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.

closeup of a woman putting in her Invisalign clear braces

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

If Invisalign treatment in San Jose, CA, sounds like a good fit for you – you may be wondering what the cost will be to get the straight smile you desire using these clear aligners. The cost can vary, typically between $3000 to $7000. Talk to your dental insurance to see if they will cover the cost of Invisalign, and you can speak to your San Jose dentist about affordable payment plans available to you.

Your individual price quote for Invisalign depends on your individual case. A more complex case will require you to wear your San Jose clear aligners for longer, which will be more costly than a less severe case requiring minimal teeth straightening. An orthodontic consultation with your Invisalign dentist in San Jose, CA, is the first step to a straighter smile with Invisalign.

The best way to determine your individual cost of Invisalign in San Jose is to speak with your Invisalign dentist, Dr. Nancy Nehawandian, DDS, of Top Down Dental. Dr. Nehawandian’s extensive experience will help determine the best course of action for your case. Schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Nehawandian today to get started!

In many cases, Invisalign’s benefits surpass the benefits of braces. In addition to a beautiful smile, you can get it without affecting your appearance during treatment.

Technically, kids can use Invisalign. However, if you’re a parent looking into Invisalign for your child, take time to consider if your child is responsible enough to

  • Wear the clear aligners for 22 hours a day
  • Remove them while eating or drinking anything other than water
  • Keep them safe when they are out of their mouth
  • Keep their teeth clean under the aligners.

We mostly recommend these clear braces for adults and highly responsible teens.

The timeline for Invisalign depends on your orthodontic needs, but typically treatment lasts 6 – 12 months. Schedule a consultation to find out how long our San Jose Invisalign treatment will take perfect your smile.

Invisalign may indeed be the right option for you! Schedule an Invisalign consultation with our San Jose dentist if you want to straighten your teeth quickly without wires and brackets. Dr. Nancy Nehawandian is an experienced Invisalign dentist who can determine your orthodontic needs and help you achieve a beautiful, straight smile.

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.