Invisalign for teens comes with color indicators that fade away after 2 weeks of wear, thus helping them follow the treatment efficiently. How long does one have to wear the aligners, you ask? Well, the treatment duration varies depending on the malocclusion complexity in patients. However, it usually takes 6 to 18 months in most cases.

Pros and Cons of Invisalign:

Pros of Invisalign

  1. Comfortable material – Invisalign aligners are made of BPA-free plastic which is extremely lightweight and moves your teeth with control and 75% more predictability.
  2. Virtually invisible – No more covering your mouth with your hands in public with these invisible braces.
  3. Easy to clean – Unlike metal braces, Invisalign doesn’t have brackets and wires. Therefore, you can clean them just by brushing and rinsing them with lukewarm water.
  4. Removable – Want to enjoy your favorite food without any restrictions? You can do that simply by removing your aligners and wearing them again after you’re done.
  5. No sharp brackets – The Invisalign structure doesn’t have any sharp brackets, so you can play sports without worrying about your cheeks, gums, or tongue rubbing against the metal brackets or broken wires.
  6. Pain-free – The pain caused by Invisalign is usually mild and short-lived. But any discomfort will be lesser than the traditional braces.
  7. Fewer check-ups – Got a busy schedule? Then Invisalign is suitable for you as it requires fewer visits to the orthodontist.

Cons of Invisalign

  1. Requires compliance – Invisalign aligners must be worn for at least 22 hours a day to see on-time results and only be removed before eating food or drinking beverages (except water). You need to clean your teeth thoroughly before wearing your aligners again to prevent the growth of bacteria.
  2. Food limitations – Although one can eat anything as long as the aligners are removed before consuming food, some people may experience tooth soreness when the aligner is removed. This can limit their food choices, for example, chewing hard food items may be slightly uncomfortable.
  3. Invisalign cost –The cost of Invisalign treatment would vary from case to case based on the difficulty, goals, and duration. In case the cost of the treatment falls on the higher side, you can always take help from your personal or employer-offered dental insurance plan, dental savings plan, or HMOs. You can also ask your orthodontist if they have any flexible payment plan options.
  4. Unsuitability in complex cases – Invisalign is not suitable for someone with a deeply misaligned bite or other more complex issues. You must consult your orthodontist to decide if Invisalign is the right treatment for your dental problem.
  5. Attachments – For some patients, Invisalign might come with added attachments to help grip and move the teeth into place which might make it look like you are wearing braces.

Is Invisalign the Right Treatment for You?

Although Invisalign is ideal for teenagers above 14 years of age (as long as their second molars have come out and are fully grown), you should know that Invisalign aligners require a certain level of discipline. So, if you are confident about your kid’s ability to take appropriate care of their aligners and not misplace them often, you might want to consider Invisalign for them. It is also a great option for working professionals with busy schedules, and people who are conscious of their appearance in public. Adults who want to speed up their teeth-straightening journey can also benefit from Invisalign.

Invisalign May Not Be the Right Choice for You If:

  1. You have short, round, pegged teeth or those with severe tips
  2. You have overcrowded teeth that may rotate or tilt more than the ideal requirement for Invisalign.
  3. You have more than 6mm of space per arch (top teeth or lower teeth)
  4. You have a midline discrepancy that is larger than 2mm per arch
  5. Your teeth require a lot of movement in or out of the jawbone, especially in the back
  6. You’ve gotten previous dental work like a dental bridge, porcelain veneers, or crowns
  7. You require extractions before or during the treatment

Invisalign is the answer to a lot of dental problems like crooked teeth, crowded teeth, spacing issues, overbite, and other mild to moderate bite issues. It is affordable and more convenient than traditional braces.

To get started on your smile-perfecting journey, consider all the pros and cons of Invisalign and consult your orthodontist to get the best recommendation for straightening out crooked teeth in a way that is ideal for you.

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