On the surface, Invisalign© sounds like a great option to straighten up those chompers…
They’re nearly invisible so you don’t have to walk around with your mouth looking like the grill of a Mack truck tailgating you down the highway.
They’re removable so you can take them out of your mouth when you’re eating, brushing your teeth or engaging in, umm, extracurricular activities with that special someone.
And they work… they do a great job of straightening teeth when used in the right situations.
What are the right situations?
Understanding that will help you answer the question… “Do I qualify for Invisalign?”
Severity of Crooked Teeth
First thing to take into account is how crooked your teeth are. If your teeth look like the skyline of a city that was at the epicenter of a zombie apocalypse, then Invisalign probably isn’t a good option. Because Invisalign isn’t particularly well suited to fixing situations that are too severe.
If you have relatively mild overbite, underbite, crossbite, overcrowding or gapped teeth, then Invisalign should be a good fit. Anything on the severe side and more advanced orthodontic treatments will likely be needed.
How Age Factors into Your Eligibility for Invisalign
Another factor that helps determine whether you qualify for Invisalign is your age. Basically Invisalign isn’t for the kiddies. The mouth and teeth continue to grow up until the early teen years. Because the teeth are always changing during this time, it makes it darn near impossible to create aligners for kids that will accurately fix their alignment issues.
Older teens and adults, however, don’t have to worry about that. Their mouths have stopped growing and Invisalign aligners make a great option at those ages.
And there is no age limit on the high end. If you want to impress the fellow residents at the nursing home with your perfectly straight teeth, then Invisalign may be just the thing for you. (Though honestly, at that point, just having all your teeth is probably impressive enough.)
Will You Actually Use Invisalign?
Next thing to take into consideration is will you actually use Invisalign? Seems like a strange question, but remember that Invisalign aligners are removable. In order to really work though, you should be wearing them at least 22 hours a day.
Do you have the discipline to stick to that?
If yes, then Invisalign can be a great option. If not, they may just become a very expensive fixture on your nightstand.
Smile Assessment
Lastly, Invisalign has a Smile Assessment on their website to help you determine if Invisalign is a good fit for you or not. But, honestly, there’s only so much you an online assessment like this can tell you.
Find a Cosmetic Dentist Who Specializes in Invisalign
Better option is to visit a dentist that specializes in Invisalign to look at your teeth and give you the real low down on things. To find a dentist in your area who specializes in Invisalign, search our listings here.