What Invisalign Braces Can Do for Your Teeth
If you are an adult with an overbite or misaligned teeth, don’t assume that you have missed your window of opportunity to straighten your teeth because you didn’t get braces as a teenager. With the advent of Invisalign, the clear alternative to braces, you can still get your teeth straightened without anyone even being aware of it. Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment method that uses clear plastic trays to shift teeth into place. As compared to their wire and metal counterparts, Invisalign braces are more comfortable to wear, more discreet and treatment can be completed in a shorter amount of time.
What to Do if You’re Interested in Invisalign
The first step you need to take if you are interested in obtaining Invisalign clear braces is to schedule a consultation with your dentist. During this appointment, he or she will take an impression of your teeth to see where corrections need to be made. If your dentist uses 3D imaging, you should be able to see an impression of your teeth immediately. Your dentist may also be able to show you what your smile would look like after treatment with Invisalign.
Proceeding with Invisalign Treatment
If you make the decision to go ahead with Invisalign treatment, your dentist will use the impressions of your teeth to create the first of several removable plastic trays for your mouth. Since they are custom designed for you, they should snap into place when in your mouth easily. Approximately every two weeks, you will throw away your old Invisalign tray and replace it with a new one. You will visit your dentist at six-week intervals to monitor whether your teeth are moving into position as expected.
How to Care for Your Teeth During Invisalign Treatment
For the best results, you should plan to wear your Invisalign trays for at least 20 hours a day, and preferably 22-23 hours if possible. They should be removed when eating, but you can wear them when you go to bed at night. You should also remove the Invisalign trays when you brush your teeth. Your dentist will provide you with an Invisalign cleaning kit, so plan to cleanse them as often as you brush your teeth. With proper care, your Invisalign trays will remain durable and not need to be replaced prematurely.
Treatment Plans
Although the total amount of time you will wear Invisalign trays is dependent on many factors, the average treatment time for adults is around one year. This is far less than the two to three years it takes with traditional metal braces. As an adult, you may not want to even consider metal braces to improve your smile, and you no longer have to with Invisalign.
Visit AdvanceOrthodonticsHouston.com for more information about Houston Invisalign braces.