Am I a candidate for Invisalign?

[Elise1]

Hi

My teeth are crowded at the front both on my top and lower jaw. The crowding has over the last few years become worst and I cant smile anymore because I don't want anyone to see my crooked teeth. Because my teeth are so crowded, its difficult for me to clean them and they have become very stained and yellow.

My dentist referred me to a brace dentist but he was saying that I should have metal braces and I just don't wish to have metal braces on my teeth. Can you tell me if crowded teeth can be fixed with invisible braces?

If Invisalign can fixed my crowded teeth, would I need to have teeth removed as well? The braces dentist was saying that I don't need to have any teeth removed with metal braces, is that also the case with Invisalign?

If my teeth are suitable for Invisalign, how long does it take to do a full Invisalign and fix all the crooked teeth at the top and bottom of my mouth? Would I be able to do teeth whitening at the same time as getting my teeth straightened?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Elise,

Thank you for your post.

Invisalign can effectively treat most cases with crowded teeth. There are 3 levels of crooked teeth, mild, moderate and severe. Invisalign is very effective at treating mildly crowded teeth. It can also treat moderately crowded teeth well. Severely crooked teeth are usually more effectively treated with fixed braces with or without removal of teeth. Following a consultation and assessment our experienced invisalign dentists will confirm if you are suitable for invisalign. Most patients are a good candidate for invisalign.

We do not recommend removal of teeth with invisalign, unless you are willing to have fixed braces after invisalign to complete your orthodontic treatment. At Pearl we very rarely remove teeth to resolve crowding, as treatment predictability and results can become unpredictable.

If the brace dentist has said that you don't need to have any teeth removed with metal braces, then this is also likely to be the case with Invisalign. The average invisalign case takes 1 year, however some cases can take 6 months and other upto 2 years. The invisalign video will confirm the invisalign treatment time.

Yes with invisible braces like invisalign you can also whiten your teeth at the same time as the teeth straightening. The aligners can be used as bleaching trays and at Pearl we offer free home teeth whitening with all invisalign cases. This will ensure you achieve the dream smile you always wanted.