Want to straighten your teeth without the harsh feeling and appearance of metal braces? Your dentist can fix some cosmetic dental alignment problems with Invisalign.
Dentists build these translucent plastic aligners on a custom basis for each patient. The patient wears them over their teeth for at least 22 hours each day to gradually push their teeth into the desired straight position.
Many patients appreciate the aligners’ secure yet comfortable fit, their subtle appearance, and the flexibility that comes with Invisalign. But not all patients will benefit from this dental solution. Your dentist can determine if Invisalign is right for you during a dental consultation, but you can also read on to learn what dental issues Invisalign can treat.
Amend Dental Alignment Concerns with Invisalign
Invisalign treatment involves swapping out your custom-made aligners every other week. They gently apply pressure to the teeth and make them move into an aligned smile. Dental alignment issues can manifest in multiple ways, and Invisalign can help with the following:
- Crooked teeth: Many people aspire to have a straight smile. Invisalign can fix minor crookedness in the teeth to achieve your smile aesthetic goals.
- Small gaps between teeth: Gaps between your teeth, even minor ones like black triangles, can disrupt the full, even look of your smile. Invisalign can close these small gaps and enhance your smile’s appearance.
- Bite problems: Invisalign can fix many bite problems, including overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites. This way, you can close your mouth without teeth protruding and negatively impacting your oral function.
- Minor dental crowding: Teeth can overlap one another or twist if there is not enough space in the jaw. In less severe cases, Invisalign can make room for these teeth in the mouth and straighten them.
Limitations to Invisalign Treatment
As mentioned, some dental patients might need alternative treatments like orthodontics to align their smiles. Invisalign can fix many dental alignment concerns, but not all of them.
For instance, majorly crooked teeth, such as severely rotated teeth, might not respond to Invisalign. These aligners will also have trouble closing large gaps between teeth. And if you have teeth that need to be raised or lowered in order to make your smile straight, then Invisalign might not be the right treatment for you.
In the event of extreme crowding in the teeth, the dentist might need to extract a tooth to make room to straighten your smile. A dentist will want to make sure your smile is otherwise healthy before starting Invisalign treatment for best results.
Short, rounded teeth might have trouble fitting into the aligner, which can make Invisalign ineffective for straightening your teeth. If you have existing dental work in your smile, such as an implant, these fixtures will not move with your natural teeth during Invisalign treatment. Consult with your dentist to find the teeth-straightening treatment plan that will give you the healthy, straight smile of your dreams.