Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign?

Maybe you haven’t fully smiled for a picture in years, or you always put your hand up to hide your mouth when you speak. 

If these situations (or countless others like them) feel familiar, it may be time to fix those crooked teeth. And Invisalign® might be just the solution for you.

At Smile Design Manhattan, our expert team specializes in helping patients ashamed of their smiles gain the confidence to flash their pearly whites. Invisalign is one of the best methods we have to achieve this transformation, and more than likely, it will work for you.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear, customized plastic trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. The trays can gently and quickly move your teeth into alignment so your smile is much more aesthetically pleasing. (No more refusing to smile!)

A big advantage of Invisalign is that the trays (aligners) are clear and, therefore, discreet. You don’t need traditional brackets and wires, so most people won’t even know you’re wearing them.

At Smile Design Manhattan, your dentist or orthodontist performs a digital scan of your mouth and creates a customized plan to move your teeth into their correct position.

You wear the aligners for at least 22 hours each day; you can take them out to eat, brush your teeth, and floss. You wear each set of aligners for a week or two before switching to a new pair that continues to move your teeth in the right direction.

Everyone is different, of course, but you can expect the process of transforming your smile to take about a year.

Are you a good candidate for Invisalign?

In most cases, if traditional braces would work for you, then Invisalign will work for you as well. This includes instances of gaps in your teeth or crowded teeth, mild overbites or underbites, protruding teeth, and crooked teeth.

If you have a major issue that requires your jawbone to be moved, such as a severe overbite or underbite, Invisalign isn’t recommended. 

Invisalign is considered appropriate for older teens and adults whose jaws have stopped growing and who are more likely to show the dedication necessary to wear Invisalign.

Younger patients may be tempted to just take out the aligners if they don’t want to wear them, and if you don’t wear them at least 22 hours a day, they won’t be effective.

Are you ready to explore the possibility of Invisalign? Set up an initial consultation by calling the Smile Design Manhattan office in the Midtown West neighborhood of New York City. You can also book your appointment online.

You’ll be smiling wide for pictures sooner than you think!