Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Invisalign as an Option for Straighter Teeth

Patients often come into my office asking about treatment options for straighter teeth. Many of them have had orthodontics in their teenage years, only to find that without consistent use of a retainer, their teeth have shifted back. Additionally, I find that most of the adult population is not interested in wearing braces again, which they feel are obvious and professionally inappropriate. Welcome to the world of Invisalign!

Invisalign uses a custom-made series of BPA-free clear aligners that fit to your teeth, which gradually move your teeth in the desired direction planned. There are no metal brackets or wires. New aligners are typically switched out every two weeks until treatment is complete.

The first step is to have an Invisalign consultation with an Invisalign provider, whether that be myself, or a dentist that you already have a relationship with. Once it has been determined that you are a good candidate for Invisalign, we can get started.

In order to make custom aligners for you, I need to take pictures, x-rays, and impressions of your teeth. These records will be sent to Invisalign, and a 3-D video of your teeth and proposed treatment plan will then be made and available to you. This virtual presentation will allow me to discuss in detail with you how your teeth will move at each stage of treatment, and how you can expect your teeth to look when treatment is completed.

Once you receive the clear aligners, I will make sure they fit properly, and I will review instructions on how to wear and care for them. You will be coming in every few weeks during treatment, so that I can monitor your progress.

* And now, two extremely important points to consider:

1. Once treatment is complete, you will need to wear retainers indefinitely at night to make sure that your beautiful new smile does not shift back to its old ways!
2. During treatment, you must wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours per day in order to see results!

It truly is a great feeling for me and my team at South Shore Smiles to see how straighter teeth can have such a positive physical and emotional impact on people. If you are even just curious to learn more about Invisalign, please don't hesitate to reach out and ask!