When you look in the mirror, what do you see? You may notice your beautiful eyes or you might focus on your new, flattering hairstyle instead. If your smile is less than perfect, you may find yourself deliberately ignoring your teeth or focusing on your misaligned teeth exclusively.
No matter what you may think of your smile, we can assure you that every grin is beautiful. While that’s true, you may want to improve your smile by straightening your teeth. In years past, people had just one choice to straighten their teeth, metal braces. Although braces are still used quite often, you now have another option for achieving your best smile. And that option is Invisalign.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign treatment is used to correct a variety of orthodontic issues, such as spacing, underbites and overbites. The treatment uses a series of Invisalign clear aligners to gently push a person’s teeth into proper position. Each successive set of aligners will reposition your teeth that much more.
Many people prefer Invisalign over traditional metal braces because the treatment is comparatively discreet. Whereas metal braces are visible even from a distance, Invisalign aligners are virtually impossible for onlookers to detect unless you’re talking to someone face-to-face.
A lot of patients opt for Invisalign because it’s less intrusive as well. People who wear braces are often told to avoid certain foods like pizza crust, popcorn, and hard bread. Patients undergoing Invisalign treatment don’t have to worry about similar restrictions because they’ll remove their aligners when they eat or drink anything other than water.
Can Anyone Undergo Invisalign Treatment?
While there’s no question why Invisalign is a sought-after treatment for people who want to improve their smile, Invisalign treatment isn’t for everyone. If you have gum disease or cavities, for example, those issues will have to be resolved before you’ll be considered a candidate for Invisalign treatment. People who have oral conditions that require surgery to fix aren’t usually candidates for this type of treatment either.
Patients who have dental implants, bridges or TMJ disorder may not be the best candidates for Invisalign. If your teeth are on the smaller side or they’re misshapen or eroded, Invisalign may not be practical. If these issues aren’t severe, an Invisalign certified orthodontist may still be able to make the treatment work for you, however.
Does Age Matter for Invisalign Treatment?
Invisalign was originally invented as an alternative to braces for adults. In the years since Invisalign first hit the market, Invisalign treatment has been expanded to include treatment options for teens and even younger children. With Invisalign now being a treatment option for people in all stages of life, age is no longer a barrier for individuals interested in this type of orthodontic treatment.
Is Commitment an Issue for Invisalign?
As is the case with metal braces, Invisalign works to correct smiles over time. While your treatment lasts, you’ll need to follow the instructions your Invisalign orthodontist gives you in order to achieve the results you’re hoping for.
Although every Invisalign treatment is custom-made for individual patients, there are some basic parameters that the treatments have in common. Patients have to wear their Invisalign clear aligners for at least 20 hours per day, with 22 hours being even more preferable. Every few weeks, you’ll receive a new set of aligners. It’s vital that you wear your aligners in the proper sequence for the prescribed period of time.
If you can’t commit to wearing aligners for 20-22 hours per day or you lack the discipline to keep track of your aligners until you’re ready to move onto the next set, you may want to reconsider undergoing Invisalign treatment. A typical treatment plan lasts between 12 and 18 months. During that time, you’ll have to visit your orthodontist every few weeks. If your schedule is too demanding for that, you should talk to your orthodontist about alternative treatments or creating a visitation schedule that will fit into your schedule.
Where to Go If You’ve Been Turned Away
Clearly, some people aren’t great candidates for Invisalign treatment. While that’s the case, even people who aren’t the best candidates may still be eligible for this life- and smile-changing treatment.
If you’ve been told that you’re not a good candidate for Invisalign, you don’t have to accept that as an absolute truth. Where some orthodontists and dentists see insurmountable obstacles, professionals like Dr. Colin Webb see opportunities to change smiles and lives at the same time.
Having completed dental school and undergone an additional 2.5 years of training with pioneering, internationally acclaimed orthodontists, Dr. Webb treats hundreds of patients with Invisalign every six months. Since opening his practice in Charlotte, NC, Dr. Webb has become a Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider, which is the highest distinction awarded by Invisalign. This enviable distinction means our resident Invisalign specialist is among the best in the United States.
As one of the top Invisalign orthodontists in the country, Dr. Webb has successfully used Invisalign to treat patients who were previously declared to be unfit for Invisalign. While there are cases that can’t be treated with Invisalign, Dr. Webb uses Invisalign clear aligners to treat patients who’ve been turned away from orthodontists and dentists who lack his extensive experience and laudable training.
If you’ve been turned away elsewhere, your destination should be clear. Head over to Clearsmile Orthodontics for an Invisalign consultation with Dr. Webb.
One of a Kind, Just Like You
Like you, Clearsmile Orthodontics is one of a kind. Our practice is The Queen City’s first-ever dedicated Invisalign orthodontic office. While there isn’t a shortage of orthodontists in the Charlotte-area, our practice is the only one that offers Invisalign treatment exclusively.
The moment you walk into our office, you’ll sense that our practice is different in all the right ways. Learn about some of the ways we distinguish our Invisalign office from other practices now. When you’re ready to be told “yes” to Invisalign, schedule an appointment with our in-house Diamond Plus Invisalign Provider, Dr. Colin Webb.