More than 10 million people have been treated with the Invisalign® orthodontic system, a popular alternative to braces. One major reason so many people turn to Invisalign: The aligners are clear which means that while you’re wearing them, they’re pretty much invisible.
Another reason: The patented design means the aligners can be used to correct many different issues. Brendan Smith, DDS, and the team at Freedom Orthodontics in Cedar Park, Texas, use the Invisalign system to treat pre-teens, teens, and adults, helping each patient enjoy a more beautiful smile.
Here are seven of the most common problems that can be corrected with the Invisalign orthodontic system.
Wouldn’t it be great if we all had naturally straight, perfectly aligned teeth? Sadly, that’s not the case. You might have one crooked tooth or many — Invisalign can treat crooked teeth, no matter how many you have.
Just like the name implies, overcrowding happens when your teeth are crowded too close together, causing them to twist, overlap, or erupt outside of their intended positions. Overcrowding is common, and it can happen in any area of your mouth.
Also called diastema, gaps aren’t exactly uncommon, but they can make your teeth more prone to decay. Those tiny spaces between your teeth provide safe harbors for decay-causing bacteria, along with sticky plaque and germs that cause gum disease (a leading cause of tooth loss).
If your front upper teeth extend beyond your bottom front teeth, you have an overbite. Also called “buck teeth,” an overbite is a common type of malocclusion (a problem with the way your teeth meet).
An underbite is the opposite of an overbite: your lower front teeth extend beyond your upper front teeth when you close your mouth.
While an underbite affects all your front teeth, a crossbite happens when only some of your upper teeth line up behind your back teeth when your mouth is closed. A crossbite can affect your front teeth (an anterior crossbite) or your back teeth (a posterior crossbite).
An open bite happens when your upper and lower teeth don’t overlap at all at some points, leading to gaps between your upper and lower teeth. With an open bite, your upper and lower front teeth don’t come in contact with each other when your jaw is closed. It’s a relatively uncommon type of malocclusion.
Malocclusions aren’t only cosmetic problems. They can increase your risks for lots of oral health problems too, such as:
Plus, bite problems can lead to chronic jaw pain and headaches, speech problems, sleep apnea, and difficulty eating certain foods.
Invisalign’s patented design enables each patient to enjoy custom orthodontic treatment without traditional metal braces. To learn if it’s a good choice for your needs and goals, call our office or book an appointment online today.
