Invisalign invisible braces are modern alternatives to traditional metal braces using clear plastic aligners to realign your teeth resembling clear sports mouth-guards over your teeth. Crooked teeth are a serious issue that affects more than just the quality of your smile. When your teeth are crooked, your oral health is also impacted. Your risks for tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth damage are all increased. You may also be faced with uneven tooth wear and jaw pain. Braces have long been the go-to treatment for correcting crooked teeth, restoring your oral health and your smile. However, metal brackets and wires stand out prominently in your smile and can be a significant source of self-consciousness. The Walker Dental Team in Olympia is an Invisalign invisible braces provider, come in and see a better alternative to traditional braces.
Crooked teeth have traditionally been treated with metal braces. This treatment uses brackets and wires to move your teeth into proper alignment, improving your smile and your oral health. The brackets are bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. A wire spans across your arch of teeth, attached to the brackets using elastic O-rings.
Braces are highly effective and still very popular today. However, because they stand out so prominently in your mouth, they can cause aesthetic concerns. For some, particularly older patients, having braces can be more embarrassing than having crooked teeth. Metal braces also can be uncomfortable. The brackets can rub your intro-oral tissues, causing sores.
Invisalign is a modern alternative to traditional metal braces. Instead of brackets and wires, Invisalign braces uses clear plastic aligners to realign your teeth, improving your smile and your oral health. The aligners resemble sports mouth-guards in appearance and are worn over your teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces, these aligners are removable. However, they should remain in your mouth for at least 20 to 22 hours every day to achieve the best results in the shortest period. The aligners are also clear and practically disappear when placed on your teeth, making treatment much more discreet.
Your aligners are made from 3D impressions of your mouth. These impressions are displayed on a computer monitor, which allow us to see every step of your treatment from start to finish. The impressions also allow us to custom create your aligners to provide you with the best possible results.
Treatment with Invisalign invisible braces requires a series of aligners. Depending upon your situation, this may be anywhere from 18 to 30 sets total. The aligners are designed to put pressure on your teeth, gradually moving them to where they need to go. Once your teeth have been moved to their ideal locations, the aligners then help to stabilize your teeth. The treatment time varies from patient to patient, and typically takes anywhere from 9 to 15 months. Most patients achieve results in less than a year. When your treatment is complete, you are provided with a retainer to help you maintain your results.
There are several benefits associated with Invisalign braces.
With Invisalign braces, our dentists can help you to achieve a healthier, more beautiful smile in an incredibly discreet manner. For more information, and to find out if Invisalign invisible braces is right for you, come and see our Walker Dental Team in Olympia.