Do you get envious when you see someone with straight teeth? Most Americans are not born with perfectly aligned teeth, so you are hardly alone. In the past, your main option for correcting misaligned teeth was with wire braces. While traditional braces are effective, they are also a hassle in many respects.
That is why Dr. Julie Spaniel is excited to offer Invisalign, a revolutionary alternative in the field of orthodontics. Invisalign uses removable clear aligners that are custom-built to fit your mouth and nudge your teeth into their proper position over the course of several months. Visit Summerwood Family Dental in Tigard, OR to discover how easy it is to reattain a straight, beautiful smile.
Explore the Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign is more comfortable than ordinary braces. Whereas wires and brackets can snag the sensitive soft tissue in your mouth, Invisalign fits comfortably and painlessly in your mouth.
Because Invisalign is transparent, you get to avoid the awkwardness of having people stare at metal in your mouth. Usually, the people you speak with can’t even tell that you are wearing aligners. This is a way to correct your teeth without feeling self-conscious.
Moreover, because Invisalign is removable, you get to take them out of your mouth when you eat and clean your teeth. This allows for much better oral hygiene, and you can eat without worrying about food particles getting trapped between your wires.
The removability also allows you to take out your Invisalign for big events where you would prefer not to wear them. If you have a date or a big work presentation and you would feel more comfortable without your aligners, that option is available to you.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign is a good treatment for patients who want to correct their bite and smile. It works best for adults and teenagers whose jaws have finished growing. Patients who have previously had braces and seen their teeth slip back out of alignment are eligible to re-straighten their teeth with Invisalign.
Invisalign may not be great for patients with undersized teeth or severe misalignment issues. Dr. Spaniel does not typically recommend it for patients who have restorative dental work in their mouth such as a dental implant or dental bridge.
How Invisalign Works – Understand the Process
At your first appointment, Dr. Spaniel will examine your mouth and confirm whether Invisalign is a good treatment for correcting your bite and addressing your cosmetic concerns. At Summerwood Family Dental, she has the iTero® digital scanner, which is state-of-the-art technology that allows her to take detailed impressions of your mouth so that a lab can create custom aligners that are precise to your mouth and dental imperfections. Patients agree that 3D imaging is much easier than taking physical molds of the mouth. Dr. Spaniel then devises a customized treatment plan that should help you attain your dream results.
Invisalign aligners are created with durable thermoplastic material. Once they are made, you will receive many aligners, as well as a schedule to follow to keep your progress on track. Approximately twice a month, you will switch out your current aligners and move on to the next set to ensure that your teeth are shifting in the right direction. Dr. Spaniel strongly encourages you to wear your aligners at least 22 hours per day. The more you wear your aligners, the more quickly you can complete your treatment.
The good news is that you do not need to visit Summerwood Family Dental each time you switch your aligners. Dr. Spaniel will schedule periodic appointments to check that the treatment is progressing as intended, but you will have far fewer appointments than traditional braces require to tighten the wires.
Most patients need between half a year and a year and a half to complete Invisalign. However, you may need to wear Invisalign for longer if your teeth are more severely misaligned or if you wear your aligners less often than the recommended 22 hours each day. Usually, patients can complete Invisalign faster than with traditional braces because there is no downtime waiting for the wires to be tightened.
Caring for Your Aligners
You should try to keep your aligners in good condition since you will need to wear each set for about two weeks total. Removing your aligners when you eat or drink (anything but water) already makes it much easier to keep your aligners clean. Once or twice per day, you should clean your aligners with toothpaste and then rinse them off with room temperature water.
Once you have finished with an aligner, Dr. Spaniel asks that you store it somewhere safe. Most likely, you will not need this aligner again, but in case a tooth or teeth did not move fully as intended, an old aligner may be worn again to achieve the optimal results. After your Invisalign treatment is complete, it is okay to dispose of your old aligners.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
The total cost of Invisalign depends on how many sets of aligners are necessary to nudge your teeth into proper alignment. Usually, the cost of Invisalign is not much different than the total cost for traditional orthodontics. Several major dental insurance providers now offer partial coverage for Invisalign. The team at Summerwood Family Dentist can help to review your policy to verify what benefits you are entitled to. We also accept financing options through CareCredit, a leading medical lender, to help you pay for your Invisalign treatment.
Maintaining Your Results
Teeth often drift out of place over time. For many patients, the best way to maintain a straight smile and perfect bite after Invisalign is to wear a retainer at night. The frequency with which someone should wear a retainer differs from one patient to the next, but if you would like to maintain the appearance of your smile for the rest of your life, it is a smart idea to use the custom-fit retainer that Dr. Spaniel provides to you.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are interested in trying the top-rated invisible orthodontic treatment, schedule an Invisalign consultation with Dr. Spaniel. She is a leading restorative and cosmetic dentist in Oregon who loves helping her patients achieve the smile of their dreams. Please call (503) 906-8600 today