Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
How Invisalign Is Different from Traditional Braces
When you think of straightening your teeth, you probably think of having brackets bonded onto the front of your teeth with a wire running through all the brackets. While the brackets and wires of traditional braces are effective at straightening teeth, it can make you feel self-conscious every time you open your mouth. Not to mention, you’ll have to avoid certain foods and adjust your oral hygiene routine in order to avoid breaking your brackets or wires.
Invisalign doesn’t involve the placement of brackets or the use of any wires. Instead, it’s a clear aligner that is custom-formed for your teeth and your treatment plan. The clear aligner is virtually inviable to those around you. It’s an aligning tray, so slips over the teeth instead of being bonded to the teeth. This means that you can remove it for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing your teeth. For these reasons, many teenagers and adults find Invisalign more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces. If you are considering Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you may be wondering if you are a good candidate.
Good Candidates
Almost everyone is a good candidate for using Invisalign; even teenagers thanks to the new Invisalign Teen. This is because Invisalign uses a proprietary smart track material that helps move teeth to their proper positions in the mouth. Invisalign teen includes a blue line wear indicator, which helps teenagers and parents determine if the aligners are being worn for the appropriate amount of time.
You will make a good candidate for Invisalign if:
- You have crooked teeth.
- You have crowded teeth.
- You have gapped teeth.
- You need generally straighter teeth.
- Your child has a mix of baby and adult teeth.
- You have over overbite, underbite, openbite or crossbite.
- You had braces as a teenager and your teeth have started to shift.
- You had reasonably straight teeth as a teenager but over time, they’ve started to move.
Issues that May Require Prior Treatment
Before you begin teeth straightening treatment with our Melbourne, Florida dentist at Artistic Touch Dentistry, we’ll need to make sure that your teeth and gums are in good condition. If you have cavities or signs of gum disease, like gingivitis or periodontal disease, we’ll need to treat those oral health issues first. This means filling any cavities and providing treatment for gingivitis and gum disease if needed. Once your gums and teeth are healthy, we can start your teeth straightening treatment.
Getting Invisalign with Our Dentist in Melbourne at Artistic Touch
Our dentist in Melbourne is proud to be able to offer Invisalign and Invisalign Teen. Treatment starts with an initial examination of your teeth, mouth, and gums. If your mouth is healthy, 3D images will be taken of your teeth using a special computer program and digital imaging camera. This means that there is no need to take molds of your teeth. The computer program will create your treatment plan, which includes multiple aligners. Each aligner is worn for approximately two weeks.
Each aligning tray is designed to move your teeth a certain amount of space. At the end of each two week period, you’ll change to a new aligner that will continue to move your teeth to their new, straight positions. Most individuals will need to wear aligners for between six and 12 months. You’ll also receive periodic dental checkups every six to eight weeks to make sure your aligners are working properly and to answer any questions you may have about the treatment process.
To schedule a consultation to see if you’d be a good candidate for Invisalign or to schedule dental teeth cleaning, contact our Melbourne, Florida dental office a call at 321-724-1400.