How Invisalign® can Change the Way You Smile

If you have been dreaming of a straighter, brighter smile without turning to traditional braces for the result, you may be in luck! Our office offers Invisalign® treatment for our patients who are a good match for this system.

As you may have heard, traditional braces can be painful; they can cause mouth sores or irritation from the wires in the braces. They can also contribute to tooth decay from not brushing and flossing properly, allowing the buildup of plaque. Braces patients are also susceptible to discoloration of the teeth, breakage of the brackets and difficulty eating food. There are also foods which are not compatible with braces, including popcorn, chips, nuts, apples, carrots, corn on the cob, and some candies to avoid damaging the brackets and wires.

With Invisalign, none of this is an issue! Since they are removable, clear plastic aligner trays crafted specifically to fit over your teeth, you can take them off to eat. You also remove them to clean your teeth, which means you clean them as you normally would, without having to take extra time to brush and floss around brackets and wires.

As you wear the aligners, your teeth will shift over time based on the treatment plan designed for you by your dentist. Every two weeks you pop on a new set of aligners until the treatment is completed and your teeth have reached their destination.

Invisalign corrects crowding and spacing, crossbite, overbite and underbite, just like traditional braces, but because they are clear no one needs to notice. This is a major consideration for people who are either highly self-consciouis, or are in a position where image is important.

Invisalign wearers don’t have to worry about irritation to the cheeks and gums, as metal braces tend to do. Also, aligners don’t require monthly visits to adjust, instead, your visits are usually spaced out to every six weeks to stay on track. The time it takes to straighten the teeth depends on the individual, it can take six to eighteen months for the treatment as long as the aligners are worn 22-24 hours each day.

Caring for your aligners is easier as well. You will remove them while you eat, and you must clean your teeth and gums after eating to avoid staining and to avoid trapping bacteria and food debris in the aligner when you put them back in.

We hope we have given you food for thought in your quest for a straighter smile. If you have any questions, please call our office at 303-933-2273 and we will help you achieve the smile of a lifetime!