Do I Need Invisalign? Seven Issues Invisalign Can Treat

 

Excited to start your Invisalign journey? Book your complimentary Invisalign consultation for May to start Invisalign treatment during Invisalign Week: June 6-10, 2022, and take advantage of special savings and perks!

 

When you smile in the mirror, what do you see? If you glimpse crooked or misaligned teeth and you want a straighter, more confident smile, Invisalign® teeth treatment might be for you. Many people — over 12 million — have used Invisalign to achieve a fantastic smile they’re proud of. 

 

We at Shoreline Dental Studio are Orange County’s go-to Invisalign doctors. We’re one of the only Invisalign Platinum Plus providers in the area and our four dentists have gone the extra mile, training and continuously keeping up on advanced Invisalign techniques. Dr. Ritzau even serves as a Board Member at the American Academy of Clear Aligners. Because of our extensive experience and knowledge, you can trust us to treat a range of cases with Invisalign clear aligners — from mild to severe.

 

But back to you. How do you know if you need Invisalign? “What is Invisalign treatment and will it correct my specific orthodontic issues?” you wonder. Many of our patients ask us these same questions when it comes to improving their smiles. Although Invisalign is an industry leader in clear aligners, it’s understandable to wonder if you can achieve the smile you’ve always wanted without conventional braces. 

 

So in this post, we’ll discuss what Invisalign is and share the top seven orthodontic issues Invisalign can treat.

 

 

What is Invisalign?

 

First let’s answer, “What is Invisalign?” Simply put, Invisalign is a series of plastic trays that you fit over your teeth to gently and gradually align them. Safe and comfortable, Invisalign trays are made of clear, BPA-free, phthalate-free plastic. You take out each set of trays and replace them with the next set every 1-2 weeks to incrementally shift your teeth into their correct positions.

 

Invisalign treatment typically consists of 18-30 sets of trays with a total treatment time of about a year. If you want to shorten that time, Shoreline Dental Studio offers PROPEL® accelerated technology which can lessen your Invisalign time by 50%. Typical treatment time is 6-8 months, but we’ve seen results in as little as three months with this accelerated technology.

 

The daily schedule for Invisalign — when to wear them and take them out — is simple: you keep them in for 22 hours a day, only removing them to eat, when you drink anything other than water, and when you brush and floss.

 

Every Invisalign treatment plan is unique — the dentist prescribes a custom plan for your specific smile goals. Creating your plan is painless and 100% digital: our software produces a digital 3D rendering of your mouth so your Shoreline Dental Studio dentist can digitally map out every tooth movement from beginning to end. That way, you can see what your smile transformation will look like before you even start.

 

What does Invisalign treat?

 

Maybe you’ve heard that Invisalign is only for mild orthodontic issues. But, today, most people are candidates for Invisalign in the hands of Invisalign Platinum Plus providers like Shoreline Dental Studio. Can Invisalign fix issues like an overbite, underbite, open bite, or crossbite? Yes! How about crowded teeth or gaps? Again, an enthusiastic, “Yes!”

 

Here are seven issues Invisalign can treat:

 

1. Invisalign for Overbite

For many, an overbite is easy to identify: it’s when the top teeth stick out too far past the lower teeth. Overbites are quite common when compared with other jaw alignment issues, and a slight overbite is considered normal. But If left untreated, an overbite can result in jaw pain, excessive wear on your teeth, or make your top front teeth more prone to damage. 

 

Invisalign is designed to fix an overbite with great success. Take a look at this Invisalign overbite before and after to see how teeth move from a severe overbite to harmonious alignment. And depending on the severity of your overbite, your San Clemente and Mission Viejo, CA dentists can increase Invisalign’s effectiveness with Invisalign SmartForce® attachments or rubber bands. These mandibular attachments help shift jaws from a problematic overbite to a healthy and functional bite.

 

 

2. Invisalign for An Underbite

Think of an underbite as the opposite of an overbite: in an underbite, the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth when your mouth is closed. Sometimes an underbite is caused by the lower jaw growing at a faster rate than the upper jaw — so it ends up sticking out further. An underbite can lead to speaking or chewing difficulties, and just like an overbite, can cause uneven or excessive wear on your teeth.

 

Since an underbite is a lower jaw issue, severe cases used to require a two-fold approach of surgery and orthodontic treatment. But today, more cases of underbite go without surgery and patients can use Invisalign alone to correct an underbite. 

 

 

3. Invisalign for An Open Bite 

An open bite is when your upper and lower teeth don’t touch when your mouth is fully closed. Typically, it’s the front teeth that don’t make contact with each other. Typical causes include an abnormal jaw structure due to genetics or infant habits that carried on for too long, like thumb-sucking or tongue thrust. Difficulties with chewing and speaking, and the likelihood of TMJ disorder can arise from an open bite that hasn’t been corrected. Invisalign for an open bite shifts upper and lower teeth into place so they touch properly.

