Invisalign
What is Invisalign?
I’ll get into exactly what Invisalign is shortly, but first, I wanted to go over what the only options were for straightening your teeth before clear aligners came into existence.
The only things orthodontists and dentists had to work with before clear aligners like Invisalign came out were metal brackets, rubber bands, and wires. Think about it. I know when I was growing up I really wanted my teeth to look straighter but knew that if I were to get braces I would be a pariah in the eyes of all of my peers. I would be “metal mouth,” or “grill face.” It just wouldn’t go over well with my popularity. So, I never did get those braces. I imagine that’s one of the main reasons many individuals don’t get their teeth aligned with orthodontic treatment; they’re worried about how they would look. This is understandable to me as I have shared that worry. This is why I’m a really big fan of these clear aligners. They can be used for many things, orthodontically speaking. They can correct such things as overbites, underbites, crossbites, spacing between teeth, as well as correcting issues with crowded teeth, and all the while, they do this while being virtually invisible. You can eat whatever you want (just make sure to remove your Invisalign aligners first…which you can’t even do with braces!) without worrying about food getting caught in your braces, you can walk around with more confidence as you are straightening your teeth, and generally have a better alignment process. Did I mention that you can even remove them? This would be pretty nice for, say, a special occasion or for photographs. It’s a pretty wonderful thing.
What’s the process?
Well, the first step would be to find a doctor that delivers Invisalign treatment (like us), and get a consultation with them to determine whether or not Invisalign would be right for you. If it is determined that it isn’t right for you, the doctor can go over other alternatives. If it IS right for you…well, GREAT! Let’s get started!
The doctor, either right then or at another appointment will work up a proposed treatment plan, which could even include getting cavities in your teeth filled first, so that when you do get your Invisalign aligners made they fit perfectly, as opposed to doing them later and run the risk of your aligners not fitting as well. The treatment plan could also cover treating issues involving your gums, ensuring that you are in a healthy state to begin treatment.
After the above, your doctor will take x-rays, pictures and impressions of your teeth, from which your Invisalign retainers will be modeled and produced. The images that are taken and the modelling process done from them will help the doctor plan exactly what, and how to get what is needed, done. He’ll also give you a prediction of how long the treatment will take. The same tech used for modelling and producing your aligners can also give you a kind of virtual representation of how your teeth are going to move and change during treatment.
After this you will start receiving your aligners every 2 weeks until you’re finished with you treatment. The estimated time for adults is usually about a year or so. After that, just start looking good. Simple as that! You will need to wear retainers to continue to keep your teeth straight and prevent movement of your teeth.
So…
If you are interested in getting your teeth straighter, closing gaps in your teeth, correcting crowding issues etc., come on in for a consultation with the doctor. He will go over your options, explain treatment, answer questions, and generally get you started on your way to having a straighter, more improved smile. Most of the consultations are free of charge to boot, so there isn’t really anything to lose. Just a lot to gain.
Here’s some great information from the source on how Invisalign is done, starting with a video:
Stay healthy my friends.
