Crooked teeth are a frequent issue that we see in patients. They desire a nice, even smile. Metal braces are what people think of when they think of smile straightening, and it can deter them from getting help. Particularly in teens and adults, they don’t want their crooked teeth treatment to be obvious. Invisalign clear aligners provide a discreet way to straighten your smile with cosmetic dentistry.
Treatment With Invisalign in Marshall, TX
Every cosmetic treatment begins with an initial consultation. We practice personalized dentistry to ensure every patient gets the necessary care. We’ll discuss your cosmetic smile goals, medical history, and previous dental experiences. The dentist also performs a thorough examination of the mouth. For Invisalign, we look at the state of your crooked teeth and ensure you don’t have severe orthodontic issues that may need more intensive treatment.
If you have oral health problems, like tooth decay or gum disease, we must treat those before proceeding with teeth straightening. Once we proceed with Invisalign, we take digital impressions of your teeth. Traditionally, you would’ve had to sit with your teeth in an impression tray filled with putty for a length of time. With modern dental technology, we can skip the uncomfortable, time-consuming putty treatment and just have you bite on a digital device instead.
The impressions are sent to an Invisalign lab where they make multiple sets of clear plastic aligners custom to your smile. Each set is slightly different, designed to slowly move your teeth into the correct position. When they’re ready, we bring you back into the office and ensure that the first set fits in a way that’ll shift your teeth properly.
You change out aligners about once every two weeks. You’ll also come into the office routinely to ensure treatment progresses accurately. Wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day and only take them out when you’re eating or performing your oral healthcare routine. You need to wear them consistently for your treatment to progress on time.
After your treatment, we’ll use impressions to get you an Invisalign retainer to wear at night. This keeps your teeth in the correct position, preventing them from shifting around in your mouth again. We’ll examine your teeth during your bi-annual dental appointments to ensure shifting hasn’t occurred.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign treats mild to moderate oral health concerns, but severe orthodontic problems require alternate treatment options. However, if you are eligible for Invisalign, you’ll likely choose it over metal braces. Since Invisalign uses clear aligners, they’re practically invisible on your smile. People won’t notice you’re wearing them unless someone is looking for them. Patients strongly prefer this subtler option over metal brackets and wires.
Clear aligners are more comfortable than traditional braces. They’re made of a smooth plastic material that glides gently over your teeth. Metal brackets and wires dig into the soft tissues on the inside of your cheeks and lips. This can leave painful ulcers or scrapes when you move your lips.
Since Invisalign aligners are removable, they’re easier to clean and give you more freedom in your diet. You take your aligners out to perform your oral healthcare routine, meaning you can follow the same one. With braces, you must learn how to brush and floss around the new brackets and devices in your mouth. Braces also require you to avoid certain foods because they can get stuck in or break components of your braces. With Invisalign, you can just take the aligners out for meals.
Traditional braces involve other extra steps. You must visit the orthodontist once a month so that they can tighten the wires on your braces. This wire tightening is what shifts your teeth into place with traditional braces. Since you change out the aligners at home, we only need to see you occasionally during your treatment. The average length of Invisalign treatment is shorter, too, averaging around 12-18 months.
Schedule a Consultation
Get the straighter smile you want subtly. Call us or schedule an appointment online to learn more about Invisalign.