For a long time, metal wires and brackets were the only path to a straight smile. These days, orthodontic patients have a variety of treatment options available to them. So is it true that in some cases you can you have orthodontic treatment without anyone else knowing? Yes, you can!
This type of orthodontic treatment is called Invisalign, and it’s a highly popular choice that has proven effective for over 3 million people around the world. How exactly does Invisalign treatment work? Our greater OKC Invisalign experts want to fill you in. Read on for all of the details, and then let us know if you have any more questions that we can answer.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign treatment uses sets of clear plastic aligners that resemble teeth whitening trays. As their name suggests, they’re virtually invisible, so friends and coworkers won’t know you’re wearing aligners unless you tell them.
The aligners are custom made to fit your top and bottom teeth and guide them to their proper alignment, as prescribed by your orthodontist. The patient wears each set of top and bottom aligners for two weeks, for 20 to 22 hours per day, at which point the teeth have shifted slightly to fit that set of aligners and will begin to shift a little further when the patient begins wearing the new set, and so on.
Invisalign treatment shifts only a few teeth at a time with a specific amount of force predetermined by your orthodontist and controlled with the design of your aligner. As your teeth move, your gums too will gradually shift around your teeth to hold and support them. Invisalign patients may experience slight pressure when they’re transitioning to a new set of aligners. But that’s really just an indicator that the teeth are moving, and overall Invisalign isn’t painful!
How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?
Length of treatment with Invisalign depends on the individual, the current position of your teeth, and how your teeth need to be adjusted to achieve proper alignment. The average adult’s Invisalign treatment lasts 12 months, though Invisalign teen treatment times may vary a little more. The best way to keep your treatment on schedule and as efficient as possible is to keep your teeth clean and follow your orthodontist’s instructions for wear and care of your aligners.
One of the many great benefits of Invisalign though is that appointments are shorter and further apart than they would be for a patient with metal braces because there are no wire adjustments to be made. Your treatment progress will usually be observed by your orthodontist every four to six weeks.
Invisalign Fits Your Lifestyle
As far as lifestyle adjustments go, Invisalign doesn’t require many. You can still play sports and instruments, which is especially important to Invisalign Teen patients.
During Invisalign treatment, you can still eat whatever you normally eat, with one simple instruction: remove your aligners when you eat and put them back in after finishing your meal and rinsing your mouth or – even better – brushing and flossing. You can also brush and floss just like you always have because you can take your aligners out for cleaning your teeth too.
Invisalign for Adults and Teens
Invisalign treatment is available for adults who have decided later on in life that they want a straighter smile for both the confidence boost and the oral health benefits. Invisalign is also available for teen patients who have lost all of their baby teeth and prefer a less conspicuous alternative to traditional metal braces.
In most cases, Invisalign is just as effective as traditional braces. However, every patient is different, so your orthodontist will perform a careful assessment and make recommendations for the treatment option that best suits your needs and lifestyle.
Your Craig & Streight Invisalign Consultation
Before Invisalign treatment even begins, during your consultation, we can show you a digital mockup of the final position of your teeth. This rendering of the virtually perfect smile ahead of them keeps Invisalign patients enthusiastic and motivated throughout their orthodontic treatment and helps them to understand both their treatment and the results their orthodontist has planned for them.
Now that you know how it all works, you might be eager to try Invisalign for yourself. We’d be happy to hear that! Let’s set up a time to discuss Invisalign treatment and see if it might be a good fit for you. You can schedule your consultation here on our website or over the phone. We look forward to working with you!
Keep Smiling Oklahoma!