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If you have been told that you are not a candidate for Invisalign, even after asking for this treatment option, then you should get a second opinion.  This should be from an orthodontist who has a significant amount of experience with Invisalign.  The reason is simple.  Many cases can in fact be treated with Invisalign.

So why are patients still being told that they can’t use Invisalign and must instead wear full braces for their entire treatment?  The most likely reason is that many orthodontists simply lack experience with Invisalign.  Invisalign was developed in the late 1990’s and was not readily available and in use until the early 2000’s.  Thus there are thousands of orthodontists out there with many years of experience using braces, but Invisalign is still relatively new to many of them.  Due to this lack of experience with Invisalign, many orthodontists believe full braces are easier to use and better for the patient in the long run.

The reality is that this simply is not true.  Teeth can be moved effectively with either braces or Invisalign aligners.  The main difference is that braces can both “push” and “pull” teeth by means of the archwires that run through them.  This is because the braces are firmly attached to the teeth.  Invisalign aligners on the other hand can “push” teeth quite effectively, but since they are removable appliances, there isn’t the ability to “pull” teeth into their desired positions.  This can create some limitations with Invisalign when there are more complex tooth movements involved.

However, orthodontists have the ability to mix and match when it comes to the more difficult cases.  Braces can certainly be placed on some teeth for a relatively short period of time to achieve the more difficult movements, and then the patient can be switched over to Invisalign to complete their treatment.  We do this routinely in our practice and we have found that our patients are happier to wear braces on a few teeth for a few months and Invisalign aligners the rest of the time, as opposed to wearing braces for the full period of treatment.

Finally, it’s important to note that Invisalign may not be for everyone.  It is an orthodontic treatment modality that is compliance driven and obviously the aligners must be worn consistently as instructed by the orthodontist to achieve the desired results.  Therefore, the only patients that should not be treated with Invisalign are those who question their ability to wear the aligners 20 to 22 hours every day.

Remember, if you are interested in orthodontic treatment and you’re motivated to get that great smile that you’ve always wanted, Invisalign may very well be an option for you.  Simply click on the link below to find a well-qualified orthodontist with experience using Invisalign near you!

By Gary Reichhold, DDS

http://www.invisalign.com/