There are many reasons why you may be looking to straighten your smile. Misaligned teeth can affect how people eat, look and speak. Even so, patients may shy away from orthodontic treatment because traditional braces are both unsightly and uncomfortable. Using revolutionary plastic Invisalign trays, our office has changed the way many clients feel about orthodontics. The advantages of Invisalign offer stunningly straight smiles for clients of all ages!

Here at Arkham Dental Associates, we know how great it feels to have confidence in your smile. Suffering from uneven dentition may make you keep your grin guarded, but the right treatment can put your pearly whites front-and-center. If you live in the Arkham, MA area and suffer from crooked teeth that cause pain or difficulty while eating and speaking, contact us at (555) 555-1234 to schedule a consultation today. Our team is ready to help determine if the Invisalign system is right for you!

Essentials of Invisalign

While orthodontists have many ways to straighten crooked dentition, the Invisalign system is the most effective, non-invasive treatment available. Teeth must be shifted and pulled into their proper place during realignment. Metal brackets, bands and wires were traditionally used to force dentition into position. The orthodontist cements the components directly onto the teeth, and wires are uncomfortably tightened on a regular basis.

When patients choose Invisalign, they won’t have to worry about irritating metal at all. Instead, the treatment uses clear plastic alignment trays that can be removed during mealtime. These slide onto your teeth and gently but firmly push them into place. As teeth move, the tray loosens until it needs to be replaced by the next aligner in the series. This gentle pressure is much less painful, as are the smooth edges and softer plastic of aligner trays.

Conditions Treated

As a treatment, aligners wouldn’t be useful if it only corrected minor issues. Invisalign benefits patients in many of the same ways that traditional braces do, including some more complex procedures that most clients think can only be corrected by traditional braces. Some of the most common problems that the process can help alleviate include:

• Dental overcrowding
• Over and underbites
• Open and crossbites
• Crooked or misaligned teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Excessive overjet

It is likely that the Invisalign system will be able to resolve your adjustment issue, except in severe or extremely particular cases. For example, teeth that are impacted or twisted in place are more challenging issues for Invisalign. Traditional braces are much better at drawing out impacted teeth and rotating teeth into drastically different orientations. After an initial examination and x-rays, our expert staff will be able to help determine how well aligners will work for your situation.

Straightening Your Way

One of the biggest advantages of Invisalign is clear to see. The translucent trays are removable, meaning patients are able to eat on their own schedule without needing to worry about damaging their aligners or having food trapped behind wires. When clean and in place, Invisalign is virtually invisible! Instead of a mouth filled with silver brackets and wires, others will only see your smile as it works its way towards perfection.

Even though they are removable, patients need to understand that Invisalign isn’t a partial-day treatment plan. Trays need to be inserted for at least 20 to 22 hours a day to be effective. Constant pressure will move teeth into place, and wearing aligners as suggested will help keep your treatment short while still allowing you to enjoy your favorite snacks and beverages!

Shorter Process

There are a number of ways that Invisalign can save you time. In the short term, metal braces need a lot more maintenance than alignment trays. Brackets may become loose and wires can break or stick into cheeks and gums. This means more time in the dentist’s chair for adjustments and repairs. Invisalign users don’t need to head into the ortho office as their teeth shift. Instead, several trays are given to you at once so you can replace old ones right away!

Another advantage can be seen when discussing tooth straightening for adults. Overall treatment time is a concern for many older patients as they don’t look forward to wearing any kind of braces for a long time. Traditional braces can take up to two years until the plan runs its course, too long for many professionals to endure. With Invisalign, treatments usually last for 12 to 18 months, or even shorter depending on the severity of your condition!

Improving Oral Health

Cleaning metallic braces is often a chore. Most people find it difficult enough to scrub around and between teeth without wires and brackets in the way. Some people even require special tools to dig away remaining food particles after a meal. Disruption in regular brushing and flossing may lead to a host of dental problems later on, such as:

• Cavities
• Gingivitis
• Pain and irritation
• Staining
• Damaging or dislodging wires and brackets

Patients that choose Invisalign don’t have that problem, and find that their oral hygiene actually improves as the treatment progresses. In order to protect your teeth when using alignment trays, effective brushing, flossing and rinsing is essential. Otherwise, food particles may become trapped between teeth and tray, creating a breeding ground for bacteria. Since you’ll be brushing well after every meal, you’ll also be forming excellent habits that will follow you throughout your life!

Concealed Comfort

Metal brackets and wire filaments don’t top the charts when it comes to comfortable components. Another one of the benefits of Invisalign is not having to deal with the poking and scratching that goes along with traditional braces. It can be difficult to adjust wires during routine visits, leaving sharp points that can dig into the back of your mouth. Sometimes the only way to alleviate discomfort is by using dental wax, which can make the solution more cumbersome than the problem itself.

Invisalign trays are fabricated using medical-grade plastic, specifically multi-layer aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane/copolyester. This material is both firm enough to nudge your teeth into the right place while being softer and more yielding than their metallic counterparts. In addition, patients remove their aligners to eat, which periodically removes alignment pressure. Traditional braces don’t offer any such relief!

Candidates for Invisalign

While the Invisalign system is one of the best methods for tooth straightening for adults and teens, it isn’t the most effective treatment for everyone. Most straightforward alignment cases are perfect for these clear trays, though there are certain issues that traditional braces are much better at correcting. A good candidate will meet several specific requirements, including:

• Well-Developed Dentition: While x-rays may give a good suggestion as to how juvenile dentition will develop, most orthodontists will want to wait until all adult teeth have erupted before beginning treatment.
• Rudimentary Corrections: Invisalign trays are most effective making basic adjustments. Patients with more complex conditions may have more success with traditional braces.
• Available Time: The treatment requires patients to maintain a strict schedule for several months to over a year, a commitment some people just can’t make.
• Responsibility: Trays need to be worn for the recommended 20-22 hours. Absent-minded adults and younger children may find such a requirement too taxing.
• No Smoking: Trying to smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco-based products while using trays may damage aligners and stain or harm your teeth. Many dentists don’t offer Invisalign to habitual smokers.
• Excellent Oral Health: Great habits show your dentist that you’re responsible enough to keep up with the treatment while maintaining a healthy mouth at the same time.

Most patients find they can handle the minor challenges associated with the Invisalign system, especially when the results can be so life-changing. Some of the tradeoffs, like only drinking water while trays are inserted or slightly slurred speech when first using Invisalign, may cause inconvenience at first. Even so, most people feel they aren’t enough of a drawback when compared with everything that the system can provide.

Expert Adjustments at Arkham Dental

With the Invisalign system, tooth straightening for adults and teens has never been easier. At Arkham Dental Associates, we know that having a great smile is just as important to our patients as the steps it takes to make it there. If you have any questions about Invisalign and how it can transform your life, please contact our Arkham, MA office at (555) 555-1234 today. We want to get people looking at your fantastic smile, not the tools you’re using to get it!