This is a question that I get all the time from patients, and it is a very valid question as, after all, you are going to invest time and money to improve your smile, so you should be 100% confident that the treatment can and will deliver the results that you desire. The simple answer for many patients is yes, Invisalign really does work. However, it is not a universal cure, nor is it the best form of treatment for everyone.
Invisalign results are dependent on three things: the patient, the doctor, and compliance.
- The patient – Are you a candidate for Invisalign? Certain tooth movements and bite issues can be addressed with Invisalign but not all issues. Invisalign is not a magical pill that fixes everything.
- The doctor – Is the doctor that you are considering for your treatment able to give you the results that you are looking for with the Invisalign treatment? Invisalign treatment should ALWAYS be diagnosed, prescribed, and performed by an orthodontic specialist. There is nothing worse than someone that goes to a dentist who misdiagnoses their treatment, and the patient leaves feeling even more unhappy than before they had treatment and have already spent $5000-$6000.
- Compliance – There is no magical appliance that stays in your pocket and straightens your teeth. The results of Invisalign are very dependent on the compliance of the patient. If you do not wear your aligners (Invisalign clear trays) as prescribed by your orthodontist, then you will slow down the treatment or not get the results at all.
If you are considering Invisalign treatment or braces, then make sure that the dentist that you are visiting is, in fact, an orthodontist and if possible, make sure that they are a board-certified orthodontist (check the ABO website and use their orthodontist locator tool to verify).
