People have been worrying about the position and appearance of their teeth for centuries. Even in the 1700s, dentists in France began creating custom mouthguards and removing wisdom teeth to fix overcrowding. As we know them today, traditional braces were developed in 1819, but clear aligners took almost 200 more years. Invented in 1997 by two Standford University Students, Invisalign is the first and most effective clear aligner system.
Appolon Dental Group in Midtown Manhattan, New York, is an Invisalign Preferred Provider because of the extensive training Dr. Karthilde Appolon has completed. There are many situations where Invisalign is an excellent option and a few where Invisalign won’t work to fix your dental problems. But as an Invisalign Preferred Provider in NYC, you’re sure to get orthodontics that is right the first time and a beautiful, confident smile.
Today, there are many clear aligner systems to choose from. But Invisalign remains the best. As the first system, there has been time and trial to fix inconsistencies. While some systems don’t require you to visit your dentist at all, when you choose Invisalign, your dentist monitors your progress along the way. If minor changes are necessary or your teeth don’t move as expected, we can fix those issues easily without lengthening your treatment time. Having an experienced Invisalign dentist in your corner is the best way to go.
Invisalign can fix many issues regarding the appearance of your smile.
Overbite
An overbite is when your upper teeth overlap your lower teeth. The most common reason for an overbite is the shape or size of the teeth or jaw. You might have too much room in your jaw or not enough room for all your teeth. Overbites tend to worsen over time and can cause adverse side effects such as TMJ disorder (temporomandibular joint disorder) and sleep breathing disorders like sleep apnea. Many people wonder if an overbite can fix itself. It can’t. You can only improve an overbite with orthodontic intervention. Luckily, Invisalign can effectively treat your overbite without anyone knowing you’re getting orthodontics.
We’ll take a digital scan of your teeth, input the data into a computer and design your smile. Once we’ve identified how we’ll move your teeth into the correct position, we’ll create custom clear aligners that fit over your teeth. Even though clear aligners as a system are relatively new, they still use the same century-old, tried-and-true principles of moving teeth. Your aligners will apply gentle pressure on your teeth, and your jaw will reshape around them as they move. You must wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day, only taking them out to eat and drink (any besides water). You’ll wear each set for about two weeks before putting in your next one. We’ll let you know when we need to see you back to monitor your progress.
Underbite
An underbite is the opposite of an overbite. It’s when your bottom teeth protrude out further than your top teeth. Underbites are genetic and can cause similar issues to an overbite, such as TMJ and sleep apnea. Your underbite will continue to worsen with age and need orthodontic intervention. Invisalign can treat your underbite with gentle pressure on your teeth, moving them into the proper position.
Crossbite
A crossbite is when your top teeth don’t line up with your bottom teeth. Your top teeth will appear to be sifted to the right or left. Usually, you’ll notice this in your midline or molars. Your midline will appear off-center, and your top molars will sit crooked on your bottom molars. A crossbite is a common problem and may fix itself for children whose teeth are still developing. If you still have a crossbite as a teen or adult, orthodontics is needed. If you experience headaches and jaw pain and have a crossbite, the crossbite is likely causing your TMJ pain. Invisalign can correct a crossbite. Depending on the severity, it could take 3 to 18 months.
Open Bite
It won’t be hard to tell if you have an open bite. An open bite is when your top teeth don’t touch your bottom teeth when your mouth is closed. Genetics or habits like thumb-sucking can cause this malocclusion (bad bite). It’ll continue to worsen with age, and like all the malocclusions on this list, you could experience TMJ because of it, and you’ll need orthodontic intervention. This isn’t as common as the other bad bite issues, but it can cause speech impediments. You can fix your open bite with Invisalign.
Crookedness
Crookedness refers to the position of your teeth when they aren’t straight. This can envelop many issues, but not all will cause jaw pain or discomfort. Crooked teeth can develop from childhood habits like thumb-sucking or using a pacifier too long or simply due to genetics. Your crooked teeth won’t correct themselves, but we can fix them with Invisalign.
Gapped Teeth
Gapped teeth are when there are spaces between your teeth. This could be from a malocclusion, but not always. Some people choose to keep a gap between their middle teeth, but many choose to correct the issue with Invisalign. Extra space between your teeth makes them harder to clean, and the possibility of food getting stuck between them is high (raising your risk of gum disease!). There is a limit to how large of a gap Invisalign can close, but Invisalign can fix gapped teeth in most cases.
Crowded Teeth
Crowded teeth occur because there isn’t enough room to accommodate them. They’ll overlap with each other and twist. If you have a narrow jaw, we can fix this issue by widening it, and in most cases, Invisalign can fix crowded teeth. Like so many other dental problems on this list, crowded teeth will not fix themselves. And like gaps, it’s important to get this fixed because it’s easy for food to get stuck and begin to decay your teeth. We can fix your crowded teeth with Invisalign.
What Problems Can’t Invisalign Fix?
While the issues that Invisalign can address are vast, there are some that it can’t fix, and traditional braces would be a better fit.
- Tooth Shape: If you have small or poorly shaped teeth, Invisalign won’t fix them. You’ll need to explore other options like dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
- Severe Rotation: Because of the nature of a clear aligner, if your teeth are rotated more than 20 degrees, you’ll need traditional braces.
- Large Gaps: Most of the time, Invisalign can treat gaps. However, if there is more than 6mm of space on the upper or lower arch, Invisalign can’t close the gap.
- Intrusion and Extrusion: Intrusion is when your teeth are too far up in your jaw, and extrusion is when they are too low, sticking out from your jaw. Invisalign can fix mild intrusion and extrusion of the incisors but no molars.
- Large Midline Movement: Imagine a line down the center of your face. Do your middle teeth line up with that? If not, your midline is misaligned. Invisalign can move your midline 2mm to the right or left on each arch, but no more than that.
- Dental Bridges and Implants: If you have existing dental work with a bridge or implant, Invisalign might not be the best option. Talk to your NYC dentist about what might be a better option.
Straighten Your Teeth With Invisalign in Midtown, Manhattan – NYC
Do you want to straighten your teeth? Dr. Appolon is the top choice for people in NYC. Set up a consultation with Dr. Appolon by calling (212) 557-8668 or making an appointment online. Even if you aren’t sure that Invisalign can fix your smile, come in anyway and let us determine what will work best for you.
We look forward to seeing you and giving you a beautiful smile!
