Do You Make a Good Invisalign Candidate?
Braces are slowly starting to become a thing of the past with all the new options out there! Read more to learn if you make a good Invisalign candidate now!
Because the majority of people are afraid of going to the dentist, scientists struggle to even quantify the problem and suss out the details. Even if you take care of your teeth, there might be reasons why you want to change your smile or straighten it. If you’re looking to get it done quickly, easily, and discreetly, finding out if you’re an Invisalign candidate can be a great place to start.
Here is everything you need to know to decide.
Get To Know Your Smile
We all have something that we don’t love about the way we look. Much of the time it’s a genetic or familial trait that would require more trouble than it’s worth to fix. However, when it comes to our smile, there are a lot of options when you want to turn it into a smile that makes us proud.
If you have a major orthodontic issue, you might not be able to fix it with Invisalign. Major issues require advanced procedures that can include shifting and resetting your jaw.
For anyone who has a minor issue with teeth that are only slightly gapped, they could be a good candidate. Crowded teeth are another case where Invisalign can help out.
Anyone with an overbite or underbite would need to talk to an Invisalign specialist first. Some bite issues can be fixed with Invisalign but most require you to have some combination of orthodontics and a retainer.
Orthodontists can tell you all about the alternative treatment options that you have. You could get some treatment and then use Invisalign to work out the final details to get the smile you’re looking for.
How Age Plays a Role
If you’re not the right age, Invisalign isn’t for you. It’s not meant for small children and younger teenagers. The reason that orthodontists apply braces at this age is that the teeth are still growing and can be wrestled into place with a malleable frame that braces provide.
Invisalign is popular with many older people because it’s transparent. Older teens and fully grown professional adults don’t necessarily want to walk around with braces on during their workday. They might prefer something they can pop in and pop out at a moment’s notice.
Teenagers are often uncomfortable with having to worry about braces. When going through those awkward but important milestones like dating and prom, some older teens would prefer to use Invisalign. This helps them with their confidence and their ability to remove them in important moments or for important events.
While adults often have more confidence, there’s something that feels infantilizing about wearing braces. Even if you’re comfortable with having to fix your teeth, you might not want to always be wearing something teenagers wear. Adults who want to fix their teeth are big fans of options like Invisalign.
Are You Dedicated?
While Invisalign offers you the ability to take out your retainers when you need to, this is a blessing and a curse. Braces can’t be removed without serious time in a dentist’s chair. However, you have total control over the time that you spend aligning your teeth.
You have to remove your aligners when it’s time to eat or when you drink anything but water. Trapping anything underneath them could damage both your teeth and the aligners. If you allow sugars to get under the aligners and hit your teeth, it could rot them.
Your aligners should be worn 22 hours a day. However, are you going to wear them all the time? If you don’t think that you have the self-control to put them in and take them out at the right time, you need to reconsider.
You might not be the best candidate in this case.
However, if you’re willing to be strict and not neglect your treatment, then you could benefit from alignment greatly. Teeth begin to shift in just a matter of hours. If you don’t wear your aligners for long enough, you could undo the work that’s being done.
Take the Smile Assessment
If you really want to know whether or not Invisalign is right for you, they have a tool on their website to help figure out whether you’re a good candidate. All you have to do is to provide a little bit of information and talk about what you want to correct. The quick assessment that they do will help you understand whether you’re a good candidate.
It’s always good to have a second opinion, even if you think you’re the perfect candidate. You might also find that your treatment could be quicker and easier than you first thought it was. You won’t know until you take an assessment.
However, you should be aware that an online assessment only has so much information to provide you with. You’ll need a professional orthodontist to look at your mouth to make an accurate assessment. With their help and guidance, you can ensure that you get the right course of treatment to get the smile that you’re looking for.
You’re Probably A Good Invisalign Candidate
If you’re still wondering whether or not you’re a good Invisalign candidate, you should know that you probably are. So long as you’re disciplined and dedicated to straightening your smile, you should be able to sign up and get your aligners in a matter of weeks.
If you want a thorough assessment of your smile, your bite, and how Invisalign could work for you, contact us today.