Orthodontics is one of the specialties of dentistry with the most innovative and new technologies. One invention that really had an impact on this field, was Invisalign. This system offers an alternative to people who want to enhance their smile or correct teeth alignment or bite issues, but don’t want to wear traditional braces to achieve this. Invisalign near you has been promoted as a way to address your problems, but in this article, you will learn what issues it can help with, and when it is best to try another technique.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a system of clear plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth. These aligners are designed to gradually move your teeth into their desired positions by exerting pressure on them. This pressure is very minimal and doesn’t cause pain. The secret of Invisalign is that your aligners are constantly replaced with new ones that exert more pressure than the previous series. This gradual increase in pressure makes your teeth move slowly into ideal alignment.
What issues can it correct?
The most frequent reason why people seek Invisalign in NE Calgary is crooked teeth. Thankfully, Invisalign can correct this problem rather quickly taking up to 18 months depending on each case. The key for the best results is wearing the aligners all day long and only taking them off to eat and brush your teeth. This way, your teeth will be under constant pressure and will move faster.
Other issues that Invisalign can correct are gaps between your teeth and crowded teeth. These issues should be fixed for more than just aesthetical reasons since they can promote plaque and tartar accumulation which can lead to gum disease and cavities.
An orthodontist near you can use Invisalign to treat problems with your bites such as overbite, underbite and open bite. It can be easy to get confused with these terms and mix them up but they are different conditions. An overbite happens when the upper front teeth sit in front of the lower front teeth. With an underbite, the contrary happens, because the lower front teeth overlap the upper front teeth. In the case of an open bite, the upper and lower teeth simply don’t meet.
These three issues affect not only your appearance but also your everyday life, making it difficult to chew and speak. They can even cause tooth wear. It is important to know that undergoing Invisalign near you can help with mild to moderate cases but if your case is severe, you may need a different treatment and only an orthodontist in NE Calgary can advise you on how to proceed.
What issues can’t it correct?
Unfortunately, Invisalign can’t correct all dental issues and there are some conditions where other treatments have better outcomes. Something that this system can’t modify is the shape of your teeth. The aligners can only move your teeth to their desired positions. Thus, if you don’t like the shape of your teeth, colour or size, porcelain veneers may be a better option to achieve the smile you desire.
Also, some dental issues may be too severe to be corrected with Invisalign in NE Calgary. For example, even though Invisalign can help with crooked teeth, once a tooth has rotated more than 20 degrees, it can’t be treated in this way. The same happens when there’s a gap between teeth greater than 6 mm. Finally, Invisalign can’t raise or lower the position of your teeth in the way that traditional braces can. In the end, only your orthodontist near you can tell you whether or not Invisalign is the best option to address your orthodontic issues. Schedule a consultation to learn more about this orthodontic treatment and other options available.