Invisalign for Severe Crooked Teeth: Expert Opinion

Malocclusion can cause several unwanted side effects, such as cavities, difficulty chewing, headaches, jaw pain, etc. That’s why it is vital to seek orthodontic treatment to correct the dental issue. Thankfully, we have Invisalign®️ in Palm Beach, FL, to help you get a perfect smile.

Metal braces have long been around, and most people have associated orthodontic treatment with them. Invisalign has offered another alternative that can still do the job.

However, there’s still debate about whether Invisalign can straighten crooked teeth. Some think Invisalign can only correct mild cases, whereas others believe they are as good as metal braces, if not better. In any case, let’s explore the facets of Invisalign and see how it performs when it comes to straightening severely crooked teeth.

What’s Invisalign and How Does It Work?

Invisalign near you is an innovative system that allows you to straighten your pearly whites without the inconveniences and discomfort associated with metal braces. It is a discrete, removable, and relatively comfortable orthodontic appliance that uses trays to move teeth. Invisalign employs technology every step of the way, making the treatment more predictable than traditional metal braces.

Here’s how Invisalign aligners work:

• Our dentist near you will begin the process with an in-person consultation at our office. While there, our dentist will digitally scan your mouth to get 3D images of your teeth and mouth.
• The images will be analyzed using the Invisalign software to determine the necessary alignment treatment based on the desired results. The scans will be used to design a series of clear plastic aligners that will gently apply pressure to move the crooked teeth to their correct positions.
• Next, our dentist will send the images to the Invisalign lab to fabricate the aligners. The designed aligners are based on the current and desired teeth alignment. You will have the chance to see your future smile.
• Once the aligners are ready, our dentist will call you to our office. You will be given a set of aligners that you’ll wear for no less than 22 hours a day. You can only take them out when eating, brushing, flossing, or playing a sport or instrument.
• After you wear the aligners for two weeks, our dentist will ask you to return to our office for a follow-up appointment. Our dentist will check your progress and give you the next aligners in the series. From then on, you will only need to visit our dentist after every six weeks. But you will continue changing your aligners after every ten days or two weeks.
• After your treatment, you will receive a personalized retainer which you will wear at night to keep your teeth in their new position.

Is Invisalign Effective in Correcting Severe Malocclusion?

It’s common for people to assume that their teeth are too crooked for Invisalign to fix. Sometimes, even metal braces, which are more successful in dealing with teeth straightening, are difficult to attach, overlap, or rotate teeth.

In any case, there are scenarios where Invisalign aligners also are unable to be effective in dealing with the following dental issues:

• Extrusions and intrusions – some patients with crooked teeth might need to have some of their teeth moved down or up, but clear aligners cannot raise or lower the position of the teeth in the jawline. This is a problem that can only be corrected with traditional braces.
• Rotated teeth – if you have crooked and overcrowded teeth, then they can easily rotate when there is not enough space in the mouth. But Invisalign will work only to a certain degree.

So, when it comes to severely crooked teeth, you can expect the treatment to take a bit longer than usual. It will take, on average, 12 months to straighten crooked teeth. However, it could be longer or shorter than 12 months, depending on your unique situation.

But, for overly crooked teeth, it is safe to always work within the average time frame, meaning it will take a bit longer than traditional braces to work its magic. Even in some scenarios, you might not necessarily get the desired results.

So, don’t be shocked when our dentist pairs Invisalign with other treatments to get the desired results.

In any case, you are better placed to know more when you talk to our dentist. Therefore, contact us at John S. Ledakis, DDS, PA, to schedule an appointment.