Invisalign is a method of using clear aligners to straighten and correct teeth problems as an alternative to metal braces. Many patients achieve their desired smile within 6 months to a year. This may or may not involve the addition of attachments, which help anchor the Invisalign to apply the necessary force to shift the teeth in the proper direction.
What Is Invisalign Used For?
Invisalign treatment is quite versatile and can address many problems with the teeth and someone’s bite. Some common problems that Invisalign can correct include:
- Crooked teeth
- Under or overbite
- Gaps within the teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Open bite or crossbite
How Attachments Make Invisalign More Effective
Attachments are varying shapes and sizes of composite resin which is bonded to your natural tooth and is used to promote movement of teeth in certain directions. It can be particularly difficult to rotate teeth or move teeth above the gumline with Invisalign trays alone.
Attachments are placed on your natural teeth and some teeth may require none, one, or multiple. They come in odd shapes and sizes, such as triangles, rectangles, etc. It depends on the particular direction the tooth needs to move which dictates what shape and size the attachment is.
Before attachments, Invisalign was ill-equipped to address more severe malocclusions and teeth alignment issues. However, because attachments act as an anchor for the aligners to give the Invisalign better grip, the specific force needed to shift a tooth in the right direction is now easier to achieve without the use of braces.
What Are Invisalign’s Limitations?
While attachments have certainly expanded the capabilities of Invisalign’s corrective abilities, it still has its limitations. After all, the most suitable candidate for Invisalign in Charlotte, NC is someone with only minor orthodontic issues.
Invisalign is preferable to braces in these cases because they are noticeable, don’t restrict your ability to eat certain foods or engage in physical activity, and the ability to remove them means you can thoroughly clean your teeth.
However, this does not change the fact that braces offer stronger force and a greater ability to shift teeth. Braces remain the gold standard for someone with severely crooked teeth to ensure the best results.
Other limitations of Invisalign include reduced ability to fix:
- Gaps between teeth larger than 6mm
- Certain tooth shapes
- Molars rotated past 20 degrees
- Forward-tilting teeth greater than 45 degrees
- Teeth with previous dental work
- Midline discrepancies greater than 2mm
- Raising/lowering position of front and back teeth in the jawline
- Severe overbite
- Teeth affected by cavities or gum disease
Find Out More About Invisalign at South End Dentistry
Do you want a straighter smile without metals and wires which stand out? Invisalign’s clear removable aligner trays offer you convenience and flexibility while straightening your smile under the radar. Schedule a consultation with us at South End Dentistry to find out if you’d be a good candidate for Invisalign. You can contact us online or call us at (704) 335-8266.
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