You can use your smile to change the world. But do you need to change your smile? A smile is a curve that sets everything straight, and having straight teeth can help with your self-confidence as you shine your light on the world with your pearly whites.
Sometimes it’s hard to know if you need Invisalign, the “invisible”, custom-fit removable aligners that are an easy alternative to braces. Perhaps you’ve gotten accustomed to the way you bite, the way you clench your teeth, and the way you smile. Perhaps there’s a new person in your life who has suggested you explore your options. Or maybe you’re just curious.
This post will cover how to know if you need Invisalign and if you qualify for Invisalign. Of course, the first thing to do is start with a consultation with an orthodontist who will examine your teeth and advise appropriately on everything from aesthetic considerations to whether Invisalign treatment will help you with grinding your teeth at night. Until then, here are some considerations.
How Do You Know If Invisalign Is Right For You?
You’ve probably heard about Invisalign (or seen people wearing Invisalign aligners) and wondered about the pros and cons versus traditional braces. Sure, they are less invasive and less noticeable than traditional braces, but are they for you?
On the one hand, they’re super convenient as you can remove them when you’re eating, drinking and brushing your teeth. On the other hand, that convenience isn’t something to be taken for granted as you then remove them whenever you feel like it.
Most orthodontists recommend wearing them for up to 22 hours a day to have the desired effect. So, ask yourself: am I diligent enough to leave them in my mouth and only remove them when absolutely necessary?
If you skipped on having braces as a child and have been living with skew teeth for a while, then Invisalign is a great option to transition into a straighter smile.
The clear aligners mean you’re not making some big announcement to everyone about how you are now an adult with braces. It’s way more subtle. Depending on your age though, you may have significant tooth decay or gum disease that will prevent you from enjoying an orthodontic treatment.
Likewise, when teeth need to be exposed under the gum line to help their eruption, Invisalign may not be an option right away. Again, here an orthodontist can advise what solution is best.
Do I Need Invisalign?
The first consideration as to whether or not you actually need Invisalign is one that we’ve mentioned already: aesthetic reasons. If you’ve had a gap between your front teeth that continues to irk you, then yes. If you weren’t able to have braces as a child due to various reasons, then yes!
You can’t put a number on having a healthy body image. As we said, your smile can change the world. So while it may seem like a luxury consideration to ask yourself – do I need Invisalign? Really, the question to ask is how will this contribute to my overall health and confidence.
The next consideration involves asking yourself: is there a better way for my mouth to function when I chew? Do I have an overbite where my teeth overlap in peculiar ways or do I have an underbite? Either of these bites – under or over – can present challenges with how you speak, how you sleep, and how you eat your food. Perhaps it’s something that you’ve learned to live with.
The good news is that you don’t have to live with them for the rest of your life. Invisalign may be the remedy you have been looking for, depending on the severity of your situation.
Lastly, improving your oral health is a consideration when weighing if you need Invisalign. Perhaps bad habits crept into your dental hygiene when you were a teenager and you now go to bed without brushing your teeth. Invisalign treatment will bring consciousness to your mouth as you become more diligent in your brushing and flossing habits.
Long-term, with straighter teeth, you will no longer struggle with those nasty gaps where food likes to get stuck after a meal. By aligning your teeth, you’re giving yourself a renewed chance to prevent gum disease and tooth decay as you get older.
How Do You Know If You Qualify For Invisalign?
Here we’ve addressed Invisalign for adults, but the same sentiment extends to children, with kids as young as eight years old enjoying Invisalign treatment. On the other end of the age spectrum, adults of all ages have attested to the benefits of Invisalign.
If you’re a parent who’s considering Invisalign treatment for their kids, then some of the considerations around your child having the patience and diligence to keep their alignment tray in their mouth for extended periods of time perhaps weigh more heavily than if they have pre-existing tooth decay.
A common question we get asked is: how long is the Invisalign treatment? It’s usually 6 to 18 months, and because the trays are clear, you can often start seeing results in just a few weeks. This is a long-term process. In the end, it’s well worth the sacrifice.
The specifics regarding whether or not you qualify for Invisalign is something that the experts at your Orthodontist can help you with.
You may not have been born with perfectly straight teeth, but being confident in your own skin, with a smile that you want to share with the world is a birthright in its own way. With Invisalign treatment, you can be on your way to enjoying a confident smile.
Find an Orthodontist today to schedule an initial consultation.
Source: https://aosmiles.com/how-to-know-if-you-need-invisalign/