Invisalign

Crooked teeth affect more than a person's appearance; they can also lead to oral health problems such as the pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) and an increased risk of tooth decay, cavities, and periodontal disease (gum disease). However, despite the downsides of crooked teeth, many patients choose not to seek treatment because they don't want to deal with metal braces. 

Thankfully, Invisalign can improve your look and your oral by providing you with the orthodontic treatment you need – without the frustrations of wearing traditional, metal braces. 

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment system that uses a series of clear aligner trays to gently and gradually shift a patient's teeth into proper alignment, creating a straighter smile, more optimal jawbone alignment, and a more comfortable bite.

Why Choose Invisalign? (5 Advantages of Orthodontic Treatment With Invisalign)

1. Comfortable to Wear

Traditional, metal braces have hard, rough, and abrasive surfaces that can cut into the soft tissues of your cheeks, lips, and tongue, making them uncomfortable to wear. 

Invisalign clear aligner trays are made from a smooth, plastic material that is always gentle on your soft tissues. This makes straightening your teeth with Invisalign a much more comfortable treatment option. 

2. Discreet Treatment Journey

Metal braces are made of biocompatible metals that are highly visible on your teeth. They also require the use of rubber bands and wires that make them quite obvious on a person's teeth.

Invisalign's clear aligner trays are virtually invisible during wear. This means you can straighten your teeth discreetly, without everyone noticing your "braces" when you smile. 

3. Continue Enjoying All of Your Favorite Foods

With traditional braces, patients must avoid eating certain foods that can damage their braces or become lodged in the wires. This includes anything overly hard or sticky. 

With Invisalign, patients simply remove their aligner trays during meals, brush their teeth, and then put their aligners back on. This means you can continue enjoying all of your favorite foods throughout your treatment. 

4. Continue Participating in Any Activity

Metal braces can also be somewhat dangerous or risky to have while participating in high-impact athletic activities because of the damage they can do to your soft tissues. Additionally, braces can become damaged during these kinds of sports. 

Invisalign's aligner trays, however, are safe to continue wearing during high-impact athletic activities. In fact, they can provide some protection to your natural teeth, as an athletic mouthguard would. 

5. Simple Care

Invisalign's clear aligner trays do not require any complicated oral hygiene routines, as traditional metal braces do. You can continue brushing and flossing your teeth as usual and simply rinse your aligner trays to keep them fresh and clean during treatment. 

How Does Invisalign Work? What to Expect With Invisalign Treatment

Treatment with Invisalign begins with a consultation. During this appointment, we examine your teeth, assess your oral health, and determine whether Invisalign is the best option for helping you achieve a straight smile.

We then start the process of designing a treatment plan that is personalized for you. This process begins with the collection of detailed diagnostic images of your teeth and surrounding oral anatomy. This information along with your desired results is then provided to Invisalign, and they design a treatment plan and schedule in addition to manufacturing a set of clear aligner trays made specially for you. 

Once your Invisalign treatment system is ready, we schedule you for another appointment. We'll use this time to introduce you to your aligner trays, explain your treatment schedule, show you how to wear and care for the aligner trays, and answer any questions you might have. 

You will then wear each pair of aligner trays for at least 20 to 22 hours each day for the prescribed duration (usually about two weeks per set of trays). As you wear these trays and progress through the treatment system, your teeth will be gradually shifted into the desired positions. 

Throughout your treatment, we'll schedule you for follow-up appointments so that we can check in on your progress and monitor your treatments to make any necessary adjustments and ensure your results are progressing as planned. 

How Long Does Treatment With Invisalign Take?

The total treatment time needed to achieve your desired results is different for every patient, depending on how far the teeth have to move from their original positions. On average, most adults complete their Invisalign treatment within 12 to 18 months. 

Find Out If Invisalign Is Right for You

Invisalign is recommended for addressing minor to moderate concerns in patients over 16 years of age. For more significant alignment needs, different orthodontic strategies might be necessary. To find out if Invisalign is right for you, we welcome you to contact our office to request a consultation with one of our experienced dentists.

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