Invisalign
We are an Invisalign certified dental office and use Invisalign to straighten mild to moderately crowded or unevenly spaced teeth and correct bite problems. More advanced situations can often be treated by an orthodontist using a combination of Invisalign and more traditional methods of tooth movement. Invisalign is a series of thin clear trays that are created by computer using laser accuracy and are worn over a period of time to move teeth gradually.
We offer complimentary Invisalign consultations where we will evaluate your teeth and jaws to decide how you can benefit from Invisalign treatment and to find out what esthetic outcomes you are seeking. Then, impressions of your teeth, a full set of low radiation digital x-rays, and a series of photographs will be taken and sent to the Invisalign lab. After lab processing, our office will receive a three dimensional online set up of your teeth so we can properly prescribe the proper staging and movement necessary for your smile. When the prescription is complete we will order your series of Invisalign aligners and they will be shipped from Invisalign to our office.
Patients will usually be given three sets of aligners at a time and each set should be worn at all times day and night for a period of two weeks except during eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. Compliance with wearing the aligners is critical to success with Invisalign. Every six weeks a patient will generally be seen for a check up appointment in our office to monitor progress and to receive the next three sets of aligners.
The number of trays and the amount of time that it takes for completion of Invisalign varies from patient to patient, some minor treatment taking only two months, and more complicated tooth movement and bite correction taking over two years. On average though, most Invisalign patients treated in our office complete treatment in under a year.
At the completion of Invisalign treatment, some patients may opt for further cosmetic dental treatment like veneers, esthetic fillings, or enamel contouring to perfect their smile if teeth were worn, chipped, or discolored to begin with. Retainers will then be made and we recommend retainers be worn nightly for as long as you wish to keep your teeth in their new position. Retainers will need to be replaced periodically and there are several different types of retainers, some of which can be re-ordered from Invisalign without ever having to take new impressions since your information is stored in the Invisalign computers permanently.
We will provide you with a complimentary take home whitening kit since Invisalign aligners can be used anytime during treatment to hold the gel for whitening your teeth. And finally, we will take photographs of your new smile after treatment and can provide you with digital before and after photos!
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