Invisalign for Adults

Invisalign is a revolutionary new orthodontic method for straightening and correcting teeth. Although Invisalign is a method that work very similarly to braces, Invisalign retainers are significantly more comfortable and stress-free than traditional braces or other techniques of teeth-straightening. At Coeur d’Alene Dental Center, we want to help you get your best smile while offering the most modern, innovative dental products and techniques that are currently available! Invisalign is an amazing way for adults to correct their teeth easily and simply while still maintaining a professional and attractive outward appearance.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign treatment makes use of a set of clear, removable plastic retainers. The Invisalign retainers are flexible, so they move with your mouth throughout the day, and they’re also made of BPA-free plastic so you don’t have to worry about interfering chemicals of any kind! Invisalign retainers are noninvasive and easy to use, and they work well with the daily professional or personal life of busy adults everywhere. In fact, Coeur d’Alene Dental Center regularly recommends Invisalign to adult patients who are specifically concerned about the possible negative social impact of wearing braces in their busy day-to-day lives. Although Invisalign can’t treat all orthodontic bite issues, it can definitely help with the majority of mild or comparatively minor issues of teeth straightening and correction.

Who Is Eligible to Get Invisalign?

There are many people who are eligible for and can benefit from using Invisalign retainers to correct their teeth. Actually, adults are one of the primary groups of individuals who normally receive Invisalign retainers! Some teenagers and children are also eligible for Invisalign, but due to the responsibility required to successfully manage the use of the retainers, Coeur d’Alene Dental Center frequently recommends other types of orthodontic treatment for teens and kids and Invisalign retainers to adults in need of dental correction. Here are some dental conditions that can be treated using Invisalign retainers:

• Crowded teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Gap teeth
• Open bite
• General teeth straightening

Of course, there are certain situations where Invisalign may not be a viable tool for correcting dental issues, in which case your dentist will discuss what other options you might have. However, for many of the dental problems listed, Invisalign is a legitimate solution that’s easy to use and highly effective.

What are the Pros and Cons of Invisalign for Adults?

Although Invisalign has a long list of pros, it may not be for everyone. Even still, this particular orthodontic tool has an excellent reputation at Coeur d’Alene Dental Center! We love the elegant simplicity and noninvasive nature of Invisalign, and a lot of our patients are also excited to be able to use these clever retainers to obtain a beautiful smile.

Some of the advantages of Invisalign include:

● Increased comfort during dental adjustment

Invisalign can treat a number of common dental problems without even impeding the comfort of the wearer. Whereas braces can be uncomfortable and obtrusive, Invisalign retainers are made of smooth, thin plastic that’s so carefully molded to your teeth that it’s easy to forget you’re even wearing any retainers at all! This is of course a huge bonus for a lot of adult patients because most of these patients don’t want to have a dramatic adjustment period after starting on a teeth-correcting apparatus like Invisalign.

● Easy to see progress

With Invisalign, most adult patients enjoy the fact that they’re able to see clear, visible results quickly, even after only a short period of using Invisalign retainers. Although patients must come into the dentist’s office regularly to get a new set of retainers and to ensure that teeth are moving in the proper direction, the progress is much more visible, which is rewarding and comforting. For adult patients who have struggled with very visible dental issues such as crowded teeth, it’s easy to see results quickly over the course of only a few months.

● Less time spent at each appointment

Invisalign patients have to visit the dentist’s office once every 2 weeks to 1 month for the duration of the time that they’re wearing the Invisalign retainers. But, even though regular visits are required, the overall amount of time spent at each appointment is dramatically lower than the amount of time required for appointments to adjust metal braces. We understand that our adult patients have busy lives, and that’s one of the reasons why Invisalign is a great option for keeping up with an active lifestyle while still maintaining excellent dental health.

● No need to adopt a new oral hygiene routine or avoid specific foods or activities

With Invisalign, there’s no need to change your normal patterns of tooth brushing and flossing. The only difference is that each time you brush and/or floss, you’ll have to remove your retainers, rinse them off, and then put them back in after you’re done brushing/flossing. There’s no need to learn a new oral hygiene technique like what’s required when you get braces. And, best of all, if you play an instrument, love to eat caramels or other sticky foods, or just want to do a simple teeth-whitening treatment, you can! Invisalign won’t stand in your way.

While there are a lot of positive aspects of Invisalign, there are still a few aspects of Invisalign retainers that may not be suitable or appealing to some adult patients. Here are a few of the “cons” of Invisalign:

● It’s not possible to snack frequently

To some adults, an impediment to snacking is a good thing, but for other people having a limit on the amount of time each day they can spend snacking may be a negative. Invisalign retainers must be worn for 22 hours out of every day to achieve maximum results, which leaves only 2 hours left for activities like eating. Of course, for some people this may not be a problem, but for others this could be a major downside of using Invisalign retainers, which is why we’ve put it on the cons list.

● Invisalign requires more responsibility than regular braces

In order for Invisalign to work properly, it’s necessary that you put them in and keep them in according to the specific instructions that your dentist gives you. Forgetting to put your retainers in or failing to care for them properly can lead to less-than-satisfactory results. For most adults, the responsibility of Invisalign isn’t a problem, but if you’re prone to forgetfulness or don’t want the extra thought required with Invisalign, then a different solution may be better.

There are definitely some things to consider before getting Invisalign, for the vast majority of adults, Invisalign retainers are the best and most appealing solution for the correction of all kinds of dental issues. Invisalign is great for adults, and it can be perfect for people who want to maintain a good aesthetic appearance and have minimal interference in their lives! Plus, Invisalign takes very little time to get used to, so you can start your journey to a better smile with ease. We highly recommend Invisalign as a productive option for adult patients with all different kinds of dental issues! Schedule a consultation with Coeur d’Alene Dental Center to learn if Invisalign might be right for you.