If you have a crooked smile, you are probably wishing you had a way to fix it. For years, the only way to do that was with traditional braces, but today, Dr. Duffield wants to tell you about Invisalign and how it can help your smile in a way metal braces can’t.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a revolutionary form of adult orthodontics. Through the use of smooth plastic aligners, Invisalign can help straighten your smile in less time than traditional braces. What makes Invisalign different is that there is no metal involved in this type of orthodontic treatment. Traditional braces will fill your mouth with metal brackets and unsightly wires in order to shift your teeth. Invisalign, however, uses clear plastic aligners to gently move your teeth into the position they are supposed to be in. This leaves your mouth totally metal-free.
What is the Invisalign Process?
The last thing you want in your dental alignment method is a bunch of hoops to jump through before you can get the smile you’ve been wanting. That is not the case with Invisalign. Invisalign is an easy three-step process. You will have the smile you have been looking for in no time.
Step #1 – The first step in the Invisalign process is an initial consultation with Dr. Duffield. He will evaluate your condition and help determine if Invisalign is the right treatment for you. There are some severe alignment conditions that still need to be treated with traditional braces. Also, Invisalign is not usable for younger patients whose dental structure is still developing. Late teens and adults are who this system was designed for.
If Dr. Duffield has established that Invisalign will help you, he will take measurements, X-rays, and dental impressions. These will be used to make your custom-fit Invisalign aligners. Once your aligners are ready, you will move on to step #2.
Step #2 – After a couple weeks, you will be ready to pick up your first series of Invisalign dental aligners. You will begin wearing your first aligner set as soon as you get it. In order for the treatment to be effective, you’ll need to wear your aligners for about 22 hours per day. This gives you two hours to eat meals and take care of your oral health in the mornings and evenings. You will wear that first aligner set for two weeks and then switch to the next aligner in the series. This will be the same for each aligner you have, unless directed otherwise by Dr. Duffield. Every six weeks you will come back to our office for a check on your progress. During these appointments, Dr. Duffield will go over how your teeth have moved and supply you with more aligners as needed.
This part of the process can take as little as 12 months to complete. Once you are finished with your treatment, you will be ready for the third and final step in the Invisalign process.
Step #3 – This is the part you have been waiting for. This is the day you get to show off your new smile, in all its glory, to those around you. Smile, speak, and eat confidently knowing the smile you have always wanted is now a reality. Dr. Duffield will go over any ongoing measures that you might need to take to keep your smile looking exactly like it is supposed to.
With traditional braces, you may have had to wait upwards of two years to get this point in the process. Choosing Invisalign will give you the smile you want faster than you could have imagined.
What are the Benefits of Invisalign?
Appearance – Your Invisalign treatment will not adversely affect your appearance. Unlike the metal brackets and wires associated with traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are clear plastic. They fit snugly onto your teeth and work throughout the day. Your friends and coworkers may not even know you are straightening your teeth.
Comfort – Metal is hard and sharp. That’s what you would have in your mouth with traditional braces. The brackets and wires are uncomfortable, and they may even injure the soft tissue of your lips and cheek. You can avoid all of that with Invisalign. The smooth plastic will feel much more comfortable in your mouth and leave you with nothing but a better looking smile.
Convenience – Traditional braces will mean that you have to alter your diet to avoid certain foods. You will also need to brush your teeth differently to ensure you are getting them clean. We haven’t even started to talk about the monthly visits to get your braces adjusted, either. With Invisalign, you can eat what you want, when you want. Just pop your aligners out and enjoy your meal. In the morning, you take your aligners out, brush your teeth, and you’re ready to go. The morning is a great time to clean your aligners each day as well.
Call our Royal Oak, MI office today at 248-541-1388 to schedule your appointment.