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Considering Invisalign? 3 Things You May Not Know
Traditional braces are necessary in some cases, but many dental patients are more than happy to choose Invisalign® instead. In exchange for a mouth full of metal wires and brackets, adult and teen patients can now opt for see-through aligners that make it almost impossible for anyone around you to know you’re having your teeth straightened.
At Lancaster Dental Care Associates in Lancaster, California, Dr. Kamram Saidara and our team of dental specialists offer Invisalign teeth straightening to teens and adults.
Invisalign basics
While traditional braces remain the orthodontic standard for cases of severe malocclusion or uneven, crooked teeth, many adults and teenagers are opting for Invisalign.
We take scans and impressions of your teeth to construct a 3D model, which we use to customize a series of clear trays to shift your teeth into position. We will show you what your final results will look like before you even start wearing your first aligner set.
The Invisalign system lets you wear each customized set of aligners for a few weeks to subtly shift your teeth in the desired direction. Then you simply swap them out for the next set, which continues to incrementally straighten your smile throughout your treatment.
This means no metal, no wires, and no need for in-office adjustments. Your aligners are designed to move your teeth gently and effectively from point A to point B and keep your smile straight after you complete treatment.
3 things you may not know about Invisalign
Invisalign doesn’t require metal in your mouth like traditional braces. Instead, you can gain a straight, beautiful smile with clear aligners. What else is there to know about this type of teeth-straightening system?
1. Aligners are removable
Part of what people dislike about braces is that they’re semi-permanent, meaning you can’t remove them until you complete your treatment. This can make it hard to eat certain foods and make brushing and flossing a challenge.
In contrast, Invisalign trays are designed to be worn 20-22 hours out of every 24-hours. This gives you the freedom to take them out when you’re eating and when you’re brushing and flossing your teeth. Just remember to put them back in right after any of these activities, and wear them while you’re sleeping, too.
2. Aligners are super comfortable
Invisalign aligner trays are made out of SmartTrack® material, which is exclusive to Invisalign aligners. The aligners fall somewhere between plastic and rubber on the rigidity spectrum. They’re stiff enough to maintain steady pressure on your teeth but soft enough to avoid scraping your gums.
3. Aligners can work faster than metal braces
With traditional braces, you’ll see your orthodontist every 8-10 weeks to have your braces tightened to increase pressure on the teeth that need to be moved. This makes metal braces a long, drawn-out affair that can take several years to complete.
In contrast, aligners usually can complete the teeth-straightening process in just 10-24 months, with routine dental visits just to check progress.
To learn more about Invisalign, call our office at 661-215-8130 or request an appointment online today.
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