Metal or traditional braces are an effective and reliable way to straighten your teeth, especially when you have a severe misalignment problem. However, they are notorious for being cumbersome and conspicuous, limiting and making most dental patients feel embarrassed to wear them, especially when attending social gatherings or meetings.

Fortunately, if you do not like the appearance of braces, you can use Invisalign as an alternative teeth treatment option. This modern orthodontic treatment option lets you straighten your crooked or misaligned teeth discreetly without people noticing you are undergoing treatment. However, not every patient is an ideal candidate for Invisalign.

If you are unhappy with the aesthetics of your smile when you look in the mirror and wonder whether Invisalign could help, you are in the right place. This article will show that you are an excellent candidate for Invisalign.

Understanding What Invisalign Is in the World of Orthodontic Treatment

Invisalign is a contemporary orthodontic treatment that uses a series of tailor-made, clear plastic aligners to gradually move your misaligned or crooked teeth into their ideal position in the mouth. During your first appointment with your orthodontist, he/she will make a custom dental mold and give you your first tray.

You will wear each set of trays for about two (2) weeks before shifting to the next set of trays in line, gradually shifting your teeth to the correct position.

After a series of trays, your smile will appear straighter, and performing most of your teeth's functions, like chewing, will become easier. That way, you will enjoy the several advantages of braces without wearing them visibly. Notable benefits of Invisalign include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • They are not conspicuous

  • They are comfortable in your mouth

  • They are removable, whether you want to eat, floss, or brush your teeth

  • Their results are predictable

While Invisalign offers many benefits during your orthodontic treatment period, they are only ideal for patients with moderate teeth misalignment problems. Ensure you consult a reliable orthodontist to help determine whether you are an excellent candidate for this revolutionary orthodontic treatment option.

How to Determine Whether You are an Excellent Candidate for Invisalign

Unfortunately, not every orthodontic issue requires braces. Additionally, you should carefully consider your options and comprehend the benefits and drawbacks of each orthodontic treatment before deciding on one. Several adjustments are necessary with Invisalign to help your teeth align smoothly with little maintenance.

Generally speaking, visiting a dentist is advisable if you want to know whether you are an ideal candidate for Invisalign. Sometimes, some signs that could tell you you are an ideal candidate for Invisalign are subtle, but it is vital to act on them immediately. Examples of these signs include:

You Have Bite issues

If your bite does not feel right, Invisalign aligners could be the ideal remedy for your problem. For most patients, teeth misalignment issues are due to misaligned jaws, which cause various bite issues, such as:

  • Crossbites

  • Overbites

  • Underbites

  • Open bites

Each of these conditions causes different tooth misalignment issues. An open bite is one of the most prevalent types of tooth misalignment, where the upper jaw's teeth jut out over the lower jaw's teeth. In addition to affecting the aesthetics of your smile, this issue could cause an unpleasant feeling and make it challenging to bite food.

Crossbites and underbites are also common and can cause problems, like improper chewing ability that makes you repeatedly bite the soft tissue in your mouth. Fortunately, modern orthodontic procedures like Invisalign can treat these conditions and improve the look and functionality of your teeth and smile.

However, your orthodontist might recommend additional treatments, including surgery, to fully correct your jaw misalignment issues in case they are due to other underlying serious conditions. Therefore, having an open mind regarding other treatment avenues is important if Invisalign cannot enhance your bite.

Your Teeth Are Misaligned

Generally speaking, we all deal with different difficulties and feelings of shame, particularly about the appearance of our smiles. One of the most prevalent causes of these experiences is teeth misalignment, which could cause many dental issues.

For instance, wearing Invisalign can help move them nearer to one another when you have gapped teeth. In doing this, you can prevent food particles and debris from being trapped between these gaps, which creates an excellent breeding ground for cavity-causing bacteria.

For other people, the primary concern is teeth crowding, which causes some of your teeth to overlap others and come out beyond the jawline.

If you have crowded teeth, it could cause discomfort when they exert too much pressure on your front teeth. Additionally, crowded or crooked teeth could make it challenging to clean them effectively, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease.

When such issues are minor or moderate, Invisalign trays can create room between your teeth and align them for the perfect and healthy smile you've always wanted.

You Experience Frequent Jaw Pain and Headaches

Crooked teeth can hinder the way your jaws are aligned, causing the following problems:

  • Clenching or bruxism

  • Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder

  • Unexplained neck pain and headaches

Fortunately, your orthodontist will fix this problem by utilizing bespoke Invisalign trays. How long it will take to resolve your issue will depend on its severity and your adherence to the treatment requirements, including having them in your mouth for at least 20 to 22 hours daily.

You Are Embarrassed or Self-Conscious About Your Smile

If you often feel embarrassed or self-conscious about the appearance of your smile, especially when speaking in a public gathering or hanging out with your peers, it could be due to your teeth. In this case, you could benefit emotionally by achieving straighter teeth. Improved self-esteem and confidence are among the most overlooked advantages of this modern orthodontic treatment.

You Previously Wore Braces, But Your Teeth Have Moved Out of Alignment

Relapse after your braces treatment can occur when you fail to wear retainers. Retainers are removable custom-made dental appliances you wear after your orthodontic treatment to help keep your aligned teeth in their new straight position in your mouth. In this case, wearing Invisalign can help correct the minor shifts in your teeth's position.

