Invisalign is a popular alternative to braces. Patients with poor tooth alignment or even unhealthy bites may have a discreet and more comfortable way to get their smile improved.
But if you’ve been looking into Invisalign treatment in Burbank, you likely want to know how effective it is.
The short answer is that it’s effective for specific types of malocclusion.
Here’s the long answer:
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign works similarly to metal braces; they both use constant pressure to move your teeth to a more appropriate position.
Braces control the movement through brackets and connected wires, which are tightened throughout the treatment. With Invisalign, instead of brackets and wires, you get custom plastic trays that go over your teeth.
Here’s a broad overview of the treatment process:
- Scan: First, your teeth are scanned, and the dentist decides how they should migrate in order to improve your specific alignment or bite;
- Trays: Then, all this information is sent to an Invisalign lab, where your custom trays are made based on the scans and treatment plan established by a dentist near you.
- Follow-up: You’ll need to go in once every 2 weeks to get your new set of trays and continue your treatment.
How Effective Is Invisalign
Invisalign can be extremely effective, but it’s not for everyone. Here are a few things that the treatment can’t fix:
- Severe tooth alignment cases: Invisalign can fix mild to moderate cases, but patients with overly complex and difficult alignment problems are usually not good candidates. Though effective, these cases often require more pressure than what Invisalign can offer, so braces may be more appropriate.
- Rotated tooth: Invisalign may prove ineffective at rotating a tooth, especially in a more serious case. Your dentist may use attachments to improve a slightly rotated tooth, however,
- Skeletal bite issues: If your unhealthy bite is caused by the position of your teeth, Invisalign may be a good way to fix it. However, skeletal bite problems (caused by the jawbone) may need braces, jaw surgery, or even a combination of the two.
Still, you should not be discouraged. Today, Invisalign is able to treat more cases of malocclusion than ever thanks to improvements in the technology.
Not only that, but dentists may also use Invisalign attachments, such as buttons and elastics, to treat even more difficult cases with these clear alignments.
How to Know If Invisalign Is Right for You
You can find out if Invisalign is appropriate for you by seeing Dr. Jessica Singh for a short consultation.
If it is, you can get started immediately and get your teeth scanned for your very own pair of custom Invisalign trays!
Schedule a consultation at Burbank Dental & Sleep online to get started.
Still have some questions about Invisalign? Then call us at (818) 842-0709 today for a short chat.
