subject: Invisalign And Short-term Ortho Treatments For A Straighter Smile [print this page] As the seasons begin to change, why not transform your smile as well? During the school year, many teens, and even adults, yearn for a straighter smile. Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth by using a series of custom-made comfortable, invisible plastic aligners. If you are unsatisfied with your smile, but do not want bulky, conventional braces, Invisalign or Invisalign Teen may be an appropriate solution for giving you a straighter smile that you have always desired. This unique treatment hosts an array of advantages for both adults and teens, allowing for a perfect smile without altering your lifestyle.
Invisalign: What You Need to Know
While undergoing treatment for a straighter smile, it is often hard to tell if someone is wearing an Invisalign aligner, which makes the straightening process more discreet and less life altering. Like traditional braces and orthodontic appliances, the aligners are designed to move your teeth gradually into a desired position.
The Invisalign process requires a set of impressions and photographs of your teeth, which are taken during the initial consultation. Once the impressions are made, they are used to create a three-dimensional computer projection of how your teeth could be moved in increments. This process forms the basis for developing a series of custom-made aligners that are designed to accomplish the movement of your teeth to their final desired position.
Your Invisalign aligners are fabricated at the Align Technologies dental laboratory using computer-aided design and are sent to your orthodontist, who will dispense them in groups of one or two at a time during regular check-up appointments for proper management of the straightening process. Each aligner must be worn in its specific order for about two weeks, during which it moves the teeth in small increments. With Invisalign, you have the ability to remove your aligners for eating, drinking certain beverages, brushing and flossing, but they must be worn at least 20 hours a day in order to reposition the teeth successfully.
What are Short-term Ortho Treatments?
For adults wanting a straighter smile in a shorter period of time, short term orthodontics can esthetically improve your smile in approximately six months. Short term orthodontics are effective and a conservative esthetic treatment option for adult patients with misaligned teeth. This cosmetically focused treatment is a great alternative to traditional orthodontics for patients wanting a straighter smile while not altering or changing their bite. This allows your dentist to address your main concerns of crowded teeth or spacing without aggressive tooth reduction.
Another important aspect of short term orthodontic treatments is the use of clear brackets and tooth colored wires. This allows you to receive the most esthetic treatment option while still providing the forces you can only get by using brackets and wires. The length of treatment has always been the number one obstacle most adults report on not going through with braces. The metal appearance and cost are a close second. With short term orthodontic treatments you can straighten your smile in as little as six months with clear brackets and tooth colored wire.
Not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign and Invisalign Teen, but by visiting your dentist in South Charlotte, NC you can find the best solution for a straighter smile. Severe cases may require traditional wire braces, but your South Charlotte dentist will be able to advise you on the best course of treatment.
