Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign is becoming the preferred orthodontic treatment because it offers many advantages over traditional braces. This includes:
- Nearly invisible aligners
- Greater comfort
- Removable aligners
- No diet restrictions
- No special cleaning
- Fewer dental visits
- Treats most orthodontic concerns
Of course, people in San Jose consider Invisalign clear aligners mainly because the clear plastic aligners are much less visible than metal wires and brackets. But it’s also good to avoid brackets and wires because these can be very uncomfortable; they can poke and scrape your cheeks. Tightening visits can lead to more discomfort than simply switching aligners.
Removable aligners are convenient. If you have a close-up photo shoot or a special occasion where you want to remove your aligners, you can. For example, some people have a slight lisp with Invisalign (as they might with braces), so if you’re giving a speech or a major presentation, you’re free to remove them for the speech. However, wearing your clear aligners for at least 22 hours per day is important.
Removable aligners mean you can enjoy all the foods you eat without braces—you don’t have to worry about food getting caught in your braces because you’ll need to remove them to eat. And there’s no worry about having to clean foods out of your aligners either. You only need to brush and floss after each meal to clean your teeth.
You can often get away with fewer dental visits when you choose Invisalign in San Jose. Once you settle into the routine, we may only recall you every six to eight weeks, compared to the standard of monthly tightening visits.
Most importantly, clear braces are effective at treating most orthodontic problems, including:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Gapped teeth
- Crowding
- Crossbite
- Open bite
Of course, we can only determine if your case is treatable with a consultation.
How Invisalign Works
Orthodontic Basics
All orthodontic treatment relies on the same principles. Your body naturally reshapes bones under pressure, and the jaws are the most dynamic bones in the body. By applying constant pressure to your teeth, we can control how the body reshapes the bone, allowing teeth to move while remaining anchored in the bone.
Traditional braces use brackets and wires to apply this force. Invisalign works with clear plastic aligners that apply force. You will move your teeth into their desired positions by wearing a series of aligners, each causing a slight movement in your teeth.
Invisalign Treatment Process
These invisible, clear braces procedure starts with a digital scan of your teeth. Once we have charted the current positions of your teeth, we can design a sequence of steps that will move them into the desired configuration: a beautiful, straight smile. This sequence is sent to the Invisalign lab, where a series of aligners is manufactured for you.
When the aligners are ready, you will come to our San Jose office to have the first aligner fitted. It’s a clear plastic piece that fits over your teeth. You can have aligners on both the top and bottom simultaneously.
You’ll feel the pressure on your teeth when you pop in each new aligner. It can cause a little discomfort, but it’s usually controllable with over-the-counter pain relievers.
You must wear your aligner for 22 hours daily to get optimal results. After two weeks, you’ll switch to the next aligner. After you go through a few aligners, you’ll return to our office for an evaluation and your next set of aligners. Once we’ve finished all the aligners, you’ll have the beautiful, straight smile you desire.
After your orthodontic treatment, you’ll wear a retainer to help stabilize your teeth in their new position. At first, you might wear your retainer as much as your aligners. Then you will only wear it at night. Finally, you’ll only wear it some nights to help keep your teeth in place.
Limitations of Invisalign
Although Invisalign treats most cases very well, there are some things it is not suited to treat. Rotated teeth are a challenge for non-traditional orthodontics. Also, because these clear braces mostly pushes, it’s not as good at pulling teeth up that are recessed down into the jaw. There are a few other cases where we might not recommend these metal braces alternatives, but we offer other orthodontic options in these cases.
Invisalign Is a Great Ortho Solution for Teens
Are you looking for an ortho solution for your teen? Invisalign can be a perfect solution. Though, there are some things to consider. Teens can enjoy all the benefits of straightening their teeth, just like you would! Teens can:
- Feel confident at school with their clear aligners.
- Eat their favorite crunchy and chewy foods.
- Have a lower chance of damaging their orthodontics because they don’t have wires and bracks.
- Play sports without potential damage to their cheeks and lips.
- Have better oral health because they don’t have to clean around wires.
- Visit their Invisalign dentist less often than compared to traditional orthodontics.
- Have a more comfortable orthodontics experience.
While these benefits will have your teen preferring this orthodontics route, it’s important to consider the downfalls before making a decision. With Invisalign teen, your child has the potential to:
- Lose their aligners.
- Break their aligners by failing to practice proper care.
- Wear them less often than required, drawing out their Invisalign treatment.
Considering if your teen is responsible enough for orthodontics will help you decide which route to take with their San Jose orthodontic treatment. Are you ready to get your child started with Invisalign teen? Call your San Jose Invisalign dentist, Dr. Nancy Nehawandian, at (408) 354-5600 or make an appointment online.
Frequently Asked Questions on Invisalign
Straighten Your Teeth In Less Time with Clear Braces In San Jose
To learn whether the best orthodontics option to straighten your smile is Invisalign in San Jose, please call (408) 354-5600 for an appointment at Top Down Dental located near Los Gatos Creek on Blossom Hill Rd.
