Invisalign Clear Aligners

Having crooked teeth as an adult can prevent you from looking and feeling your best. Whether you had braces as a teen and your teeth have shifted, or you’ve never had the chance to straighten your smile at all, Invisalign in Park Ridge may be a good option for you. Read on to discover more about the benefits of this type of straightening treatment and how it works.

What is Invisalign?

The Invisalign system consists of sets of clear aligners that you swap out every one to two weeks. Your aligners will gradually address the misalignment of each and every tooth, shifting them horizontally, vertically, or even rotating them during the course of your treatment. These sturdy aligners are clear, practically invisible, and custom-made to fit and perfect your one-of-a-kind smile. Unlike traditional braces, these aligners are designed to be removed when you eat, drink, brush, and floss—this means that they work to straighten your teeth without putting any crimps in your day!

Looking Better and Feeling Better

Straight teeth are much more than just an aesthetic concern. Over many years, a crooked, gapped, or otherwise misaligned smile can cause a number of other oral health concerns. If your bite is misaligned, you may be putting undue stress on individual teeth, your jaw, or your gums. This stress can lead to chipping, periodontal issues such as gum or tooth loss, recurring headaches, and overall greater dental care costs in the future.

Consultation

Before you receive your first set of aligners, you will have to undergo a consultation with your dentist. Your dentist will conduct a thorough exam of your teeth and gums to determine your oral health and candidacy for aligners. Then, you will discuss your ultimate smile goals, review a cost estimate for your treatment, and your dentist can answer any questions you have.

Preparing Your Aligners

Impressions or digital scans will then be taken of your teeth and you will be shown a mockup of your ultimate smile. This mockup helps your dentist determine where attachments need to be placed or if any slenderizing of the teeth needs to occur. The attachments are made of a harmless white filling material that can be easily removed after your alignment is complete. These temporary augmentations help provide leverage for your aligners to work their magic!

Daily Care

When you receive your first set of invisible braces, you will pop them on and begin wearing them 22 hours every day, removing them only for meals and daily oral care. It is recommended that you rinse your aligners each time you take them out and thoroughly brush them twice a day along with your teeth. It’s important to stay consistent with your aligners and not deviate from the plan provided by your dentist. A lapse in your practice with aligners can negatively impact your timeline and possibly even cause a restructuring of your plan.

What to Expect

Like traditional braces, Invisalign aligners will cause your mouth to feel a bit sore, especially right after putting on a new set. This kind of discomfort is to be expected as your teeth are steadily shifting into a new position. Though Invisalign aligners are created with smooth, non-irritating edges, some patients find their aligners distracting at first. Depending on the individual, minor irritation of the tongue, lips, or cheeks may be present during early stages.

Life After Invisalign

Depending on the degree of your oral misalignment, the Invisalign process can take between six and eighteen months to complete. When you and your dentist are satisfied with the results, you will have a final appointment to remove any attachments that have been made. You will be provided a retainer to wear while you sleep. Not only will this retainer will help prevent your teeth from shifting out of place, it’s also effective at combating nighttime wear-and-tear from grinding and clenching. Finally, it’s important to continue seeing your dentist on a regular basis following your treatment—which is recommended for Invisalign and non-Invisalign patients alike!

Who is a Good Candidate?

Patients with active gum disease, cavities, or other ongoing oral health complications are unlikely to be a good fit for Invisalign. Once these conditions are resolved, straightening your teeth with Invisalign may become an option. Permanent oral fixtures such as dental implants and bridges are also likely to disqualify you for Invisalign. In some cases, younger patients may still be growing into their smile and need to wait before beginning treatment. However, everyone’s mouth is different, and only your dentist can determine if Invisalign is right for you.

Invisalign in Park Ridge

Whether you’re looking for family dental care or Invisalign in Park Ridge, we’re here to help! The compassionate professionals at Beyond Smiles of Park Ridge want to help you achieve your smile goals so you can feel and look your best. We are currently accepting new patients. Please call us with any questions or to schedule an appointment.

Use QR code to do a projected smile analysis of what Dr Lowery and Invisalign can do for your smile.