Whether you are a teen just starting treatment or an adult looking to get the smile you have always wanted, Invisalign is a great treatment option.
Invisalign clear aligners are made of virtually invisible polyurethane plastic. The clear aligners are completely removable — for important social occasions, for eating, and most importantly, for your oral hygiene routine of brushing and flossing. Invisalign does require dedication on the part of the patient as the aligners need to be worn for at least 22 hours a day. Your results depend on it!
What Are The Benefits?
There are many benefits to using this clear, removable teeth-straightening system. Some of them include:
- Removability – with a removable appliance, you can maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing as you did before treatment. Also, you have no dietary restrictions as with traditional braces.
- Comfort – the Invisalign aligners are made of a soft, flexible plastic material that will not irritate the soft tissues in the mouth.
- Teeth-Grinding Protection – if you have a teeth-grinding or clenching habit, the clear aligners act as thin guards to protect your teeth from excessive wear.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Your Invisalign treatment plan starts with an impression of your teeth. This impression is then digitized and loaded into special software that helps the orthodontist accurately design the road map to your new smile. Once the plan is finalized, your custom aligners are made and sent to your orthodontist in Roanoke. You will wear each set of aligners for approximately 2 weeks and then graduate to the next set of aligners in your treatment plan.
Invisalign is designed to moderate the force used to straighten teeth and to control the timing of the force applied. As determined by your Roanoke orthodontist, only select teeth are moved during each stage of treatment.
FAQ
Do chewies really help Invisalign®?
Chewies are a great tool to help improve the fit of your Invisalign aligners. Chewies will help eliminate air pockets between the edge of your aligners and your teeth, allowing Invisalign to do a better job. Chew on these foam cylinders for about 5 to 10 minutes before going to bed for better results.
What happens if you skip a day of Invisalign?
We always recommend you follow directions when engaging in Invisalign treatment. You should use the trays anywhere between 20 to 22 hours per day. There is the risk that teeth will slide back into the wrong position when you forget to wear the aligners, so try to use them as indicated. Contact your orthodontist immediately if something happens to your trays to get them replaced as soon as possible.
Can you get Invisalign If you have really crooked teeth?
Any patient who wants to use Invisalign aligners instead of traditional braces has to get an evaluation with an orthodontist. While Invisalign helps correct many orthodontic problems, not all patients may be eligible. You can set an appointment with us in our Roanoke location for more information.
What happens when you finish your Invisalign treatment?
When any patient finishes using their Invisalign aligners, they have to go to the orthodontist for the final phase of the overall orthodontic treatment. Remember that the purpose of aligners is to move your teeth to the right position. Then, we have to prevent your teeth from sliding back to the wrong position, so you need to use retainers for a little while.
Do I have to wear a retainer forever?
Every patient’s journey is different. The short answer is no; you don’t have to wear a retainer forever. Your orthodontist will discuss with you what options are better to prevent relapse after you stop wearing your Invisalign aligners. You may need fixed retainers, or you can use removable ones at night. You may need to use retainers only for four months or a full year, but it all depends on your specific journey towards a healthy smile.