Invisalign

The Invisible Way To Straighten Teeth

Invisalign is an affordable, high-quality braces system that is virtually invisible. By using a series of removable clear plastic aligners, teeth are gradually moved into predetermined positions. The aligners fit tightly over your teeth and are very difficult to see. Each set of aligners is worn for two weeks, for at least twenty two hours each day before being discarded for the next set in the series. Treatment continues until your teeth are straightened.

What Is Invisalign?

Instead of fixed braces, Invisalign is a removable system consisting of clear plastic aligners that fit tightly yet comfortably over the teeth. Once in the mouth, the aligners are nearly invisible and are custom-made to exert firm yet gentle pressure on your teeth, gradually moving them into positions predetermined during your treatment plan. You wear each set of aligners for two weeks before discarding them and moving onto the next set. You continue wearing the aligners until your teeth are straightened.

Could Invisalign Help Me?

An initial consultation will determine if Invisalign is the right solution for you or if you’d benefit from another treatment such as fixed braces. The next stage is to collect diagnostic information, such as detailed dental x-rays and photographs. Our dentist uses this information to plan your treatment digitally, creating a treatment plan that will show exactly how each tooth will move until you have a straight, attractive smile. One nice feature about Invisalign is that you can preview digital images showing how your smile should look once treatment is complete. It’s a useful exercise, and most people find it quite exciting.

Once the treatment plan is finalised, your aligners are created and you will be provided with several sets to wear. We will need to see you every 6 to 8 weeks to check treatment is progressing correctly and providing you with more sets of aligners as needed. Most people complete treatment within a year, but it could take as few as 3 to 6 months to correct cosmetically oriented problems.

What to Expect During Treatment?

Treatment is straightforward as you simply need to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours each day. Ideally, you should only remove them when you want to eat or drink or to brush and floss your teeth. It is okay to leave them out occasionally, for example, if you play a musical instrument. You do not need to change your diet, and it is easy to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Initially, the aligners may seem a bit strange, and it could take a day or so to get used to talking with them, but they should soon feel quite natural to wear. When you start to wear a new set of aligners, it’s normal to feel slight discomfort because your teeth are moving towards their new positions.