Invisalign® is a brand name of clear aligners made from plastic that fit over the top and bottom rows of teeth. The aligners serve the same purpose as traditional braces but are more discrete. You also have greater flexibility with Invisalign® treatment since you can remove the aligners. However, you should plan to wear your aligners for approximately 22 hours a day for the best treatment results and only remove them when eating and to brush them.
Dental Problems Invisalign® Can and Cannot Fix
The main reason people inquire about Invisalign® is that they want to improve the appearance of their smile. Properly aligned teeth also offer important oral health benefits, such as being easier to clean. Here are the most common orthodontic problems we see at Ideal Dental:
- Crossbite
- Crowded teeth
- Gap between teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Open bite
- Overbite
- Underbite
Although Invisalig®n is an extremely effective treatment for most people, it is not appropriate in all situations. For example, patients with untreated gum disease or tooth decay should not wear aligners because it could make caring for their oral hygiene more challenging. People with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and those with complex malocclusions that require extraction should also delay starting Invisalign® treatment until those conditions are resolved.
The Invisalign® Treatment Process
Your first step in transforming your smile is to meet with an orthodontist at the Ideal Dental location closest to you. Our staff member will take X-rays and a digital scan of your teeth to help create a customized treatment plan. The next steps include:
- Creating a mold of your teeth that our lab technicians use to construct your customized aligners.
- Wear the first aligner daily and only remove it when necessary. You should expect to go through an adjustment period where your aligner will not yet feel comfortable and you may talk with a slight lisp. You will wear each aligner for approximately two weeks before discarding it for the next one in the set. Each aligner puts slight pressure on your teeth to allow them to shift.
- You will visit Ideal Dental each time you need a new aligner and for periodic check-ups to ensure your orthodontic treatment is proceeding according to plan.
- The average time to wear aligners is 18 months. You may need to wear a retainer after that to prevent your teeth from reverting back to where they were before treatment.
Successful treatment with Invisalign® requires your full cooperation. We encourage you to think of it as an investment in yourself that will pay with better oral health and a more attractive smile.
Schedule a Consultation to Learn More About Invisalign®
We use computer imaging with time-lapsed photography to show you what you can expect your smile to look like once you have completed treatment with Invisalign®. We invite you to contact us to learn more about Invisalign® along with all other dentistry services. Your smile is worth the investment. Find your local Ideal Dental office to get started today.