If you have crooked teeth, you can face serious damage to both your oral health and smile aesthetics without seeking orthodontic treatment. Invisalign can give you the straight smile of your dreams by fixing dental misalignments and bite problems in both adolescent and adult patients.
Many people look forward to aligning their smiles with these custom-made plastic aligners. But not all patients can benefit from this specific orthodontic solution. Schedule a consultation with your orthodontist to determine your eligibility for Invisalign. You can also read on to discover three qualities an orthodontist will look for when considering a patient for Invisalign treatment.
Prioritizes Oral Health
Before beginning Invisalign treatment, your orthodontist will evaluate your oral health. They will want to make sure your teeth are clean, healthy, and in prime condition to undergo this teeth-straightening process.
The orthodontist will also want to ensure that you practice good at-home dental care, including proper oral hygiene. You must brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily.
Failing to adhere to this consistent regimen may put your smile in greater danger of oral health issues. Cavities, gum disease, and other concerns related to lapsed oral hygiene could threaten your teeth-straightening treatment plan.
If you cannot complete this type of oral health care, you may have trouble caring for your Invisalign aligners as well. They require regular cleaning as well to maintain their appearance and function. An orthodontist will let you know the maintenance you can anticipate through the duration of this treatment when you attend a consultation appointment.
No Pre-Existing Dental Conditions
As mentioned, a dentist will evaluate your existing dental structure to ensure you are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment. These aligners can amend many bite problems and straighten crooked teeth. However, if you have other dental fixtures in your smile, they may interfere with Invisalign treatment.
For instance, dental implants are a reliable way to replace missing teeth. But once secured in your smile, they will not move, not even with certain orthodontic solutions. They can disrupt your teeth-straightening efforts.
Schedule an orthodontic consultation to learn how your prior dental work may impact your teeth-straightening treatment plan. You may need to pursue other orthodontics rather than Invisalign to achieve the smile of your dreams.
Commitment to the Teeth-Straightening Process
Invisalign treatment involves a patient wearing custom-made aligners as directed, which will gradually push teeth into the desired, straighter position. The success of this process relies on the patient complying with the treatment plan and wearing Invisalign as the orthodontist instructs.
Failure to wear Invisalign as they should could mean a disruption in the treatment. The teeth may shift out of alignment if you skip wearing Invisalign, which may mean the aligners no longer fit properly.
If this occurs, let your orthodontist know. They may need to make replacement aligners to get your treatment back on track. The ideal Invisalign patient will commit to the Invisalign treatment plan so that they can achieve their desired results efficiently and without complications.