When people think of Invisalign or other clear aligners, they often wonder: Am I a candidate?
The short answer is YES, almost every case can be treated with clear aligners when diagnosed and treatment planned by an orthodontic specialist.
At Strouse Orthodontics, Dr. Eric Strouse has lectured to orthodontic residents on clear aligner therapy and has successfully treated everything from simple crowding to the most complex orthodontic cases with aligners. The key is not the aligners themselves, they are just pieces of plastic, it’s the expertise behind the treatment plan.
Common Misconceptions about Invisalign
Many patients are told that clear aligners are only for simple cases or that they are not a candidate. This misconception usually comes from:
General dentists offering aligners without orthodontic training
Weekend certification courses that teach dentists basic aligner setup, but not how to manage complex movements. This is actually a good thing! A minimally trained general dentist likely will not be able to deliver quality results for anything beyond a very simple case. The truth is, many dentists are unable to differentiate between a simple and a complex case before its too late.
Providers often want to keep patients in their practice rather than refer to a specialist and will either tell patients they are not candidates for treatment or will only treat part of the problem and tell them certain things can not be corrected.
The result? Some patients are told they “aren’t candidates” for Invisalign, when in reality, they could achieve excellent results with the right specialist.
What Types of Cases Can Be Treated With Clear Aligners?
With expert planning, clear aligners can be used for nearly all orthodontic problems, including:
- Crowding and spacing
- Overbites and underbites
- Crossbites and open bites
- Rotated or impacted teeth
- Relapse after previous braces
- Even surgical-level cases, when aligners are coordinated with other treatment
The aligners are simply the tool, an orthodontic specialist like Dr. Eric Strouse uses them strategically to move teeth safely and predictably.
Why the Provider Matters More Than the Appliance
Clear aligners and braces both work by applying gentle, controlled forces to move teeth. The difference lies in the design of the treatment plan.
An orthodontic specialist spends years learning how teeth and jaws develop, how bite forces work, and how to sequence tooth movements. That expertise makes aligners effective in even the most complex cases.
By contrast, a dentist without orthodontic training may be limited to treating only mild cases. This is why patients sometimes hear “you’re not a candidate” especially when not referred to an orthodontic specialist for an evaluation, it reflects the provider’s limitations, not the aligners’ potential.
The Role of an Orthodontic Specialist
Dr. Eric Strouse is an orthodontic specialist who lectures to other doctors on how to properly plan and manage clear aligner treatment. At Strouse Orthodontics, he:
- Uses advanced 3D digital scans to design each case
- Oversees every step of treatment personally
- Plans aligner therapy with long-term stability and bite health in mind
- Treats complex cases other providers may turn away
With this level of expertise, nearly any patient child, teen, or adult, can be a candidate for Clear Aligners under specialist care.
Summary
If you’ve ever wondered, Am I a candidate for Invisalign? The answer is most likely yes when you see an orthodontic specialist. Clear aligners can treat far more than just mild crowding when they’re in the right hands.
At Strouse Orthodontics, Dr. Strouse has helped patients who were told aligners weren’t possible achieve healthy, beautiful smiles—all through expert aligner therapy.
Call us at 352-688-0331 or schedule online at www.strouseorthodontics.com to find out if aligners are right for you. We serve patients in Spring Hill, Lecanto, and nearby communities.