Are you seeking orthodontic treatment, but you’re not quite sure whether you’re the right candidate for Invisalign® aligners? Sounds like you need to take a look at our Invisalign® checklist!
Invisalign® clear aligners are a great option for anyone who wants to straighten their smile and correct problematic conditions or misalignments without the appearance of metal brackets and wires.
Are clear aligners right for you?
The “Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign®” Checklist
1. Do you live an active lifestyle?
Whether you’re the quarterback of your football team or you play another competitive sport, you might prefer a smooth braces treatment that works comfortably and invisibly while you play.
If Your Answer is Yes:
So, your lifestyle requires you to run full speed toward an endzone with a football in tow? Or you’re required to face a soccer ball head on as it plummets toward you? In either scenario, Invisalign® aligners provide a great treatment option for you. These aligners are made of BPA-free, flexible plastic. This smooth composition is ideal for playing sports, where impacts often occur. Metal braces can prove harmful to yourself and to other players during high impact activities if proper mouthguards aren’t worn. With Invisalign® smooth plastic, there is no risk of metal brackets and wires damaging the inside of your mouth.
If Your Answer is No:
Not a part of any sports teams or participating in high impact activities? That’s okay! Invisalign® clear aligners might still be the right option for you. Continue down the checklist to find out.
2. Do you prefer an invisible treatment method?
If Your Answer is Yes:
Are you often speaking in front of audiences? Are you a performer who’s constantly in the spotlight? We treat many teens, adolescents and adults who seek a clear braces treatment. Invisalign® aligners are nearly-invisible and practically undetectable from a short distance. When you’re straightening your smile by use of your aligners, no one will know! Many of our patients feel more confident in their smiles when their braces are not noticeable, even on their front teeth.
If Your Answer is No:
If you prefer the appearance of brackets and wires, metal braces might be the right option for you! Young patients sometimes prefer the look of traditional braces and the ability to choose different-colored bands at each appointment.
3. Do you want the ability to remove your invisible braces?
If Your Answer is Yes:
Removability is a huge plus for clear aligners. You can remove your aligners when you eat, drink, brush or floss your teeth. (For the other 20 to 22 hours a day/night, you’ll keep your clear aligners snuggly in place.) Many patients who choose Invisalign® appreciate the ability to take out their aligners and avoid food from getting stuck between wires and brackets. Flossing between metal brackets and wires can prove difficult and time-consuming as well. With Invisalign® aligners, your teeth are accessible at all hours.
If Your Answer is No:
That’s okay. Some people realize they don’t have the discipline to put their aligners back in place each time they remove them. Failure to place your aligners back in your mouth promptly each time will make for an ineffective treatment. Traditional, metal braces with metal wires are a more permanent treatment option for those who don’t trust themselves to wear aligners as instructed by their orthodontist. We also have clear ceramic braces that may be more your style.
4. Is your condition fixable with clear aligners?
If Your Answer is Yes:
If your condition can be corrected with Invisalign®, you may be experiencing a problematic bite condition, such as an overbite, underbite, crossbite or open bite. Bite problems occur when the upper and lower jaws are misaligned. Clear aligners are highly effective at shifting the upper and lower jaw into a healthy, proportionate alignment. You may also have crooked teeth, crowded teeth or gapped teeth, which can each be corrected with Invisalign® treatment as well. The great news is that almost every patient can be treated with Invisalign® aligners by our doctors as they have an exceptionally high level of expertise with aligners.
If Your Answer is No:
If your condition can not be fixed with Invisalign® in our office, you know you are getting the expert opinion. In severe cases, metal or ceramic braces would be the more effective and efficient option. However, our doctors may also suggest a combination of braces and Invisalign®, with aligners on top and braces on the bottom or aligners on the front teeth and braces on the back teeth.
If you answered yes to most, you are a candidate for Invisalign!
At Caudill & McNeight Orthodontics, we provide affordable braces and invisible braces to the Melbourne, Viera and Merritt Island, Florida areas. Contact us to discuss the price of orthodontic treatment as braces and Invisalign® cost the same in our office!
If you’re still unsure whether Invisalign® is right for you and would like to hear more, please feel free to contact us, schedule your free orthodontic exam, or request an appointment with us today. We will find the perfect treatment plan for you.
