You don’t have to live with crooked teeth that make you feel self-conscious. Ask our Grandville cosmetic dentists if you’re a candidate for Invisalign®.
Invisalign are nearly that you wear over your teeth, straightening your smile in as little as 12 to 18 months.
This alternative form of orthodontic treatment may not be for everyone so please feel free to contact us for more information before deciding to pursue Invisalign.
Continue reading to learn more about Invisalign braces and if they would fit your lifestyle.
Patient compliance is of utmost importance during Invisalign treatment. After all, Invisalign only works as long as you wear your . Otherwise, your teeth will take longer to move into their final positions. Invisalign braces work best for patients who wear their aligners 20 to 22 hours a day, as instructed by our dentists.
Most adults are motivated to straighten teeth because they know what it’s like to feel self-conscious while smiling. Teenagers also know what it feels like to cover their smiles in group pictures or be teased in school. If you’ve ever felt self-conscious of your smile, you owe it to yourself to schedule an appointment with one of our cosmetic dentists.
Unlike children, adults are usually paying for their own orthodontic treatment. This makes our adult patients financially motivated to complete the entire Invisalign process. You don’t want to spend money on teeth straightening only to not wear your aligners every day. During treatment, you will have to wear each set of clear aligners over your teeth and only remove them for eating and brushing your teeth.
Our dentists recommend Invisalign for teenagers and adults largely because they are no longer losing their baby teeth. If your child needs orthodontic treatment, we may refer them to an orthodontist. Children can get all their permanent teeth as early as 12 years old. However, it’ll be up to you as the parent to determine whether your child is responsible enough to care for and wear their clear aligners 20 to 22 hours a day.
Wish you could straighten teeth without metal wires and brackets on your teeth? Invisalign clear aligners do not involve metal at all and are instead made from smooth, thin plastic that won’t irritate your cheeks and gums. Many of our patients also appreciate that Invisalign braces are subtle enough to go unnoticed by friends, family, and co-workers unless seen up close.
Crooked teeth affect more than just your appearance, they also affect your oral health. Plaque love to hide between crooked and crowded teeth. If you’re prone to getting cavities, you may want to ask one of our dentists if Invisalign aligners would help. Once we’re able to fix crooked or crowded teeth, you’ll have enough space to brush and floss properly.
While can correct minor issues with bite, we may not recommend it if your jaw needs serious realignment. In this scenario, we would refer you to an orthodontist. Orthodontists are able to use other types of appliances (like headgear) to move your jaw into proper position. Not fixing the bite alignment could cause your enamel to wear unevenly or even create jaw pain.
If your case is complex, you may need metal braces during the first part of your treatment before switching over to Invisalign clear aligners. That way, the metal braces handle the complex movements of your teeth and jaw. Many patients find this ideal compared to wearing traditional metal braces during their entire treatment period. Each patient is different, which is why it’s important you request an appointment with one of our cosmetic dentists.
It’s worth noting that Invisalign technology has changed over the years since it was first introduced in the 1990s. Today, we’re able to use SmartForce® attachments with clear aligners to move your teeth. SmartForce attachments are small, tooth-colored bumps we attach to your teeth to push against your aligners. While not every patient needs these attachments, they are available to those with complex cases.
Drs. Larissa Bishop and Rebecca Vander Baan are reputable . To request an appointment and learn if you’re a candidate for Invisalign, call Grandville Dental Health Center at (616) 531-0360.
This blog post has been updated.