I Have Very Crooked Teeth: Is Invisalign® My Best Option?

While evolution has led to many improvements in humans, our teeth haven’t been so lucky. The reality is that human jaws are shrinking, leaving less room to accommodate all of our teeth. As a result, fewer and fewer people have naturally straight teeth. 

In fact, malocclusion, which is the term for poorly aligned teeth, affects 56% of people around the world. 

The good news is that Hannah Baek, DDS and the team at Healthy Smile Dental in Woodridge, Illinois, offer teeth-straightening solutions, including Invisalign®. So, if you’re here because you have crooked teeth, read on to learn more about this innovative solution that’s allowing people to smile with beautifully straight teeth.

Why straight teeth matter beyond the smile

There are many reasons why people come to see us for teeth straightening, and improving their smiles is certainly at the top of the list. While this is an important goal given that your smile is among the features that people notice most, it’s not the only benefit of straight teeth.

From our perspective as dental experts, the dangers of malocclusion go well beyond the smile, as misaligned teeth can also make you more vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease, which are the leading drivers of tooth loss. 

More specifically, when your teeth are crooked, it makes it harder for you to keep them clean, and food can get stuck, which leads to bacteria and plaque buildup.

So, straightening your teeth is a great oral health step and will have you smiling with more confidence.

The different types of malocclusion that Invisalign can correct

Now let's get into whether Invisalign can tackle your crooked teeth. The Invisalign system relies on clear, plastic aligners that gently move your teeth into straighter positions. 

Every one to two weeks, you receive new aligners that you should wear for about 22 hours a day. You can remove them for eating and cleaning, as well as special occasions.

This system discreetly straightens your teeth, as the aligners are not nearly as noticeable as metal braces. Invisalign also addresses many of the common alignment issues that traditional orthodontics can, including:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Cross bite
• Crowded teeth
• Gapped teeth
• Unevenly spaced teeth

While Invisalign excels with most malocclusion issues, if your teeth are severely crooked or there’s a misalignment in your jaw, this may not be the best path forward.

It’s hard for us to say with certainty here whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. The best way to figure that out is to come see us for an evaluation of your teeth.

To get that ball rolling, we invite you to contact our Woodridge, Illinois office.