Do you want a straight smile without the hassle, pain, and embarrassment of traditional braces? With Invisalign in Englewood, it’s possible! Our dentists offer this amazing option as a way for patients to straighten their smiles in comfort and style. Invisalign comes with a number of advantages that you simply won’t be able to get with metal braces. Read on to learn more about Invisalign and whether or not it’s right for you.
Invisalign utilizes a series of clear aligners that are designed to gradually shift the smile into a straight position. We will take impressions of your teeth, which are sent off to a lab to create your Invisalign. Each aligner in the series represents a different position of the smile. Typically, you will wear each clear aligner for about 2 weeks – 20 to 22 hours a day. Depending on your specific case, and how well you follow our treatment instructions, Invisalign will take between 8 and 18 months. Once finished, we’ll give you a retainer to maintain your beautifully straight results.
Previously, there was only one path to a straight smile: traditional braces. That’s no longer the case! In fact, Invisalign can be used to treat a variety of orthodontic problems, including:
Are your teeth too close together? Are they rotated out of position? This not only affects your appearance, but it makes it more difficult to clean away plaque with brushing and flossing. Thankfully, Invisalign is usually an option for patients with mild to moderate cases! If we determine that you’re a good candidate, then we will use a custom series of clear aligners to create more even spacing and give you a healthy, gorgeous smile.
Spaces and gaps in the smile can throw off your appearance. Not only that, but these areas are also home to plaque and bacteria that build up, which increases your risk of tooth decay and other oral health problems significantly. There is good news though: Invisalign can close these gaps by shifting your teeth into the desired positions – all with clear, basically invisible aligners.
Although your upper teeth should sit in front of your lower ones, they shouldn’t protrude far beyond them. If they do, then you might have an overbite, which is an orthodontic problem that can lead to everything from trouble enunciating clearly to chronic jaw pain and low self-esteem. For all of these reasons, we recommend coming to our office to explore your treatment options. Invisalign may be one of them!
Underbites are often quite noticeable, but that’s not the only reason we recommend having them corrected. In fact, even in mild cases, this bite problem can lead to several issues, including chronic jaw pain and trouble chewing properly. While traditional braces were once the only solution, now Invisalign aligners are a solution too! If we determine that you’re a good candidate, then your journey to a healthier bite and straighter smile won’t involve any metal at all.
If you have a crossbite, then you know exactly how difficult it can be to smile confidently, chew properly, and enunciate clearly. Fortunately, Invisalign aligners can often be used in tandem with other orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands, to correct mild to moderate cases. So, if you think that metal brackets and wires are your only option, think again!
In short, open bites place unnecessary pressure on certain parts of your smile and jaw. Over time, this can lead to harmful wear and tear on your enamel as well as stress on the temporomandibular joints (TMJ). The good news is that – like the other bite problems on this list – Invisalign is often a solution. So, if you have an open bite, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our experts!
One of the biggest misconceptions about Invisalign is that the aligners are only popular because they are clear. The reality is that’s just one of the many benefits that come with this orthodontic treatment! Below, you’ll find a few additional perks.
If you’ve had traditional braces in the past, then you may remember that the metal brackets and wires come with a long list of dietary restrictions. Don’t worry – that’s not the case with Invisalign because the aligners are removable! As a result, you can eat all of your favorite foods throughout your orthodontic treatment (just make sure not to overindulge on cavity-causing ones, like ice cream).
Did you know that Invisalign treatment timelines are usually much shorter? It’s true! While clear aligners usually take 12-18 months, traditional braces can take 2+ years. So, if you are antsy to have the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted, you should definitely consider this orthodontic treatment.
Of course, the list of benefits would ultimately be incomplete without touching on the fact that Invisalign aligners are designed to look borderline invisible while being worn. As a result, no unwanted attention will be drawn to your smile in the teeth-straightening process. In fact, if you take good care of your trays, even those closest to you may not be able to tell when you’re wearing them!
Made with smooth plastic, Invisalign aligners won’t cut or catch the inside of your mouth, making them incredibly comfortable to wear. Plus, if one of your trays does have a sharp edge, you can bring it to our office to have it filed down. You can also place some dental wax over it for short-term relief!
It’s no secret that traditional braces are quite noticeable (hence the nickname “metal mouth”). If that has held you back from straightening your teeth, you’ll be happy to know Invisalign doesn’t have any metal components, allowing you to feel confident every time you flash your smile. Not only that, but you can take them off before important events, like a first date.
Last, but certainly not least, Invisalign doesn’t require you to adopt a cumbersome oral hygiene regimen or buy special dental care products. In fact, since the trays are removable, there is only one change you’ll need to make to your routine: using a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush and clear, mild dishwashing liquid to remove food particles and other debris from the surface.
