New Year, New You: Are You a Candidate for Invisalign®?

Nothing says “Happy New Year” like a dazzling smile. If you’ve been wanting to correct your smile, there’s no better time than now. By the end of 2020, you could have a smile that leaves everyone stunned. The best part? At Arya Dental located in Fullerton, California, there’s no need for traditional bulky, metal braces. Read on to find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign clear aligners.

What problems can Invisalign fix?

Invisalign can solve most minor orthodontic issues in six to 18 months. Here are descriptions of common reasons for those seeking Invisalign: 

Crooked teeth

A straighter smile is the primary reason that people opt for Invisalign. Of course, the short treatment time and near-invisibility of the aligners contribute to the decision. Invisalign can solve cases of crooked teeth as long as it is the primary issue. Some other conditions, described in the next section, might prevent Invisalign from fixing crooked teeth. 

Crowded teeth

Crowding occurs when your jaw doesn’t have enough room to support all of your teeth. They may bunch up, rotate, or overlap, leading to a crowded appearance that’s also difficult to clean. Invisalign can fix minor cases of crowded teeth. 

Improper bites

Invisalign has the power to treat overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open-bites. An overbite is when your top jaw protrudes too far. Vice versa for an underbite. Crossbite means that some upper teeth sit inside your lower teeth, rather than outside, where they belong. An open-bite occurs when your top and bottom teeth don’t meet when your mouth is closed. 

Gaps in teeth

Invisalign can treat gaps up to six millimeters. Anything wider usually needs braces to fix.

Are there any teeth problems that Invisalign can’t fix?

Invisalign clear aligners certainly are powerful and innovative, but they aren’t magic. You might not be a good candidate for Invisalign if you have any of the following orthodontic conditions. 

Misshapen teeth

If the actual shape of your tooth (or multiple teeth) is malformed — such as if it is overly short, round, pointed, or pegged — Invisalign aligners may not work as well on your teeth because they may not be able to get a good grip on the misshapen tooth. And if you want to fix the misshapen tooth, you’ll need additional dental work such as dental bonding. 

Rotated teeth

Invisalign can fix slightly rotated teeth in a case of overcrowding, but if you have teeth that are rotated more than 20 degrees, you will require traditional metal braces — Invisalign aligners aren’t strong enough to rotate your teeth that far.

Intrusion and extrusion

Invisalign can’t fix teeth that are sunken into your gums (intrusion) or teeth that protrude from your gums (extrusion). These cases require traditional braces and possibly other dental appliances.

Asymmetrical midline

There’s an imaginary line that bisects your entire face — your nose, eyes, lips, cheeks, and teeth — called a midline. Some people have teeth shifted more toward one side of their midline, and Invisalign can only correct that shift by up to 2 millimeters. Anything larger requires traditional braces. 

To find out more about whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, call Arya Dental at 714-646-9546 or use our online scheduling tool to request an appointment.