Can Invisalign Fix Overlapping Teeth?

Can Invisalign Fix Overlapping Teeth?

April 15, 2022

If you live in the US, you have probably heard of dental cosmetic procedures and how they promote good oral health while giving you a confident smile. However, if you have never heard of Invisalign, this blog is here to help you better understand the dental device and how we can use it to fix overlapping teeth.

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a clear, transparent dental device fitted on teeth to align crooked or overlapping teeth properly. Overlapping teeth can negatively affect your speech, making it difficult to communicate, combined with the fact that it can cause discomfort while eating, is enough reason to visit an Invisalign dentist near you for proper teeth alignment.

Procedure Involved in Fitting Invisalign

First Consultation: Your dentist will inspect your mouth and recommend the best dental procedure for your dental needs. If they find you a good fit for Invisalign, the dentist will take photographs, x-ray, and 3d scans of your teeth and send them to the Invisalign lab.

  • Molding

The technicians at the Invisalign lab will use the photographs, x-ray, and 3d scans sent by your dentist as blueprints to come up with the custom-made Invisalign device. Then, the custom-made Invisalign is shipped back to the dental clinic when the molding process is completed.

  • Second Consultation

After the dental clinic has received your Invisalign from the lab, they will contact you for an appointment. Some clear, transparent attachments may need to be fitted to your teeth before they can install the dental device to provide better structural support. After installation, the dentist will check if the device works perfectly and provide after-care instructions.

  • After Care

Although the instructions left by your dentist may be enough to take care of the Invisalign, it is recommended that you schedule additional appointments, especially during the first few weeks after the procedure. Follow-up consultations are important since your dentist can keep track of your progress and answer any questions you may have.

What Can Cause Overlapping Teeth?

Before we can proceed, it is important to highlight some of the causes of overlapping teeth. It is important to add that most of these causes are hereditary and can not be easily prevented. Below are a few incidents that may lead to overlapping teeth:

  • Having Extra Teeth

The average adult should have a maximum of 32 teeth. However, certain medical or genetic conditions can lead to the development of hyperdontia. Hyperdontia is a condition that is characterized by having more than 32 teeth; these additional sets of teeth may lead to overlapping in search of space.

  • Your Mouth Being Too Small

Sometimes the teeth inside your mouth can not properly align because your mouth lacks enough room. This forces some of your teeth to shift forward or sideways in search of space, thus resulting in an overlap.

  • An Uneven Jaw

An uneven jaw can be defined as your upper or lower jaw being longer or shorter than the other can cause your teeth to overlap. Although this condition is treatable through dental appliances, serious cases may require a jaw alignment procedure.

How Overlapping Teeth Can Be Fixed With Invisalign

Invisalign is an affordable and effective method of correcting overlapping teeth. The treatment requires a set of aligners to be worn for a specified period, commonly ranging between 2 to 3 weeks. For the treatment to be effective, you would be required to wear the aligners for most of the day except when eating, brushing, or flossing.

Unlike braces, Invisalign does not have any metal attachments making it possible to remove and reinstall it yourself. The treatment period is not demanding as you only need to see your dentist once in 6 weeks, not unless you have a dental emergency. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about awkward stairs since the dental device is hard to spot whenever you laugh or smile.

Conclusion

Modern dentistry has presented a variety of procedures and dental devices to help you select the one best suited for you. For example, with Invisalign, fixing overlapping teeth doesn’t have to be painful and demanding. Visit us at Seascape Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry-Huntington Beach for the best dentist in Huntington Beach.