Why Invisalign is Great for Adults

You might think the widely-acclaimed Invisalign method of teeth straightening is just for kids, but adults get orthodontic problems too. Several factors can lead to adults needing treatment for crooked teeth, and Invisalign gives them a highly-effective alternative to traditional braces. Invisalign is great for adults who believe it’s never too late to get the smile they’ve always dreamt of.

Ground-breaking Invisalign aligners are the most widely-used removable orthodontic appliance. They offer multiple advantages over conventional fixed braces. Invisalign provides a high level of comfort and convenience, and the devices are virtually invisible. They are also healthier than regular fixed braces.

It’s estimated that a quarter of Invisalign patients in the U.S. are adults. The American Association of Orthodontics¹ (AAO) has reported that the number of over-18s getting orthodontic treatment more than doubled from 1994 to 2010 to over a million a year. This increase may largely be down to the launch of Invisalign in 1999.

In 2011, Align Technology² – the U.S.-based global medical device company behind the Invisalign system – upgraded the material in its aligners, which made them even more effective.

How Does Invisalign Work?

During Invisalign treatment, you wear a series of clear plastic trays over your teeth. The system gently shifts your teeth into their proper position – without metal brackets and wires. Not all teeth are moved at the same time, which makes for much better control than conventional braces.

Each aligner in the series is worn 22 hours a day for about two weeks. The course of treatment is typically completed in around 12 months. Braces treatment can take two to three years. The Invisalign system delivers the right amount of pressure in the right place at the right time, with precisely timed and regulated movements of the teeth.

When Adults Turn to Invisalign

Reasons you may need Invisalign aligners as an adult include:

You didn’t have braces when you were younger. Not all kids get braces. Your family may have struggled with the financial implications at the time or your dentist may have decided you didn’t need orthodontic treatment. In these cases, teeth can grow more crooked over the years.

You had braces but didn’t wear your retainer as instructed. If you failed to wear your retainer as directed, your teeth may move back out of alignment, making further orthodontic treatment necessary.

Everyone’s teeth keep shifting. Teeth don’t move a lot but they’re not locked in place either. This means they can become crooked in adulthood, even if you had orthodontic treatment when you were young. The pressure of constantly chewing food over time can nudge your teeth out of alignment.

Accidents and injuries. The nature of mishaps such as traffic accidents and sports injuries means you’ll never see them coming. Physical trauma can knock teeth out of position in a split second or result in crooked teeth later.

Problems with wisdom teeth. When wisdom teeth develop, they can push other teeth out of position, even if you’ve previously had orthodontic treatment.

Why Adults Choose Invisalign

Market research has indicated that eight in ten adults in the U.S. believe their teeth straightening treatment dramatically improved their self-esteem.

While conventional braces are conspicuous and draw attention to the orthodontic problem during treatment, Invisalign aligners are discreet and barely noticeable, if at all.

Unlike traditional fixed braces, Invisalign appliances can be taken out for eating, sports, and special occasions. They can also be removed for brushing and flossing, which avoids the oral hygiene issues associated with the wires and brackets of fixed metal braces, which can make it difficult to keep your teeth and gums clean.

Invisalign aligners have smooth edges designed to eliminate or minimize discomfort from irritation to the gums and cheeks. In fact, the entire Invisalign process focuses on patient wellbeing, including digital imaging that avoids messy impressions – particularly beneficial for adults with a strong gag reflex.

Invisalign aligners cost around the same as traditional braces and are covered by many orthodontic insurance plans.

Health Benefits of Invisalign for Adults

The American Dental Association³ (ADA) says straightening crooked teeth can substantially improve your oral health.

Teeth that are excessively crowded or spaced can lead to gum disease (periodontitis). When teeth are positioned properly, your gums fit better around them, lessening the risk of periodontal problems. The likelihood of periodontitis increases as we get older, which is another reason why many adults turn to Invisalign to correct teeth and bite problems.

Another oral problem with aging is that tooth enamel gets thinner. Invisalign helps to protect this outer protective layer of teeth because it doesn’t involve fixing brackets onto your teeth, as with conventional braces.

A further health benefit of Invisalign is that you can continue to eat healthily. With braces, it can be difficult to chew certain nutritious foods.

In adults, the jaw has stopped growing and the bone has hardened. This makes teeth straightening more difficult than fixing orthodontic problems in children, whose jaw is still developing.

However, Invisalign gives you the best chance of a successful outcome because of its unique cutting-edge system of customization. The Invisalign system is tailored to each patient’s mouth and orthodontic needs, so it can address a wide range of problems, including bite issues that can cause serious jaw ailments.

It’s Never Too Late!

Once you’ve reached adulthood, you may think it’s too late to bother about correcting your crooked smile. It’s not – and Invisalign offers comfortable and convenient orthodontic treatment that can work faster than regular braces.

Invisalign treatment as an adult can transform your life by:

• Improving your oral health to lessen the risk of issues such as gum disease.

• Giving you a beaming smile to boost your confidence.

• Allowing you to eat the foods you love.

If you want to find out more about why Invisalign is great for adults, talk to an experienced Invisalign provider⁴, who will be able to help you make an informed decision on whether this is the right orthodontic treatment for you.

Resources

1.https://www.aligntech.com/

2. https://www.cdadentist.com/Invisalign-Coeur-d-Alene