I am asked daily if someone is a candidate for Invisalign. Actually, let me re-phrase that. I am told almost daily that someone was informed that they are NOT a candidate for Invisalign.
I then proceed to explain that almost everyone is a candidate for Invisalign at Impact Orthodontics. Dr. Dena and myself treat patients as young as 7 and as old as 80 in Invisalign clear aligners.
Invisalign is simply a tool that is used for tooth movement. When used correctly, with a good orthodontic treatment plan, it is just as efficient and accurate as traditional metal or clear braces.
The descriptions and before/after photos below are of Dr. Jen’s treated patients. All of these patients were treated with Invisalign clear aligners.
Feel free to comment below with questions you may have. I would love to provide insight.
TREATMENT FOR A 10 YEAR-OLD:
This Invisalign treatment was completed in 16 months. For our younger patients (10 and under), parents are often concerned that their children will lose their aligners. The good news is that this does not tend to be a problem.
We coach the kids on having a routine with their aligners and to always put them in the same place. Always using the case or a lunch bag ensures that they know where to find them at all times.
Should an aligner go missing, no worries, it is usually fine to jump ahead to the next number in the sequence.
Each aligner is worn for 1 week and then switched. The next aligner will feel quite tight if the previous one was not worn for the full week, but that subsides quickly in young kids as their teeth move very easily.
TEEN INVISALIGN TREATMENT:
This teen case was treated in about 22 months. The open bite and severe crowding that were present at the beginning are very difficult to treat with braces (it would have required tooth extraction to get an acceptable result).
Teenagers tell me that they love Invisalign because it does not change their everyday life. They are able to eat whatever they want, brush and floss normally and continue on with sports and instruments with no changes.
Many people are surprised that Invisalign is not just for making the smile more aesthetic. Yes, that is part of it, but significant bite corrections can also be done using clear aligners.
ADULT INVISALIGN TREATMENT:
Invisalign treatment took 16 months in this case. Correction of both the crowding of the lower teeth as well as the bite was completed. The vast majority of adult patients that I see want to have Invisalign. They much prefer the look of it over braces.
Invisalign treatment also requires fewer visits to the office. Everyone is very busy these days and finding the time to get to the office can be a challenge.
EVERYONE IS A CANDIDATE
I believe that every patient is a candidate for Invisalign treatment. There are times that both braces and Invisalign are needed to achieve an optimal result, but this is only in 5-10% of patients.
If you think that Invisalign is the way you want to correct your smile and/or bite, find an Invisalign provider in your area.
Please feel free to post questions or comments below.
Dr. Jen
#invisalign, #impactorthodontics, #drjen
