Dental treatments are always evolving to make things more comfortable and convenient for the patient, and that includes braces. While there was a time that straightening teeth meant a metal mouth for two years or more, all that has changed. Clear aligners that help straighten your teeth just like traditional braces but are inconspicuous, removable, and far more comfortable, are available for many cases. Can you benefit from Invisalign treatment?

 Are Aligners Right For You?

Invisalign clear aligners give many people the option of straightening their teeth without the embarrassment, inconvenience, and discomfort of traditional metal braces. You simply wear a set of the custom-created aligners for about two weeks and then switch to the next set until your teeth are aligned according to the treatment plan. Unfortunately, not everyone is a candidate for aligners. Below are some reasons aligners may not be right for you:

Severe Misalignment

While Invisalign can effectively correct many of the more common problems such as crowded teeth, gapped teeth, slightly crooked teeth, and overbites, underbites, or crossbites, more severe cases of crooked teeth, overbites, and other major issues will require traditional wire braces to be effective.

Age

Did you know that your teeth continue to grow until your later teen years? That’s why children under the age of 13 (or sometimes older), will not benefit from Invisalign clear aligners. There is no way to custom-craft a series of effective aligners while teeth are still in the process of changing and growing. However, that’s why they are great for late teens and adults. Once your teeth stop growing there is no age limit for aligners use.

Commitment

Once traditional braces are attached to your teeth there is nothing you can do besides take the best care of your teeth as possible, or have them removed. Conversely, with clear aligners it takes a commitment on your part to straighten your teeth because they can be removed to eat and brush and floss. Therefore, you can easily forget to put them back on your teeth, or simply choose not to. Therefore, you should consider whether or not Invisalign aligners would fit into your lifestyle.