Invisalign is quickly becoming the preferred treatment for enhancing the smile and the alignment of the teeth. For many patients, it offers benefits over traditional braces by providing greater flexibility in treatment and the absence of braces hardware in the mouth. However, this does not make it the best treatment option for all patients. In fact, there are some clinical limitations of Invisalign that must be considered. Below, we’ll take a look at these limitations to help you plan for your orthodontic treatment.
1. Large Gaps Between the Teeth
The first limitation of Invisalign is correcting large gaps between the teeth. Invisalign is certainly effective for correcting spacing between the teeth, but only to an extent. The Invisalign treatment can only close up to 6mm of space between the teeth. If you have multiple gaps in the teeth, or gaps larger than 6mm, Invisalign may not be able to correct the issue. In these cases, you may need to consider traditional braces.
2. Tooth Rotation & Positioning
Similarly, Invisalign will be limited in how it can reposition individual teeth. Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners don’t attach to each individual tooth. For most patients, this isn’t an issue. Invisalign can still adjust the rotation and positioning of teeth to enhance the smile. However, patients who have developed significant rotations of the teeth, or have teeth that are positioned higher or lower than desired, may not be able to achieve optimal results with Invisalign. Again, traditional orthodontic appliances like braces may be the better option in these cases.
3. Incompatibility with Invisalign
In addition to these limitations, there are some unique qualities that can prevent Invisalign from being a viable treatment option. Previous dental work or the shape and size of the teeth can make Invisalign ineffective. For example, some teeth are too short or round for Invisalign aligners. The aligners will be unable to properly grip these teeth, which means the teeth will not be moved with Invisalign treatment. Instead, braces will be needed to target these teeth.
Is Invisalign Right for Me?
Despite its limitations, Invisalign is still a highly effective and popular treatment for improving the smile and orthodontic health. To learn more about the Invisalign treatment and determine if it’s a good fit for you, contact us today to schedule your consultation at Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser.
