02 Aug Am I Still a Candidate for Invisalign if I’ve Had Braces?
Patients that proceed with teeth straightening utilizing traditional braces most often undergo this process as an adolescent. At the conclusion of treatment, the patient is advised to wear a retainer that is designed to maintain the correction achieved with the braces.
Ideally the teeth straightening achieved while wearing braces would be sufficient to last. However, with some patients teeth may drift back resulting in a malocclusion. When this occurs, the adolescent that was OK with wearing metal bands and brackets may wish to turn to Invisalign clear plastic aligners to achieve their new smile.
Most dental insurance policies that provide orthodontic coverage do so with a once in a lifetime provision. So patients that must rely on dental insurance will not be eligible for orthodontic care for a second time.
Although no one would want to be faced with the prospect of having teeth straightened a second time, if teeth did drift creating a malocclusion, Invisalign is the “clear” choice.
Invisalign provides a method to resolve an under bite, over bite, or cross bite. Gaps between teeth can be closed and crooked teeth can be corrected again. All of this can be completed with the aid of the clear, soft plastic aligners produced by Invisalign.
The transparency of the aligners means young adults and busy professionals can benefit from the teeth straightening process without the stigma of wearing braces. There is no bulky metal or wires to poke and rub soft mouth tissue. The aligners gently return teeth to their correct position by updating the aligners every couple of weeks.
Anyone that has worn traditional braces remembers how difficult it is to keep teeth clean. Food remnants cling to the metal edges and while flossing can be done with a little practice, it is a lot more tedious when wearing braces.
With Invisalign, the aligners are removed to eat and perform the daily hygiene regimen that keeps teeth and gums healthy. Brushing and flossing is simplified with Invisalign aligners.
Visits to our dentists every six months for a thorough cleaning and exam prevents years of plaque that can build up around metal braces during standard orthodontic treatment.