Do you ever long for a beautiful, straight smile but dread the idea of wearing ugly and uncomfortable wires and brackets? If so, Invisalign is a comfortable and attractive solution. And not only will no one know you are wearing them, but they will straighten your teeth in half the time of traditional braces. And one of the things patients love about Invisalign is how they are able to live as if they aren’t wearing braces. For example, there are no dietary restrictions. When it is time to eat, you simply remove the aligners, eat your meal, clean your teeth, and place them right back in.
How Does Invisalign Work?
The process starts with a series of x-rays, photographs, and impressions taken of your teeth. Your impressions are sent to the Invisalign laboratory, where a computer program analyzes them and develops a set of aligners customized specifically to your bite.
When you put the first set of aligners in, they will feel like they don’t fit correctly. This is intentional. They will push your teeth into new positions and, in couple of days, the aligners will fit better. At the end of the two weeks it is time for the next pair. At the end of treatment, your teeth are now beautifully straight. All of this happens without the uncomfortable wires and brackets of traditional braces—and in half the time.
Advantages of Invisalign
- Your teeth are straightened in about half the time of traditional braces.
- The aligners are removable so you can brush, floss, and eat as you normally would.
- They are very comfortable. You’ll never have to worry about the irritation to lips and gums that is so common with traditional braces.
- They truly are invisible. No one will know you are wearing them, which enables you to straighten your teeth and still have a smile that looks professional. Some patients have said that not even their family or closest friends knew they were wearing them.
Disadvantages of Invisalign
- They are slightly more expensive than traditional braces.
- Because they are removable, they are not recommended for children or teenagers who tend to not keep them in and could misplace them.
- Not every case of crooked teeth is appropriate for Invisalign.
If you would like to know if you are a candidate for Invisalign, we would be happy to schedule you for a complimentary consultation. Dr. Mavrostomos will look at your teeth and give you his opinion.