Straight talk about misaligned teeth

What’s healthier about straighter teeth?

Misaligned teeth can lead to premature wear, tooth loss, gum disease, and the buildup of bacteria associated with bigger problems, including heart disease.

More than seven out of ten American adults have some kind of issue with their bites,1 such as crowding, spacing, or overbites — your doctor may use the word malocclusion.

Your doctor would like to discuss your malocclusion with you.

Crowding

Symptoms/signs: biting lips, cheeks, or tongue; lisping; speech changes; chipping or wearing of teeth; food traps; bad breath; difficulty flossing; jaw pain; headaches

Gapped teeth

Symptoms/signs: biting lips, cheeks, or tongue; lisping; speech changes; food traps; bad breath

Overbite (deep bite)

Symptoms/signs: cold sensitivity; receding gums; indentations at the gum line; chipping or wearing of teeth; dry mouth; mouth breathing; jaw pain; headaches

Excessive overjet

Symptoms/signs: chipping or wearing of teeth; dry mouth; mouth breathing

Edge-to-edge bite

Symptoms/signs: cold sensitivity; receding gums; indentations at the gum line; chipping or wearing of teeth; jaw pain; headaches

Open bite

Symptoms/signs: cold sensitivity; receding gums; indentations at the gum line; biting lips, cheeks, or tongue; lisping; speech changes; dry mouth; mouth breathing; jaw pain; headaches

Narrow arch

Symptoms/signs: cold sensitivity; receding gums; indentations at the gum line; chipping or wearing of teeth; jaw pain; headaches

Treat the cause of the problem, not just your symptoms. Learn more inside about how properly aligned teeth can help protect your overall health.

1. Prevalence and distribution of selected occlusal characteristics in the US population, 1988-1991. Brunelle et. Journal of Dental Research. (2/96)

2. Comparison of microbial composition in the subgingival plaque of adult crowded versus noncrowded dental regions. Chun-Hsi Chung, DMD, MS/Robert L. Vanarsdall, DDS/Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti, DMD/Jill S. Baldinger, DMD/Chern-Hsiung Lai, DMD, PhD. Int’l Journal of Adult Orthodontics and Orthognathic Surgery. (2000)

3. Effects of crowding in the lower anterior segment — a risk evaluation depending upon the degree of crowding. Staufer K. Landmesser H. Journal of Orofacial Orthopedics. (1/04)

4. Increased prevalence of cardiovascular and auto-immune diseases in periodontitis patients: a cross-sectional study. Willem Nesse, Pieter U. Dijkstra, Frank Abbas, Fred K.L. Spijkervet, Astrid Stijger, Jan A.H. Tromp, Johan L. van Dijk, Arjan Vissink. Journal of Periodontology. (6/2010)

5. Whiteman, H. (2013, July 31). Alzheimer’s disease linked to poor dental health. Medical News Today. Retrieved August 2016 from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264164.php.

6. Report of the Independent Panel of Experts of The Scottsdale Project. Casey Hein, Charles Cobb, Anthony Iacopino, et al. Grand Rounds Supplement. (2007)

7. Periodontitis: a future risk of acute coronary syndrome? A follow-up study over 3 years. Renvert S, Ohlsson O. Pettersson T, Persson GR. Journal of Periodontology. (7/2010)

8. Periodontal disease and tooth loss. Ong G. Int’l Dental Journal (6/98) Periodontal considerations in the use of bonds or bands on molars in adolescents and adults. Boyd RL Baurind S. The Angle Orthodontist. (1992) Gingival condition associated with orthodontic treatment. Zachrisson S. Zachrisson BU. The Angle Orthodontist. (1/72)

9. As compared to clear aligners made from off-the-shelf, single-layer .030-inch material. Data on file at Align Technology.

10. In a study by Miller et al., with adults measuring pain in the first week of treatment.

11. With weekly aligner changes, compared with two-week aligner wear.

Many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign® treatment just as they would other orthodontic treatments. Ask your doctor about how to use your orthodontic insurance coverage to pay for Invisalign® treatment.