Creating A More Beautiful Smile

Is Invisalign A Good Choice For You?

Everybody wants to have nice-looking teeth, but the proliferation of brand-name aligner systems in recent years has made it harder to figure out which way to go. One of the oldest and most trusted names in the industry is Invisalign, a system that many dentists and orthodontists prefer to use. It's wise, however, to learn a bit about the process before deciding whether it might be right for you. 

How It Works

The idea behind Invisalign treatment is to use a series of customized appliances to slowly encourage a patient's teeth toward a preferred alignment. The company's SmartTrack material is clear, so individuals with concerns about the appearances of other options, such as braces, often prefer to go with Invisalign. You will need to go in for periodic checkups in order to monitor progress and produce new sets of aligners as you get closer to your goals.

Who Can Use It?

Invisalign systems are available for both adults and children. Before undergoing the process, all instances of tooth decay need to be addressed, as the alignment system can break unhealthy teeth. Any problems with loose teeth also need to be handled in advance. X-rays will have to be performed to spot unidentified underlying structural challenges, such as bone density issues.

For kids and teens, a number of milestones also have to be passed, including losing all their baby teeth and having gotten all their adult incisors and first molars. The second and third molars do not need to have erupted yet. Spacing can be designed to accommodate wisdom teeth that haven't erupted, too.

Emotional Maturity

The trays created for Invisalign treatments are intended to be worn for 22 hours per day, so you need to be realistic about your willingness to comply with strict requirements over the course of a year. This can be particularly challenging for children with maturity issues. For this reason, many parents won't start their kids on the process until 12 to 16 years of age.

Timeframe

For the majority of adults, the process is expected to take around 12 months total. This can vary, and some people will begin to see visible results as early as two to three months into the Invisalign treatment process. It is possible for the method to take longer, so patience is important. If you have questions about Invisalign, it's a good idea to schedule a consultation with a professional.


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