If you need to correct your teeth alignment without wearing metal braces again, Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment. Invisalign trays can help maintain the straight smile you once had.

You Want a Low-Maintenance Option

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, Invisalign trays are clear and nearly invisible during your treatment period. Hence, they make an excellent orthodontic treatment alternative if you want a metal-free, low-maintenance remedy for misaligned or crooked teeth. Additionally, you can remove them whenever you want to brush your teeth or eat.

Unlike traditional metal braces, treating your teeth misalignment issue using Invisalign requires a few dental appointments for adjustments during the treatment period. For metal braces, frequent dental appointments are key to achieving the straight smile you deserve because your orthodontist must often adjust and tighten the wires as your teeth shift to their correct position.

Additionally, metal wires that make up the traditional braces are prone to breakage, especially when you bite or chew hard foods like candies and nuts. However, you can avoid this issue by opting for Invisalign aligners. You can remove them whenever you want to eat to avoid damaging them, but that does not mean you will not need to visit your orthodontist during the treatment duration.

Even for Invisalign, your orthodontist will require you to schedule an appointment for a new set of aligners after at least two weeks to help you achieve the desired smile appearance.

You Prefer an Inconspicuous and Undetectable Orthodontic Treatment Option

While they are an effective remedy for misaligned teeth, not every patient wants the attention metal braces draw during the orthodontic treatment period. If you want an inconspicuous and more discreet orthodontic treatment, Invisalign aligners would make an excellent option.

These transparent plastic trays usually take the teeth's size and shape with slight modifications to allow space for proper alignment of your smile discreetly. Invisalign is a great orthodontic treatment option for misaligned or crooked teeth if your work or career requires you to be in front of the camera. For example, if you are an actress, news anchor, or actor.

Alternatively, you opt for the Invisalign aligners for personal reasons and preferences. Either way, this modern orthodontic treatment will give you all the vital dental benefits to assist you in achieving an enhanced smile and teeth functions.

You Are Committed to Consistency

The ability to remove Invisalign can be both a boon and a bane, depending on how disciplined you are. As mentioned in the previous sentence, your orthodontist will require you to wear your Invisalign aligners for at least twenty-two (22) hours daily to achieve the desired teeth alignment.

Therefore, you must adhere to your orthodontist's guidelines on how long you must wear your braces daily, even though the Invisalign trays could feel unusual in your mouth for the first couple of days. The success of the Invisalign treatment depends on your consistency and discipline.

Self-discipline when you are on orthodontic treatment using Invisalign aligners involves having a schedule to help you know when to change your dental appliances to prevent any delay in attaining the desired results. Generally speaking, orthodontists recommend replacing your Invisalign trays every two (2) weeks to maintain a continuous and steady adjustment process.

However, your orthodontist could allow you to schedule custom adjustment dates depending on the severity of your unique teeth misalignment problem. When you stick to your schedule as advised by your orthodontist, you will notice the treatment results faster. Also, your teeth will not return to their misaligned position if you stick to your treatment plan and change the Invisalign as often as required.

When you opt for Invisalign as your treatment option for misaligned teeth and struggle with keeping dates, consider setting a reminder on your laptop or phone. Doing that will go a long way in helping you adhere to your orthodontist's guidelines and save you the hassle and cost of having your Invisalign trays reformulated because the teeth shifted to their misaligned position.

You Want Comfort During Your Orthodontic Treatment Period

If comfort is your priority during the orthodontic treatment, Invisalign aligners are an option worth your consideration. The 3-dimensional (3-D) technology your orthodontist uses to create your custom-made plastic trays will capture your unique tooth shape, length, and alignment, meaning the Invisalign trays you will receive will fit in your teeth perfectly.

Additionally, the slim design of Invisalign trays will ensure that the affected teeth are slowly adjusted to achieve the desired alignment and smile appearance. Since the clear plastic Invisalign aligners have a smooth finish, you will not sustain injuries to the soft tissues of your mouth during the treatment duration.

Conversely, if you opt for metal braces, it will take some time to become used to them because they are cumbersome in the mouth. As long as you are not suffering from a serious misalignment of teeth, Invisalign would be an excellent option for your problem if you want convenience during the treatment process.

An easier and more comfortable way to straighten your teeth is with Invisalign trays, which eliminate the pain and discomfort of traditional metal braces. Since Invisalign aligners are also removable, you can eat and enjoy your favorite foods without fearing injuring the soft tissues in the mouth when chewing.

Your orthodontist will provide you with a plastic case to keep your Invisalign in when you remove them to eat or brush, rather than wrapping them in napkins or cloth that could expose them to bacteria.

Find an Orthodontist Near Me

If you are unsure if Invisalign would be a great orthodontic treatment option for your unique teeth misalignment issue, you should speak with an orthodontist. Your orthodontist will perform various assessments and tests using digital imaging techniques like X-rays and MRIs to determine whether Invisalign can help you achieve the straight smile you deserve.

We invite you to call our reputable orthodontists at Los Angeles Advanced Dentistry at 310-361-2080 for result-oriented orthodontic treatment services.