Not everyone is lucky enough to grow up with perfectly straight teeth. More often, there is some degree of crowding and malalignment present. The traditional solution to is metal braces but what if you want to straighten your smile more discreetly? Invisalign® clear aligners can do just that for you.
Keep reading to learn more about how Invisalign can improve your smile.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign can be described as virtually invisible aligners that are designed to gradually straighten teeth and adjust a patient’s bite over time. This alternative to traditional metal braces is perfect for individuals looking for straight, healthy teeth without the hassle of metal wires or brackets.
How Invisalign Works
Despite their clear appearance, Invisalign aligners work similarly to traditional braces. The top and bottom aligners fit right over your teeth and carefully apply controlled movement to ensure they are moved into a better position. No noticeable wires are needed, and the aligners are removable to allow for unrestricted eating and oral care.
After you have been deemed a proper candidate, one of our team members will take digital impressions of your teeth using our iTero 3D scanner. This technology eliminates the need for any messy impressions and instead creates complete 3-dimensional images of your teeth in minutes.
The scans are then sent to the Invisalign lab for aligner production. Technicians there will determine the most efficient set of movements to achieve ideal alignment. A series of clear aligners are fabricated and sent back to our Portage office for you to begin using.
Am I a Candidate for Invisalign?
Our dentists will need to complete a comprehensive exam before it can be determined whether you are an . Teenagers and adults are welcome to try this form of treatment but must first commit to the process to avoid incomplete results or complications.
The aligners need to be worn for at least 22-23 hours each day, taking them out only to brush, floss, drink, and eat. Many patients appreciate the control they have with Invisalign compared to metal braces, but if instructions are not followed, corrections may be necessary.
Advantages of Invisalign
When compared to traditional braces with metal wires and brackets, Invisalign has unique benefits of its own. The decision to pursue Invisalign treatment is entirely up to you but if you’ve ever been put off by the thought of metal braces, aligners may be the solution.
Some of the benefits of Invisalign include:
- Aligners are subtle, comfortable to wear, and nearly invisible to family, friends, and co-workers.
- You can remove the aligners to eat, drink, brush, or floss.
- You have the freedom to enjoy an unrestricted diet; no need to avoid sticky or chewy foods.
- There are no sharp areas that can poke your gums and lead to irritation.
- It is easier to practice oral hygiene thanks to the removable nature of the aligners.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
Treatment time varies per patient but on average, individuals can see desired results in 12 months or less. It is important to remember that every patient is different, and your treatment could take longer than someone else’s depending how much correction is necessary.
Each set of individually fabricated aligners must be worn for 10-14 days. After that time has passed, you’ll proceed to the next set of aligners in the series and continue this process until our dentists see that your teeth have reached ideal alignment.
Discreetly Straighten Your Smile
Traditional metal braces are not for everyone which is why we offer Invisalign clear aligners in our dental office. Dr. Dennis is proud to be the only Invisalign Gold Plus Provider in Southwest Michigan. That ranking denotes our years of experience and successful cases with satisfied patients.
Call the Kalamazoo dental office of Susan M. Dennis, DDS today at (269) 743-4375 or contact us online to get started.