A misaligned smile poses particular risks to a patient’s quality of life, especially as they age. It’s no wonder why the dental industry utilized its ingenuity to create unique solutions, completely capable of transforming the positioning of teeth in a permanent fashion. With the development of so many natural smiles being prone to imperfections, orthodontic knowledge has graced millions of patients with both long-standing methods like braces and even recent modern products such as Invisalign.

Let’s see the invisalign before and after difference:

Garnering unprecedented attention and praise over the past few years, Invisalign stands as a flexible, seamless, and contemporary alternative to the more demanding aspects of traditional braces. While Invisalign boasts a capability which sometimes even exceeds braces, often correcting certain misalignments in a shorter time span, its softer approach does have its limitations.

A Seamless Approach

To understand these limitations, let’s go over how Invisalign functions, while taking into consideration some of the specific, yet rare, circumstances in which patients would be recommended other alternatives to successfully transform their smiles instead.

A stark contrast from the metal brackets and wires that braces invade the smile with, Invisalign consists of plastic trays which a dental professional carefully curates to accurately match the shifting pattern of the teeth. These trays are worn for the majority of the day’s duration, but can actually be removed when performing necessary (and messy) activities like eating, drinking, and brushing. Beyond their convenience, the plastic trays are unnoticeable by the untrained eye and allow patients to maintain peace of mind while in the presence of their peers.

Understanding the Limitations

An obvious far cry from the more structural approach of traditional braces, Invisalign has edged out its predecessor in many categories. However, patients with certain or severe misalignments will be recommended traditional orthodontic methods instead.

It’s important to remember, every smile is completely unique and the following limitations are general guidelines. To best learn if Invisalign is a feasible product to transform your smile, it’s encouraged to book a consultation with an Invisalign expert as soon as possible!

Severe Overbite

Overbites occur when the upper jaw protrudes past the lower jaw beyond the intended amount. While Invisalign can adequately address regular overbites, more severe cases would be better served by braces.

Tooth Shape

The shape of a patient’s teeth plays a determining factor in Invisalign usage, as opposed to braces, due to the plastic trays utilized. If teeth are too short or pegged, they can prevent the Invisalign process from working correctly.

Tooth position

How the teeth stand throughout the mouth also play a substantial role in deciding proper orthodontic treatment. If the teeth are too rotated, the sheer force of braces will be needed to properly shift their alignment.

Large Gaps

Gaps between teeth are somewhat common, and are a major reason many patients seek orthodontic treatment. While Invisalign can remedy gaps, every case is unique and generally speaking, large gaps will require braces.

Intrusion and Extrusion

Intrusion and extrusion refer to moving a tooth back into its proper placement within the supporting bone and tissue, whether its too far in or too far out. To remedy this, braces are almost always sought after, as Invisalign can only achieve limited movement (especially in the back teeth).

Prior Dental Work

Patients who have undergone substantial dental work, such as bridges or implants, may not qualify for Invisalign. As every smile constitutes a unique situation, it’s best to consult a dental professional for a proper answer.