Who Is a Candidate for Invisalign?

Invisalign is the revolutionary orthodontic system made of clear removable aligners which gradually shift your teeth over time. While most people prefer Invisalign over braces for a variety of reasons, not everyone is a good candidate for Invisalign. Read on in this blog from Khanani Family Dental to find out what makes someone a good candidate for Invisalign.

You’re In Good Oral Health

Before we can explore any orthodontic treatment for your teeth, you shouldn't have any active oral health problems like tooth decay or gum disease. If you have dealt with gum disease in the past, you need restorative treatments to restore your gums before undergoing Invisalign. 

Gum disease can destroy your gums and underlying bone tissue which can make shifting the teeth very problematic and unsafe. You should also inform us of any dental restorations you have like bridges, crowns, or implants. 

This does not rule you out for Invisalign, but it can impact your treatment. Invisalign can also aggravate TMJ so this should be treated before shifting the teeth. Someone with no oral health problems and who practices good oral hygiene is an excellent candidate for Invisalign. 

You Will Comply With Treatment 

By far the biggest issue we run into with patients who undergo Invisalign is the infrequent wearing of aligners. This is why Invisalign is recommended almost exclusively to adults. Younger patients are less likely to follow directions and will not get the results that they were hoping for as a result. 

You need to wear your aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day. You receive new aligners every 2 weeks and failure to wear your aligners for this long will cause your next set of aligners to be too tight. They might not fit at all. 

You have a digitally mapped-out treatment plan that should go according to schedule and if your aligners don’t fit, you will be extending the length of treatment. It’s also important that you don’t wear your aligners when you eat or drink and don’t run them under hot water. 

Cleaning your aligners frequently is just as important as cleaning your teeth. Aligners can become stained, damaged, and trap bacteria if you don’t look after them.

You Have Minor Orthodontic Issues

Invisalign can correct the following problems:

• Overcrowding
• Crooked teeth
• Small gaps
• Minor bite problems

Clear aligners are very effective at correcting minor to moderate problems like small gaps or crooked teeth. It can even correct a misaligned bite with the help of Invisalign attachments. However, severe malocclusions are better off being treated with braces. Braces are a lot more forceful and can perform more complex tooth movements. You will be able to correct severe alignment issues faster with braces. Invisalign is best suited for orthodontic problems that are mostly cosmetic.

You Don’t Want to Wear Braces

Let’s face it, braces aren’t the most comfortable or pretty things in the world. Many of our patients loathe the idea of wearing metal brackets and wires that attract attention to the very part of their face they feel most insecure. 

They also make it very difficult to clean your teeth and cause a lot of pain and soreness. Because Invisalign is clear, removable, and made of plastic, they go completely unnoticed, are much more hygienic, and place gentler pressure on the teeth. 

Instead of having a ton of restrictions on your diet, you can eat whatever you want, so long as you remove your aligners first. You can brush and floss your teeth with no problem because no brackets are in the way. 

Schedule Your Clear Aligners Consultation Today!

If you’ve read through this list and still aren’t sure if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, you can come in for a consultation so our dentists in Holden can assess your orthodontic case and we can give you a prognosis of how long it would take to correct. Contact us at Khanani Family Dental to schedule an appointment with Dr. Khanani.