You have heard about Invisalign clear aligners in Kent and wonder if they would be right for your smile. Dr. Donald Hainer and Dr. Manpreet Dhaliwal of Complete Dental Care evaluate older teens and adults for Invisalign and explain the treatment process from start to finish.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is orthodontic treatment accomplished with BPA-free acrylic aligners instead of traditional metal or ceramic braces in Kent. Invisalign appliances resemble teeth whitening trays and fix mild to moderate smile alignment problems, including overjet, gaps, crowding, overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite, and tooth rotation. Very different from familiar metal braces, Invisalign aligners are pretty much invisible and 100 percent removable. They make over smiles more quickly than traditional braces and without the dietary restrictions and oral discomforts familiar to patients with wires and brackets.
Treatment Process with Invisalign
Your Kent dentist will examine your teeth and gums and take digital X-rays, photos and other imaging to see if Invisalign is a viable treatment option. If so, Dr. Dhaliwal or Dr. Hainer formulates a care plan and takes oral impressions to send to a special Invisalign lab. At the lab, a specially-trained technician creates the 18 to 30 pairs of BPA-free aligners necessary to complete treatment.
Patients change their aligner pairs every two weeks and visit Complete Dental Care every four to six weeks to check on progress and to receive new aligner pairs. You wear the appliances for 20 to 22 hours each day to ensure treatment finishes on time. Traditional braces remain in place for as long as 2-½ years or more, depending on the complexity of the case, but Invisalign creates a beautiful smile in only 9 to 15 months. One year is about average/
Patients take out their aligners for meals and for daily brushing and flossing at home. Avoid staining foods and beverages, such as grape juice, with aligners in place. Some individuals use non-abrasive toothpaste or plain soap and water to clean their aligners. Or, they may soak them briefly in mouthwash to eliminate any odors.
Plus, you may remove Invisalign aligners for special events such as graduations, professional presentations, and weddings. This convenience appeals to older teens and adults who find traditional braces embarrassing in social or professional situations.
Upon completion of orthodontic treatment, expect to wear a customized Vivera retainer to keep your teeth properly aligned. This quality retainer from Invisalign is the best way to protect your investment in an outstanding smile. You smile will stay straight and fully functional indefinitely.
Come in for a Consultation
The team at Complete Dental Care values healthy, beautiful smiles and how they improve patients’ confidence and sense of well-being. Contact Complete Dental Care today to arrange your Invisalign consultation and get all your questions answered.