Who Is A Good Candidate For Invisalign Braces?

2 May 2022
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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The Invisalign process helps people straighten their teeth without many of the inconveniences and problems associated with traditional braces. However, Invisalign braces aren't for everybody. If you are curious about the process and want to know if you or a loved one will be a good candidate for it, you can look at these four factors.

Maturity

Both physical and emotional maturity are necessary. A doctor will want the patient to be physically mature so they can ensure that all their teeth are ready for the process. Ideally, the person's wisdom teeth have either erupted or been removed, reducing the odds of an adverse event during the Invisalign process. Likewise, they should have all of their adult teeth without any leftover ones. The patient also needs to be emotionally mature. Invisalign braces need to stay in a person's mouth for the large majority of the day. Similarly, they require the patient to schedule feeding and drinking times tightly. In other words, the patient needs to be mature enough emotionally to maintain a strict regiment.

Good Oral Health

You shouldn't use the Invisalign system if you have oral health issues. Typically, a dentist can work with you to get your oral health to the point where you will be a good candidate. However, you can't have any cavities, severely misaligned teeth, or other problems. These can interfere with the process. Also, the process can damage unhealthy teeth further. Similarly, your gums should be in good shape. You also should verify that you don't have any dentistry-adjacent issues like sleep apnea. If you do, you should make your doctor aware so they can make a better-informed decision.

Minimal Dental Work

People with extensive dental work usually aren't good candidates. If you have a dental bridge, for example, the alignment process may interfere with how the bridge attaches. Similarly, problems may occur with dental implants. Some people who have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) might also find the braces especially uncomfortable.

Significant Misalignments

Invisalign is a fairly involved process, and most patients won't want to pursue it for a few minor issues with one or two teeth. The ideal candidate has whole-mouth concerns or problems involving a majority of their teeth. For example, a person with prominent gaps between their teeth is likely an ideal candidate. The Invisalign braces can help such a patient slowly close the gaps and improve their smile. People with underbites, overbites, and crowded teeth can benefit from Invisalign too. 

Talk to your dentist for more information on Invisalign