Invisalign is a fantastic way to get a perfectly straight and healthy smile for patients of all ages—sometimes.
Unfortunately, although it’s effective, Invisalign doesn’t work for every child. Here are 5 things Invisalign cannot fix:
1. Tooth Shape
Invisalign is a type of clear aligner that slowly repositions your child’s teeth to correct their placement. But it has no effect on the actual shape of the teeth.
Sometimes, teeth may appear crooked when, in fact, their shape creates an optical illusion of sorts. In these cases, wearing Invisalign will not fix your child’s smile at all.
2. Very Large Gaps
Invisalign is a popular procedure to reduce gaps, but it might not work if the gaps between your child’s teeth are too large.
Also, if the gaps aren’t caused by tooth alignment but by a missing adult tooth, Invisalign is not the appropriate solution. We will need to replace your child’s missing tooth to restore their smile.
3. Extreme Tooth Misalignment
Invisalign cannot put the same amount of pressure on teeth as braces. This means that patients with severe cases of misalignment will not experience good results with Invisalign.
Luckily, your child can still get this clear aligner therapy even if their case isn’t minor. Invisalign attachments are small tooth-colored bumps that aligners can cling to, helping provide more pressure to your child’s teeth and correct even moderate cases.
4. Skeletal Bite Issues
If your child’s bite problem (such as an overbite or underbite) is caused by the jawbones and not tooth placement, then Invisalign will not achieve the desired results.
Skeletal malocclusions require traditional braces, jaw surgery, or a combination of the two to be treated effectively.
5. Severely Rotated Teeth
Lastly, Invisalign is not the ideal treatment for rotating teeth because it cannot place enough pressure to move the teeth into alignment. Invisalign attachments can be bonded to the tooth to rotate it in mild cases, but severely rotated teeth still need braces.
What Happens If Invisalign Isn’t Right for Your Child?
First, you won’t know for sure if Invisalign will work for your child or not unless you see a dentist for a consultation.
During the consultation, we’ll take x-rays and digital images, as well as an oral inspection to determine the severity of your child’s condition and find out if clear aligners are right for them.
If your kiddo isn’t a good candidate, then we may refer them to an orthodontist for an alternative treatment. This usually involves traditional metal braces, but depending on your child’s specific case, they may require additional treatments.
For example, patients with crowded teeth often need an extraction before starting either braces or Invisalign.
Find Out Your Child’s Options for a Straight and Healthy Smile
If your child is struggling with tooth alignment problems or a misaligned bite, Sweetwater Pediatric Dentistry is here provide you with access to top-notch orthodontic care.
Whether this happens with Invisalign or braces, you can rest assured that our team will make expert recommendations that will suit your child best.
Contact us online for more information.
