What makes someone a candidate for Invisalign?
As recently as a few decades ago the only way to get straighter teeth was by submitting to having awkward metal braces installed. Today though, there are other methods available, including Invisalign clear braces. If you are a candidate for metal braces, then very likely you are also a candidate for Invisalign.
So, what exactly are Invisalign clear braces? As you can no doubt determine from the name, they are clear aligners that are virtually invisible. They require no painful tightening treatments because they are not permanently fixed in your mouth. Once you are determined to be a suitable candidate for Invisalign, your dentist takes impressions of your teeth, and sends the impressions to Invisalign. Then, the company makes a set of aligners for you. Over the course of the treatment, you will change aligners several times – you may even go through as many as 30 aligners, changing them every couple of weeks until your treatment is completed.
In addition to being able to change your aligners on schedule without having to visit your dentist, being able to remove the aligners means that you can eat whatever you want. You just have to take out the aligners, enjoy your meal, brush and floss, and then put the aligners back in.
If there is a perfect candidate for Invisalign, we would have to say it is the average teenager. It is difficult enough being a teen, and when you add unsightly braces to the equation, it is that much worse. One’s peers can be cruel, and for that reason, many teens are reluctant to wear metal braces. Invisalign can be a far better solution – in fact, when considering the pros and cons of Invisalign, most would agree that the near-invisibility is the biggest pro.
Are there cons? Of course. Every treatment has advantages and disadvantages. The main con to Invisalign is that with certain severe cases of misalignment, metal braces will still be needed.
Contact Us
If you would like to learn more about orthodontics and the treatments available to you, and find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign, contact us at KC Smile. Our office is located at 12850 Metcalfe Avenue, Suite 200, Overland Park, KS 66213. You can reach us by phone at 913-491-6874, or use the form on our Contact Us page to arrange a consultation with Dr. Headley. To learn more about Invisalign, read our Invisalign Overview and about the Benefits of Invisalign.
