Am I Too Old for Teeth Straightening? Why It’s Never Too Late for Invisalign

Smiles are with you from life. From the day you are born, you will use your innate ability to communicate through your smile. Because your smile says so much about you, it’s natural to feel dissatisfied with its appearance when your teeth are misaligned. 

Alignment issues can affect you in several ways. Whether your teeth are crooked, gappy, crowded, or misaligned, confidence is only one problem. You may be at risk of future oral health challenges, and your bite may affect your speech and ability to chew while potentially causing jaw pain. 

Invisalign is one of the world’s most popular teeth straightening treatments. These clear aligners conveniently and comfortably address your alignment issues while discreetly giving you a smile you can feel good about. But if you’ve already reached your adult years, is it too late for teeth straightening?

In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about Invisalign treatment for adults and discuss why you’re never too old to straighten your teeth. 

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign builds on a well-established method for straightening teeth. Creating a constant and gentle force against your teeth will slowly move your aligners into a more favourable position. 

During your treatment, you’ll wear a series of removable aligners. Although each aligner may look the same, it is unique. Each is designed and made for you and will progress your treatment. Every treatment is tailored using the latest dental technology to provide precision results. 

Because Invisalign aligners are made from translucent plastic and designed to fit your teeth perfectly, barely anyone will notice you wearing them. 

What Age Is Invisalign Best Suited To?

Although teeth straightening is often associated with teenagers, there’s not really a definitive upper age for treatment. As long as your teeth, gums, and jaw are healthy enough, and the required tooth movement fits within the limits of the treatment, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in your twenties, thirties, or older. 

The subtle and convenient nature of Invisalign means it won’t interfere with your life. Because it’s so discreet, you won’t feel self-conscious about your aligner in social or professional situations. 

Who Can Have Invisalign?

Invisalign is the most convenient way to straighten your teeth, but it’s not suitable in all cases. 

Using Invisalign, we can close gaps, move crowded teeth apart, straighten crooked teeth, and fix a range of bite alignment problems, such as crossbite, overbite, underbite, and more.

This treatment is best suited to mild to moderate orthodontic cases. We’ll take digital scans of your smile during your initial consultation to check whether Invisalign is right for you. 

How Long Will Treatment Take?

Every treatment is unique and tailored to your needs, so the expected duration will vary. Typically, minor adjustments can be completed in just six months, while moderate cases will take between 12-24 months. 

How Do You Ensure a Successful Treatment?

Your treatment is designed around you wearing your aligners most of the time. Although it’s removable, you should aim to wear it for 22 hours daily. It’s very comfortable, so you won’t have any issues sleeping wearing it. You can remove your aligner for cleaning, eating, or drinking, or during brief special occasions. 

You’ll be given a new aligner every couple of weeks during your treatment. Although your new aligner may look exactly the same as the last one, it isn’t. The slight changes move your teeth a fraction of a millimetre further toward their desired goal, but every step is important. With this in mind, you must wear your aligners as instructed and in the order you receive them. 

That said, you should keep your most recent aligner. If your current aligner is damaged or lost, contact us immediately. We may recommend stepping back to your most recent aligner to retain your progress while we provide you with a replacement or your next step. 

Maintaining the highest standards of oral hygiene is vital throughout your treatment. This means brushing your teeth thoroughly twice daily and regularly cleaning your aligner. If your aligner is not properly cleaned, bacteria can build up, increasing your risk of developing cavities and gum disease. 

Your aligner will be durable, but it’s not indestructible. Whenever you take your aligner out, keep it safe in a case. Don’t eat or drink anything other than water with your aligner in, as it could become stained, warped, or damaged. 

Invisalign at LUME

Invisalign is one of the most comfortable and discreet ways to straighten teeth. The simplicity of this treatment means you won’t have to make any major lifestyle changes. This is perfect, no matter your age, as you won’t have to feel self-conscious while making changes that will improve your smile’s appearance, along with your confidence and health. 

Contact us today to book your Invisalign consultation.