Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign®?

Traditional braces have always been the go-to teeth-straightening system. That is why many people put up with the scratches, blisters, cuts, and food limitations that come with it. Thankfully, innovation gave birth to Invisalign^®. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, Invisalign is the most convenient form of teeth alignment. Many users find it safer for their mouths to wear clear aligners instead of metal dental appliances with wires. Although this new system is better, only some patients can meet the requirements to use it. If you want to know if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, here’s what you need to know.
 

Right Age

The teeth-straightening system provides a series of transparent aligners that you need to wear for at least 22 hours a day. It can be a challenge for children and younger teens to commit to wearing the aligners this long every day. Experts also believe that users within this age range could neglect or even misplace the aligners.
 

The users of Invisalign should be adults and older teens. They can follow the firm instructions in using this teeth-straightening system. If you are within this age range, you can meet the required number of hours for wearing your aligners. You can also care for your aligners properly.
 

Commitment

Using the Invisalign system requires a high level of commitment. You should only take off your aligners when you eat and brush your teeth. Cleaning your aligners is also a requirement. You can do so when you brush and floss. Dental visits are still mandatory on occasion. Your dentist should see how the aligners are working for you and if your teeth are straightening according to plan.
 

Treatable Orthodontic Problem

You are a good candidate for Invisalign if the system can correct your orthodontic problem. Here are the common orthodontic problems that Invisalign can treat:
 

• Minor overbite and underbite.

• Crooked teeth that are slightly overlapping.

• Gaps in between teeth.

• Minor open bites.

• Crossbites.

• Protruding teeth.

• Overcrowding.
   

Busy Lifestyle

Your daily activities also determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. You can use this system if you:
 

• Engage in sports. You can remove your Invisalign aligners when you know you will be playing sports. Wear them immediately after your game.

• Lead a busy and demanding life. Since the Invisalign system only requires occasional dental visits, this is the system for you. Your orthodontist only needs to check the progress of your teeth alignment and give you a cleaning.

• Have many public speaking events. Public speaking requires proper enunciation of words. If your aligners hinder your speech, then remove them before you give your talks.

The Invisalign teeth-straightening system will work for you if you are ready to care for the aligners and commit to wearing them properly. At John K. See, DDS, we always ask potential Invisalign patients the right screening questions. That way, we can determine if the system is the right one for their orthodontic problem. Please visit our clinic in Camarillo, California, for an in-person consultation. You can also call us at 805-920-8600 if you want to schedule an appointment or ask questions for our Invisalign teeth-straightening packages.