Looking to achieve a confident smile without the hassle of traditional braces or mail-in aligners? Invisalign might be the ideal solution. This discreet and comfortable alternative offers a series of aligners tailored to gradually straighten misaligned or crooked teeth. Through a step-by-step process, these custom aligners gently move your teeth into place, unveiling a remarkable transformation in your smile. Learn about the Invisalign procedure, its benefits over other orthodontic treatments, and the associated costs through our comprehensive guide. Discover why Invisalign could be the perfect fit for your smile journey.
Modern orthodontics has introduced a revolutionary teeth straightening option called Invisalign. It involves a series of clear and custom-made aligners made from almost invisible plastic. These aligners help to gradually guide your teeth into their desired positions with comfort and precision. Unlike traditional metal braces with brackets and wires, Invisalign offers discreet treatment without drawing unwanted attention to your smile.
The brilliance of Invisalign extends to its numerous advantages. Among these benefits is the exceptional flexibility it offers through its removable nature. You can effortlessly take out your aligners for eating, drinking, brushing, or flossing, ensuring easier maintenance of impeccable oral hygiene throughout the treatment process. This remarkable feature drastically reduces the risk of developing cavities during orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign state-of-the-art technology invisible aligners to gently move your teeth into place one tooth at a time. Here’s a step-by-step guide that will take you through the entire Invisalign treatment process, from your initial consultation to having a beautiful smile.
The initial step of your journey towards a straighter smile involves an essential meeting with your dentist. At this dental consultation, your dentist at Sloan Creek Dental will examine your teeth and jaw while discussing your treatment objectives. Questions like ‘Where do you envision your smile?’ and ‘What do you currently not like about your smile?’ will guide this conversation.
Based on what we learn during your initial exam, we’ll recommend whether you’re a good candidate to start your journey towards straighter teeth. If deemed suitable for Invisalign, and you want to proceed further, your dentist will review the treatment plan with you. This custom treatment plan entails the treatment options, treatment time, insurance coverage, and cost. However, in instances of severe misalignment where Invisalign may not suffice, we might propose the use of conventional braces.
Instead of conventional impressions, modern technology captures a 3D scan of your teeth. This scan generates an accurate 3D image model of your mouth, enabling your doctor to design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. With the digital model, personalized aligner trays will be made just for your treatment. You’ll get a series of custom aligners and instructions on how to wear and look after them. Generally, patients switch to a new set of aligners every one to two weeks for effective progress.
Invisalign will take a few weeks to manufacture your custom aligners after they have received your dental impressions and x-rays. When completed, sets of aligners will be sent to your dentist, who will set up an appointment for you to come in for a fitting.
At your fitting appointment, your orthodontist or general dentist will have you try on your Invisalign trays. If they fit comfortably, you’ll go home with them. If they don’t fit, new impressions will need to be taken, and the process will need to be repeated.
To straighten your teeth, you’ll wear each tray for approximately two weeks before switching to a new tray. Each time you change your aligner, your teeth move slightly toward the next stage. When you wear your aligners, you’ll need to wear your aligner trays for about 20 to 22 hours per day, only to take them out to eat and maintain proper oral hygiene (brushing and flossing).
At Sloan Creek Dental, we take a comprehensive approach towards every case, regardless of its complexity. Our commitment to meet your unique needs ensures that we provide a seamless patient experience, delivering the best possible results.
Invisalign, like traditional braces, requires regular adjustments to ensure that everything is progressing as planned. After your initial appointment, we schedule a follow-up visit a few weeks later to monitor your tooth movements and assess the alignment of your trays. Each set of aligners is meticulously designed to guide your teeth towards their correct positions, ultimately sculpting the straight and confident smile you aspire to achieve.
Your orthodontic treatment is a journey that will last a year and a half, at the end of which time you will have straight teeth with a gorgeous smile. At this time, your general dentist or orthodontist will check to see if all of your teeth are in the right place. If worn as directed, you can be sure to get straighter teeth over time, and you can smile with confidence! In the event that you need to address any minor imperfections, you’ll need a second round of “refinement trays”. To do this, we repeat the impression session, order new trays from Invisalign, and schedule you for another appointment to get them adjusted.
There might be some discomfort when you first put on your Invisalign trays. After all, they are moving your teeth to the proper position. The pain, however, will subside, and the process is relatively comfortable.
To brush and floss your teeth, simply remove your aligners and brush your teeth like you usually do. After brushing and flossing your teeth, rinse your aligners with cold water before putting them back in (avoid hot water as it may warp your tray.
Everyone has their own unique experience with Invisalign. Treatment times for misaligned teeth will vary from person to person, and it all comes down to how severe your teeth misalignments are. If you have mild misalignments, your treatment will be shorter than someone with a severe case. Overall, average treatment time is generally faster than traditional orthodontics, and typically take between 8 to 10 months. Mild cases can take as little as 4, whereas more complex cases can take up to 24 months.
Because of the material used to create the aligner trays, the clear plastic is transparent, and onlookers may have difficulty seeing them. Patients can wear their aligners at home or work without the fear of being noticed. Although Invisalign is not entirely invisible, it is hard to detect under most circumstances.
Although Invisalign may not move teeth in exactly the same way as traditional metal braces, the result is still the same. You’ll need to wear retainers after treatment to maintain the new alignment.
Invisalign is an excellent option if you need orthodontic treatment. However, if you play contact sports, you should remove your aligners before heading to the gym or court. You’ll get a better fit and protection from your mouth guard.
Taking your braces out for a few hours will not affect your overall progress. You just need to remember to put them back on when you’re finished with your activity.
Invisalign presents several benefits, including an almost invisible appearance, the option to remove them, and simpler maintenance when compared to traditional braces. It effectively tackles various orthodontic issues, offering a more comfortable and convenient teeth-straightening experience. The advantages it offers often make Invisalign a worthwhile investment for many patients.
Depending on the situation, you may likely need additional aligners for your Invisalign treatment. The need for additional aligners, also known as Invisalign refinements, depends on several factors.
Dentists use a meticulous process to determine the number of Invisalign aligners necessary for each patient. Initially, dentists take a 3D digital scan of your teeth and use this data alongside Invisalign technology to make a 3D model that illustrates the planned tooth movements.
However, it’s important to understand that despite careful planning with advanced technology, teeth can sometimes move unpredictably, and the initial treatment plan may require slight alterations. This unpredictability may necessitate the usage of extra aligners to ensure an optimal outcome.
An orthodontist reinforces the view that the need for supplemental aligners should not be perceived as a burden. Instead, it should be seen as a normal part of the treatment aimed to ensure that the orthodontic case is finished properly.
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses clear aligners to straighten teeth. It is a great option for patients who have mild to moderate tooth misalignment, need to correct minor issues or previous orthodontic treatment.
As your local family dentist near the Allen and Fairview area, we are here to help you with any questions or concerns that you might have about keeping your smile healthy. If you want to learn more about the Invisalign process, feel free to contact us for a consultation appointment, and we’ll be happy to help with you achieve your dream smile. To schedule your appointment, contact Sloan Creek Dental, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you. You can reach us at our Fairview, TX dental office to schedule an in-person consultation with us today – 972-468-1440.
Our dental office is located in Fairview, Texas, and our patients visit us from across the surrounding areas, including Allen, Plano, McKinney, and Lucas.
