Can Invisalign Fix Different Bites and Gaps? Dr. Shikha Chandaliya February 2, 2022 Health & Beauty 660 Invisalign celebrates renown within the dental world, trusted by millions to correctly reform teeth while offering the patient unmatched freedom and flexibility. Invisalign, while being positioned as the modern alternative to braces, is still at its core an orthodontic treatment. Such treatments are adopted to reshape the teeth, slowly ensure a patient’s smile is brought to its optimal aesthetic and functionality! Bites, Gaps, and Crowding Every smile contains unique roadblocks. But not to worry, Invisalign and its impressive technology are designed to not only overcome but correct these roadblocks in its process. What are these roadblocks you ask? They come in many forms, but they are common amongst many of us. At one point in time, most human teeth developed as nature intended- straight and concise. However, through years of biological evolution and changing food consumption habits, most of our contemporary smiles will require some Orthodontic work to be brought to a more optimal state. Why They Need Fixing? Let’s break down a few of these issues to grasp an elevated understanding of how they impact our mouths, how restricting they can be, and how dangerous they may become if left untreated! Open Bite: Both the upper and lower teeth slant outward failing to make contact with each other, even with a shut jaw. Often creating issues when attempting to properly speak, chew, swallow, and more. Overbite: The upper teeth protrude past the lower teeth beyond the intended standard. Severe overbites may result in painful side effects such as tooth decay, gum disease, or jaw pain. Underbite: The opposite of the overbite, this is indicated when the lower jaw sits too far forward. It can negatively limit biting, chewing, and speaking and cause premature tooth wear. Crossbite: A misalignment where the upper teeth naturally fit inside of the lower teeth. If left disregarded, this may lead to lopsided growth, where the jaw shifts too far to one side. Dental Crowding: Refers to a lack of space available for teeth to properly grow within the jaw. Resulting in misalignments and crookedness in one or multiple teeth, ultimately leading to poorer oral health across the board- especially as a patient grows older! All of these undesirable dentitions are classified as ‘Malocclusions’. A general term used to describe any misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the upper and bottom rows. These malocclusions, particularly dental crowding, are frequent among the general population. And fortunately, they are usually completely correctable by orthodontic procedures like Invisalign. This is where your Invisalign journey comes into consideration. If you’re a responsible teenager, or an adult seeking to correct these issues within your jaw, Invisalign provides a seamless solution. The Invisalign aligners are specifically crafted to match the precise position of your teeth and encourage them to move toward the correct position. As time progresses, and your teeth begin to shift, new aligners changing in shape to match these shifts, are cycled into use. These act as precise tools unique to your smile, and most importantly- Invisalign can fix all the malocclusions mentioned above! On the other hand, there are always severe cases that lie at the fringes. If a dentist determines a patient’s malocclusions too severe to be remedied by Invisalign, that patient may have to undergo some form of surgery to help correct the issue more directly. This is not to discourage those seeking orthodontic work. It simply means more groundwork must be laid before any orthodontic procedure can be fully adopted and integrated. Afterward, it should be possible to begin the Invisalign process and look confidently towards a positive outcome! Each Case Is Different, And So is The Price tag and Timeline. Of course, a dental professional must consult your smile and comprehend the complexity of your malocclusions. If not too severe, Invisalign would most likely be the ideal fit capable to correct your smile without being too intrusive! Which malocclusions your mouth contains, and how demanding they will be to correct, assist in determining the price of your Invisalign procedure. Invisalign on average costs $5,000, being pricier than braces due to their modern edge and more efficient timeframe. However, smiles in need of drastic changes could see price tags of around $7,000 associated with Invisalign. Additionally, while most Invisalign procedures have a timeframe between 6 and 18 months, certain patients may have to become a little more familiar with Invisalign. Depending of course on how long the product requires to properly correct the patients’ malocclusions. Remember Most insurance plans cover, to some extent, a set amount of the Orthodontic procedure. By scheduling a consultation with us, we can accurately draft up a price range relevant to you by analyzing what your smile demands. SHARE THIS POST