Invisalign Clear Aligners, Discreet Treatment for Straighter Smiles
Dental patients who need orthodontic treatment may be avoiding the dentist because they don’t want metal braces. This is understandable, since metal braces can be uncomfortable, involve long treatment times, are very noticeable, and require meticulous cleaning to properly maintain.
Fortunately, there’s an alternative to metal braces that can effectively and discreetly grant patients a straighter smile in half the time of metal braces. Invisalign clear aligners are available to patients of our dentist for quick and discreet orthodontic treatment.
What Are Invisalign Clear Aligners?
Invisalign is a functional and cosmetic dentistry option that relies on transparent aligner trays to complete orthodontic treatment. Like traditional metal braces, Invisalign clear aligners exert continuous pressure over the course of your treatment period to adjust the position of your teeth and correct dental misalignment.
Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign clear aligners are made of patented SmartTrack material, making it easy to hide your orthodontic treatment. As long as you wear your clear aligners for a minimum of 22 hours a day, you’ll see results in half the time of traditional metal braces.
Advantages of Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign clear aligners offer a number of advantages that other orthodontic treatments can’t match, including:
Fast — Invisalign treatment can be completed in as little as 12 months, just half the time required by traditional metal braces.
Comfortable — SmartTrack® material and SmartForce® features are clinically proven to improve control of tooth movement. They’re customized to provide a perfect fit and are easy to place and remove.
Effective — Invisalign can treat a wide range of orthodontic conditions including crossbites, crowding, open bites, gapped teeth, overbites, and underbites.
Discreet — Most people won’t even know you’re undergoing treatment, because Invisalign clear aligners are virtually invisible!
Removable — Invisalign aligners are completely removable, so you can easily brush, floss, and eat without having to worry about cleaning between brackets and wires.
Convenient — Invisalign treatment is ideal for your busy schedule, as visits to our office can be scheduled to fit your busy lifestyle.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Receiving your Invisalign aligners is a simple, straightforward process. Here’s what to expect:
Your Consultation — You’ll attend a consultation with our dentist, where they’ll examine your mouth, review your medical history, and discuss your smile goals with you. This information allows us to determine if Invisalign is the right treatment for you. Our team will let you know about all of your orthodontic options so you can make an informed decision.
Your Customized Plan — We’ll make a polyvinyl impression of your teeth to create a precise mapping of them. These impressions allow Dr. Kim to map out a treatment plan that will include the exact movements of your teeth and a projected timeline for your treatment. It also will used as the model to fabricate your custom Invisalign aligners so they are perfectly formed to your teeth.
Your Invisalign Clear Aligners — You’ll return once we receive your custom-made series of Invisalign clear aligners. Your aligner trays will be fabricated off site, at a special lab using the patented SmartTrack material. We’ll make sure that your aligner trays fit properly before you leave the office.
Your Progress — You’ll wear your Invisalign trays for a minimum of 22 hours a day and only take them out to eat, drink fluids other than water, brush your teeth, and floss. You’ll switch out your aligners for the next set in the series every one to two weeks as directed by our dentist. With each new set of aligners, your teeth will be gently and gradually shifted into their proper place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Orthodontic treatment shifts your teeth out of their original position. When you stop treatment, your teeth may begin shifting back to where they were.
Fortunately, this can be prevented. We offer custom-made retainers so you can keep your beautiful smile in place for years to come.
Failure to remove your Invisalign aligners for eating, drinking fluids other than water, brushing, and flossing can lead to the trays becoming damaged, stained, and ineffective. This can also allow for bacteria to accumulate on the trays, increasing the risk of bad breath, infection, and tooth decay.
Taking proper care of your Invisalign clear aligners is essential to keeping your treatment on track.
Dr. Bobbitt offers these care instructions:
- Remove your aligner trays before you eat, drink fluids other than water, and clean your teeth.
- Use lukewarm water, a soft-bristled toothbrush, and a gentle antibacterial soap or toothpaste to clean your trays.
- Store your aligners in their protective case when not in use.
- Soak your aligner trays at least once a day in a mix of three parts lukewarm water and one part white distilled vinegar or Invisalign cleaning crystals.
- Rinse your aligners before putting them back in your mouth.
- Remove your aligners from back to front to avoid tearing them.
Invisalign tends to cost slightly more than traditional metal braces, but the cost can vary based on factors such as the complexity of your case and your insurance coverage. We encourage you to call your insurance provider ahead of time and check with them to see if they’ll cover some or all of the cost.
We also offer financing options to help make your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign more affordable.
Your Invisalign clear aligners work by exerting continuous pressure on your teeth over time. It’s normal to experience some mild pain and discomfort with each new set of trays, but this usually fades after a short time.
If you experience pain or discomfort lasting more than a few days, call our office in Nashua, NH by dialing (603) 882-3001 or fill out our online contact form. We’ll do our best to resolve any issues you may be having.