 

 

4. Invisalign for A Crossbite 

When you close your teeth together, do some of your top teeth sit inside some of your bottom teeth? This is a crossbite. Crossbites are either identified as a back (posterior) crossbite or a front (anterior) crossbite, depending on the location of your misaligned teeth in your mouth. Having a crossbite can wear your teeth down, cause chips, or lead to gum recession. Sometimes a crossbite can even result in painful notches above your gum line.

 

Crossbite can happen because of: early loss of baby teeth, trauma to the teeth, genetics, or poor oral habits. Correcting a crossbite as early as possible is important because you might end up compensating for your uncomfortable bite by moving your jaw to one side, leading to changes in facial structure or affecting jaw growth.

 

Invisalign for crossbite brings all your teeth into a functional, healthy bite. If your crossbite is quite serious, your dentist might opt for Invisalign attachments to encourage certain tooth movements.

 

 

5. Invisalign for Crowded Teeth

The name of this type of orthodontic issue says it all. Crowding is when your teeth look jammed together — they overlap, bunch up, or have shifted out of place in an attempt to fit. Crowded teeth typically happen because the jaw is too small to fit all your teeth with correct spacing. Crowding can cause painful habits like teeth grinding. You might also find good oral health difficult: all the tight nooks and crannies can be hard to clean well, even with excellent flossing or brushing. And we all know that poor oral hygiene can lead to tooth decay, cavities, and even gum disease.

 

If this sounds like you, you can look to Invisalign to correct your crowding. Invisalign creates space for your teeth to fit and moves teeth into their ideal spots. And if your issues are complex, the dentists at Shoreline Dental Studio can add tooth-colored Invisalign SmartForce attachments before, during, or after your treatment to help teeth shift in the right direction.

 

 

5. Invisalign for Gaps in Your Teeth

Invisalign teeth aligners can also fix the opposite of crowding: gaps. Spaces in teeth range from narrow to wide, one to many. Some have small gaps like diastema or tiny spaces between teeth because they grew too small for your jawbone. Others experience larger expanses that appeared because an adult tooth didn’t erupt or a tooth was removed for oral health reasons. Gaps can also be caused by infant habits like thumbsucking or tongue thrust that continue into childhood.

 

If you have spaces between your teeth, Invisalign can close gaps or create the right amount of space for crowns or bridges later on.

 

 

6. Invisalign for Overjet Teeth

You’ve most likely heard the phrase “buck teeth” which is another way to describe overjet. This is when your top front teeth flare out excessively. A person with more extreme overjet can’t comfortably or completely close their mouth without their top front teeth getting in the way. Overjet is often genetic, but, just like in overbites and open bites, overjet can also come from prolonged infant habits. Having overjet teeth can make your top front teeth more susceptible to damage. 

 

Using Invisalign for overjet teeth brings the top front teeth back into alignment with your upper teeth and improves chewing and speaking functions.

 

 

7. Invisalign for Boosting Your Self-Confidence

It’s fair to say that straightening teeth is not only about improving the function and health of your teeth, it’s also about achieving a spectacular smile that can elevate your confidence. One study found that people with straight, attractive smiles fared better socially and in the workplace. And they were perceived as more successful, approachable, and trustworthy. In our appearance-focused culture, a nice smile can go a long way.

 

 

The Benefits of Invisalign

 

At Shoreline Dental Studio, many of our patients have chosen Invisalign teeth aligners because they are convenient, easy, and discreet. Consider these advantages:

 

• The freedom to eat and drink what you want. Invisalign wearers don’t have to worry about food damaging their appliance. That’s because you take out your Invisalign trays when you eat, or when you drink anything other than water. 

 

• Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible. Many of our adult patients choose Invisalign for aesthetics. Most often, others don’t notice you’re wearing Invisalign unless they look very closely.

 

• They’re comfortable. With Invisalign, patients enjoy a gentle, continuous pressure throughout treatment. And there’s no tightening that would cause fresh discomfort. Invisalign trays are also trimmed to the gums resulting in zero gums and mouth irritation.

 

• Clear aligners save time. No adjustments or tightening means shorter check-ins with your Shoreline Dental team.

 

• Brush and floss as usual. You simply take out your Invisalign trays, brush and floss, clean the trays, then pop them back in. There’s no extra cleaning around brackets, wires, or elastic bands, so it’s easier to avoid tooth decay and cavities.

 

 

Invisalign Teeth Treatment With Shoreline Dental Studio

 

 

Now that you know what Invisalign can do, contact us for a complimentary consultation at our comfortable Mission Viejo or San Clemente office. Experience expert care and our friendly, compassionate approach as we examine your teeth, talk about your smile concerns, and recommend a custom Invisalign treatment plan. We’ll also discuss how much Invisalign costs for you. This depends on factors like how many trays you’ll need, the length of your treatment, and the complexity of your orthodontic issues. You’ll be happy to know that your out-of-pocket Invisalign cost can lessen with insurance.

Don’t forget to book your complimentary Invisalign consultation during the month of MAY to reserve your spot to start Invisalign treatment during Invisalign Week: June 6-10, 2022, and take advantage of special savings and perks!