What Smile Flaws Can Invisalign Correct?

Traditional metal braces have been correcting dental flaws for a long time, and they do a good job. 

If you're an adult, you probably remember spending a few years in your teens with a mouth full of metal and wires to get the straight smile you have now. It was almost like a right of passage. But then, along came Invisalign® clear aligners. 

Now, adults and teens can achieve a perfect smile without enduring a mouth full of metal.

Invisalign works by strengthening your teeth with removable, clear plastic aligners. The straightening process is straightforward. You exchange old aligners for new ones periodically to gently move your teeth into the proper alignment. 

What a lot of people don't know is that Invisalign can correct a wide variety of dental issues, just like traditional metal braces. 

Dr. Linda K. Westmoreland and our talented staff at Wedgewood Dental, with offices in Rolla and Salem, MO, are Invisalign specialists. We want you to know just how versatile and flexible Invisalign clear aligners are when it comes to correcting dental flaws.

Invisalign basics

After Dr. Westmoreland determines that you're a good candidate for Invisalign, she'll make an impression of your teeth. Each set of plastic aligners are worn for at least 20 hours per day, and you receive a new set every few weeks. 

Your aligners can be removed for eating, normal dental hygiene routines, and for cleaning the aligners themselves. Simply pop them out for meals and brushing, then pop them back in for normal wear. That’s it. Invisalign gently moves your teeth into the ideal alignment up to 50% faster than traditional braces.

Common smile problems 

You may have heard that Invisalign only works on small smile problems and that for most alignment problems, traditional metal braces are needed. That information is false. Invisalign can correct a wide variety of smile issues. 

Here are some of the dental problems that can be addressed with Invisalign.

Crowded teeth

Teeth that are too close together can overlap and push adjoining teeth out of alignment. Overlapping teeth are impossible to clean and make ripe areas for bacteria buildup and cavities. 

Dr. Westmoreland can use Invisalign to straighten and respace crowded teeth, moving them into an even distribution and alignment for a perfect smile. 

Crooked teeth

Basically, any composition of crooked teeth can be realigned and straightened with Invisalign clear aligners. Dr. Westmoreland can use the clear aligners to produce a perfectly straight smile of which you can be proud. 

Crossbite

A crossbite is when your upper and lower arch of teeth don’t line up properly. Some lower teeth may rest in front of upper teeth, causing difficulty when biting and chewing. Invisalign can adjust your bite to correct this issue, resulting in an even bite and teeth arch alignment.  

Gapped teeth

Gaps between teeth are unsightly holes in the line of teeth on upper or lower arches. Dr. Westmoreland can use Invisalign clear aligners to close gaps for a perfectly aligned and even row of teeth.  

Open bite

This dental issue is when a visible space is left between the top and bottom rows of teeth when you close your bite. Many cases of an open bite can be corrected successfully with Invisalign clear aligners.

Overbite

Overbite is a dental issue where your top arch of teeth extend too far in front of your lower arch, leaving a gap between the arches when your bite is closed. Dr. Westmoreland and her team can use Invisalign to shift the angle of your bite to correctly align both arches of teeth. 

Many underbites

Dr. Westmoreland can use Invisalign to correct mild to moderate cases of underbite, which describes a dental issue where the lower arch of teeth closes over your upper arch of teeth. Severe underbite cases often require oral surgery for correction. 

Missouri Invisalign specialists 

Dr. Westmoreland and our skilled team at Wedgewood Dental can correct many dental issues with Invisalign clear aligners. If you’re interested in learning more, contact one of our two locations or book an appointment online today.