Invisalign®: The Discrete Way of Straightening Your Smile

Crooked or improperly spaced teeth can make your smile look less attractive. Even worse, it can hurt your oral health and social life. For instance, misaligned or overlapping teeth can increase the risk of plaque and bacteria developing, eventually leading to gum disease, oral infections, cavities, and even tooth loss.

In the past, metal braces were the only option to correct teeth misalignments. The metallic wires and brackets make some people feel embarrassed or insecure about their treatment.

Thanks to enhanced dental technology, you can now straighten your teeth discreetly without the hassle of metal wires and brackets. Invisalign® aligners are clear trays worn over crooked teeth to move them into the desired position. Unlike braces, Invisalign is virtually invisible, meaning that you can go about your treatment without people knowing or feeling self-conscious about it.

The Invisalign Process

You can use Invisalign to correct several dental imperfections such as:

• Improper teeth gaps
• Crooked or misaligned teeth
• Bite issues such as overbites and underbites

It’s worth noting that not every patient is an ideal candidate for Invisalign. Invisalign work best for minor to average dental flaws. You can only correct complex misalignments with traditional braces.

Invisalign treatment typically uses a set of two aligner trays, which are changed every two weeks. Each aligner set gently exerts pressure on the misaligned teeth and gradually moves them closer to the desired position. Invisalign aligners are custom-made for each patient.

The dentist takes molds and images of your mouth, making customized aligners. Invisalign patients wear the aligners for at least 20-22 hours daily to ensure quick and effective treatment. Additionally, you must remove the Invisalign trays when eating, brushing, or drinking anything other than water.

To prevent teeth yellowing and bacteria buildup in the mouth, you must brush and floss your teeth after eating and drinking. The aligners should also be cleaned daily and rinsed before putting them back on. On average, the Invisalign treatment takes about 9-15 months. After the Invisalign treatment, you’ll have to wear a retainer to maintain the new position of the aligned teeth.

Benefits of Invisalign

Below are some of the benefits of using Invisalign:

• Improved appearance

The main object of having Invisalign treatment is to enhance your smile. Invisalign aligners straighten your teeth and close improper teeth gaps, giving you a natural, beautiful and straight smile.

• Virtually Invisible

Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are invisible. It makes them an excellent option for teens, adults, and young adults who want to enhance their smiles without the hassles of dealing with brackets and wires associated with braces.

• Invisalign are custom-made

Invisalign aligners are custom-made. The orthodontist takes impressions and images of your mouth and creates several sets of Invisalign trays. Traditional braces have sharp edges that can hurt your lips and cheeks, causing cuts and sensitivity. The Invisalign trays have smooth edges, so you don’t have to worry about any metal digging into your mouth.

• No food restrictions

When using traditional braces, you’re limited to the foods and beverages you eat or drink. Biting on hard, crunchy, and sticky foods can cause the metal braces to slip off or bend. With Invisalign aligners, all foods and drinks are allowed but with caution.

• Better dental hygiene and oral health

Since traditional braces aren’t removable, brushing and flossing around them can be challenging, increasing your risk of cavities and gum disease. Invisalign trays are removable, meaning that you will continue to brush and floss normally.

Similarly, you’re supposed to brush your mouth after eating or drinking anything before putting the trays back in your mouth.

Fix multiple dental problems

Invisalign aligners straighten crooked or misaligned teeth. This helps eliminate any adverse effects such as gum inflammation, tooth sensitivity, poor bite, bad breath, and tooth decay. Invisalign aligners fix:

• Misaligned or crooked teeth
• Open bite
• Poorly gapped teeth
• Crossbite
• Crowded teeth
• Overbites and underbites

Addressing these imperfections prevents further tooth decay, teeth loss, sleep apnea, and gum disease.

Schedule an Appointment Today

For more information about the Invisalign procedure, contact Claremont Dental Group.