Celebrities are Wearing Invisalign Aligners. Should You Too?

For my generation, braces were the ultimate uncool. For my Gen Z cousin, however, braces are something even one of his favourite American football stars, Patrick Mahomes, wears. That’s because millennials know braces as horrifying metal wires that went around your teeth and made you the butt of jokes. The “braces” for Gen Z are removable clear aligners, particularly Invisalign, which are cool enough to grace a superstar’s smile.

The “Netflix for Your Teeth”

Now, everyone seems to wear them. Kate Middleton reportedly used Invisalign before the royal wedding. Tom Cruise supposedly chose it as a metal-free alternative. Pharell Williams wore a gold-tinted tray that looked like grills. Billie Eilish sang about them. Katherine Heigl called them "Netflix for your teeth."

If you know anything about pop culture, you’d know that all these celebrities (excluding Ms Eilish) are adults serenading a dental treatment typically reserved for teenagers. Most of us learn that our jawbones stop growing when we are 21, and then our teeth are our teeth…right?

Well, as a dentist, I can say that orthodontics (the dental specialisation that corrects wonky teeth) is a little bit more complicated than that. It is possible to re-align teeth in adults, but not exactly in the same way as in teenagers whose jaws are still growing.

In adults, teeth alignment with braces or aligners takes longer, but the results are still highly effective. For interested adults, there typically needs to be a medical reason for getting clear aligners.

Why Adults May Need Invisalign Clear Aligners

• Shifting Teeth Due to Ageing

Our jawbone structure changes as we grow, and it can change later in life due to ageing and disease. Conditions like gum disease can destroy the tissue that holds teeth in place, causing them to drift apart and create visible gaps. Dentists first treat the underlying condition that causes the teeth to drift. Then, to improve appearances, we sometimes recommend aligners to eligible patients.

• Correct Dental Issues from Childhood

You may have stubbornly rebelled against braces when you were younger, or your parents may not have been able to afford them. Whichever the reason, if you still have an uncorrected overbite, underbite, crooked teeth, or a gap from childhood, it may not be too late to fix that with aligners.

• Fix Teeth Alignment Issues Caused by Bad Habits

Some of us tend to develop certain habits as adults, like grinding teeth in sleep, clenching teeth due to stress, or tongue thrusting. Bruxism (teeth grinding), for example, can shift teeth out of place. This can affect the way you chew, smile, and even speak. Aligners are a great treatment option for teeth issues that arise from such habits because they are a lot less invasive than surgical options. However, you need to keep in mind that the bad habit must change for the effects of the treatment to be permanent.

Benefits of Clear Aligners for Adults

Clear aligners offer overarching benefits for adults that both treat dental issues and improve the appearance of teeth. Here is a list:

• Discreet treatment—Unlike braces, Invisalign aligners are transparent, so they are hard to notice. Therefore, it is an excellent option for adults who need to go to work and interact with coworkers or clients without letting on that they are undergoing teeth alignment treatment.
• Improve your smile—Invisalign’s primary benefit is that it straightens teeth, fixing gaps and wonkiness that may affect your smile. You will be able to like your smile much more following treatment.

• Alleviate temporomandibular joint (jaw) problems—In some instances, teeth alignment problems can cause jaw pain or soreness. This can be eased with clear aligners, at times in conjunction with other treatments.

• Prevent speech impediments—If your teeth alignment issues are affecting the way you speak, addressing the wonkiness with aligners will help you talk the way you used to.

• Regain your chewing strength—Teeth gaps and shifting teeth can affect the way you bite and chew. This condition is treatable with aligners. Once the treatment ends, you will be able to bite and chew as usual.
• Keep your gum disease risk down—If you have crooked, crowded, or similar problems that make teeth difficult to clean, once they are straightened with aligners, you will be able to brush and floss more effectively. Improved oral hygiene reduces the risk of gum disease. Please note that aligners do not prevent gum disease; they only treat teeth alignment issues that might put you at higher risk of gum disease.

Aligners Vs. Cosmetic Dental Treatments

When you can get veneers and crowns to make your teeth look whiter and straighter, do you really need Invisalign?

Well, actually, if you do have a real dental alignment problem, yes, you will need clear aligners to effectively treat it. Cosmetic dental treatments, such as veneers, only improve the appearance of your teeth. These procedures don’t directly address alignment issues.

What’s more, cosmetic dental treatments tend to be more expensive and more invasive than getting clear aligners. Your teeth don’t usually need to be filed down to receive aligners (but in some cases, the dentist may file the edges of a few teeth to allow the tray to fit in your mouth better). Clear aligners are removable, unlike veneers or crowns, which will remain in your mouth. Also, you can stop the treatment with aligners at any time.

So, Should You Hop on the Invisalign Train?

If you are an adult who needs to have your teeth straightened or a gap fixed, Invisalign might be a great option to consider. It’s safer and less pricey than most cosmetic dental treatments. Plus, it can have a positive effect on your overall dental hygiene.

However, you will need to speak to a dentist to know for certain if aligners are the best option for you. A dentist will need to perform a thorough oral examination and identify the underlying issues of your dental problems before prescribing aligners.

Like Pharell or Kate Middleton, you can use Invisalign to straighten wonky teeth and get the smile you’ve always wanted. The results are usually long-lasting. If the appearance of your smile is making you anxious in social situations, with Invisalign, you will be able to flash your gnashers with confidence once more.

About the Author

Dr Malavi Sivakanesan is a dental specialist and the principal clinician at Complete Smiles Dental Clinic in Harrow, UK. She received her undergraduate and post-graduate education as a dentist and a specialist in Norway, where she grew up. She is also the operations director of Complete Smiles, which has several successful practices in the UK and Norway.