Am I a Candidate for Invisible Braces?

Considering invisible braces? Clear aligners provide a subtler way to straighten teeth without compromising the appearance of one's smile. Metal brackets were once the standard when it came to dealing with misaligned teeth, but an increasing number of people are saying "No" to having a mouth full of metal brackets and wires while straightening their teeth.

What makes a good candidate for invisible braces?

Treatment with invisible braces involves straightening the patient's teeth with a series of transparent, plastic trays. These clear aligners are most effective when worn for around 20-22 hours each day. This means the patient will have to wear their aligners to bed every night. The aligners only come out for eating and oral hygiene.

During the treatment, each set of aligner trays are worn for about two weeks, which is the time it takes for the aligners to move the patient's teeth a few millimeters. The trays are swapped with the next set, which continues to shift the teeth over the next few weeks.

The average treatment time for most adult and teenage patients who opt for invisible braces is one to two years. However, minor alignment issues can be fixed in about 10 weeks.

The ideal candidate

Most people like the idea of being able to straighten their teeth discreetly, but some people are not good candidates for invisible braces. They are most commonly used to treat a handful of orthodontic issues like crooked teeth, crowded teeth, spaces between teeth, overbites, crossbites and underbites.

A good candidate for clear aligners should:

• Have orthodontic issues caused by the position of their teeth. Invisible braces are not an effective way to fix poor alignment caused by the patient's jaw being in an abnormal position. Other appliances like expanders and braces are more effective in such cases.
• Be committed to the treatment. Skipping days or not wearing their aligners for at least 20 hours each day limits the effectiveness of the treatment.
• Have all their permanent teeth. Patients who still have some of their baby teeth might be deemed ineligible for invisible braces.
• Have decent overall oral health. Issues like tooth decay and gum disease need to be addressed before starting treatment with clear aligners.

Options for those deemed ineligible for invisible braces

Patients with severe orthodontic issues caused by abnormal jaw positioning might have to explore other options like lingual braces, ceramic braces or traditional braces. Lingual braces are attached to the back of teeth so they are not visible when the patient smiles. Ceramic braces are another invisible braces option that is made with tooth-colored brackets and transparent wires, which leads to better aesthetics during treatment.

Explore the different teeth straightening options

Interested in invisible braces? While not everyone is a good candidate, there are a lot of people who are! Reach out today to learn more about invisible braces and other teeth straightening options. 

Request an appointment here: https://jorgealvarezdds.com or call Jorge L Alvarez DDS at (520) 722-1655 for an appointment in our Tucson office.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Invisible Braces in Tucson, AZ.