Invisalign

We believe you’re never too old to straighten your teeth. Many of our patients are adults who are currently undergoing treatment. Did you know that roughly 30 percent of all orthodontic patients these days are adults?

Whether you had braces as a teen but your teeth have shifted, or you have never undergone orthodontics but always wanted to, we can help you enjoy straighter teeth, an improved bite, and a more beautiful smile.

Invisalign® clear aligners are a progressive-phase orthodontic treatment designed for patients who need mild-to-moderate correction of crowded or crooked teeth. This system utilizes a series of custom-made trays that gradually shift your teeth into their targeted positions. Instead of frequently returning to our office to have braces tightened, you simply swap the trays out every few weeks.

Invisalign® clear aligners are a great treatment option for adults. They are easy to wear and are not visible to most people. If you’re considering Invisalign, you’ll need to be diligent about wearing the aligners at all times and make them part of your lifestyle for the duration of treatment.

Among the things, you may worry about with treatments to straighten your teeth is missing out on your favorite foods. This can affect your daily life and make special occasions less fun, as well. The following foods are forbidden with traditional metal braces, but not with Invisalign®!

• Hard foods, such as candy, uncut carrots and apples, and hard chips
• Chewy foods, such as bagels and many kinds of meat
• Sticky foods, such as fruit roll-ups, toffee, bubble gum, and caramels
• Foods that can get stuck under wires, like popcorn, seeds, and nuts

Don’t let the idea of metal brackets and wires discourage you from seeking orthodontic treatment. With Invisalign®, you can get a perfect smile without anyone knowing!

When it comes to straightening your teeth to achieve a healthy smile, having a mouth full of metal braces may not be YOUR ideal solution. Lucky for you, we offer a cosmetic alternative: Invisalign®.

The results from Invisalign® users indicate that it's a comfortable, effective option for straightening teeth. In addition, Invisalign provides a "nearly invisible" option that allows you to avoid the dreaded “metal mouth.” We can help determine if Invisalign is right for you, but this article will explain why so many adult patients are calling Invisalign the best choice for straightening your smile.

Metal-Free Braces

While you can get brackets to more closely match your enamel color (making them more discrete), Invisalign is designed to be invisible. Aligner trays made of smooth, comfortable, BPA-free clear plastic are worn over your teeth to subtly and gently move your teeth. Since there are no metal parts to change the look of your smile, your Invisalign aligners can straighten your teeth while allowing your pearly whites to shine through. If you’re an adult, who tends to be self-conscious, Invisalign may be an excellent choice for you. People may not even notice you’re straightening your teeth with Invisalign!

Eat, Brush, and Floss Easily

Another particularly attractive aspect of Invisalign is the freedom it allows. While traditional metal braces can make eating, brushing, and flossing difficult, this is not the case with Invisalign. The aligners are easily removed for these activities, which gives you the freedom to live life as usual.

More Comfort

Invisalign consists of smooth, comfortable plastic instead of  traditional metal brackets and wires that are more likely to irritate your cheeks and gums. For many adults, that's an important advantage.

Straightening your teeth to improve your smile and overall oral health is an important decision. To learn more about Invisalign and to find out if it’s right for your smile,  schedule a complimentary initial consultation with Bel Air Orthodontics today!

Invisalign® aligners are made from a clear, thermoplastic material that is custom-made to fit your teeth. Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign aligners are removable. Because of this, they require special care. To achieve the best smile results, proper handling and care of your Invisalign aligners is vital.

Follow these steps to take care of your aligners:

• Do not eat or drink hot beverages while wearing Invisalign aligners. It’s a good idea to get in the practice of removing your aligners before eating and drinking. Because they are made of plastic resin, heat can distort and damage them. Also, eating while wearing the aligners will cause sugar and other food particles to stay on your teeth, which contributes to plaque and tooth decay.
• Clean the aligner trays regularly. Invisalign aligners are exposed to the same bacteria and plaque your mouth is, so you need to clean them as regularly as you clean your teeth. However, you should avoid cleaning the aligners with harsh chemicals. We recommend using a denture cleaner or other mild cleaning solution. Please carefully follow the instructions we give you.
• Store aligners in a cool, dry, safe place. When you’re not wearing the aligners, store them in the case provided by our office. If you don’t use the case, they can easily get lost or damaged. Keeping them out of reach of small children and pets is also a good idea. Dogs love to adopt clear aligners as chew toys!
• Don’t chew gum while wearing aligners. There’s one thing that conventional braces and Invisalign aligners have in common: chewing gum damages both.
• Don’t soak aligners in mouthwash. Many popular mouthwashes contain a color pigment. There’s a possibility that soaking Invisalign aligners in mouthwash will tint or stain them.
• For more tips for a successful Invisalign experience, contact our office!

If you think twice before smiling, it may be that you need orthodontic treatment. Your smile expresses confidence and comfort about the appearance of your teeth and gives others a great first impression. However, if your teeth protrude, have noticeable gaps, or are crowded and crooked, you may feel anxiety about showing the world anything more than a tight-lipped smile.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, one out of five orthodontic patients is an adult. Not only can the correction of dental misalignment improve self-esteem, it can also fix bite problems that can lead to poor dental health.

Special Considerations: Braces for Adults

If you didn’t get braces as a teen, don’t worry; the option of adult braces is still open. While the process of repositioning teeth is similar for all ages, special considerations are required when dealing with an adult mouth. While teens rarely have serious gum disease, adults often do. Periodontal problems, which may include gum recession, bone loss, and missing teeth due to decay or trauma, must be resolved before orthodontic treatment begins.  These conditions may make orthodontic treatment slightly more complex and extended in length.

Another important consideration for adults seeking orthodontic care is aesthetics. In the past, many professional adults have avoided orthodontic treatment because of big, bulky, metal braces. Thankfully, today’s orthodontic treatments are far less noticeable. From mini brackets and ceramic brackets to Invisalign® clear aligners, today’s orthodontic appliances are small, sleek and, in some cases, nearly invisible.

It is never too late for a beautiful smile! We invite you to schedule a complimentary initial evaluation to review how orthodontic treatment may benefit your smile.