A growing number of people are choosing Invisalign® for their teeth straightening treatments. These clear aligners are virtually invisible when being worn and they provide effective treatment for a variety of dental problems caused by poor teeth alignment such as underbites, overbites, crossbites, crooked teeth and spaces between teeth.
Metal braces have been the standard way to treat with a variety of teeth alignment problems, but some people are reluctant to get such treatments given how the appliance can compromise a person's smile. Traditional braces use metal wires and brackets to push their patient's teeth to a better position. Some people say the brackets and wires look like a TV antenna or railroad tracks on the patient's teeth, which is certainly not the look most people want to go for when it comes to their teeth.
Invisalign® works by using the same concept, but instead of brackets and wires being cemented to the patient's teeth, they get several aligner trays at the start of the treatment. Each is worn for approximately two weeks before being replaced with another. The further along with the treatment the patient is, the more force the tray they use applies on their teeth.
Invisalign® clear aligners were designed to be administered by dentists. The procedure uses advanced tech to plan the treatment, so dentists can provide it as long as they have undergone the necessary training Invisalign® requires for its providers.
The process starts with a dentist going over the patient's medical history and evaluating their teeth. Diagnostics tests and visual examinations are used for this. If the dentist notices signs of tooth decay and gum disease during this evaluation, they might advise the patient to treat existing issues first before proceeding with Invisalign®. Clear aligners increase a person's risk of tooth decay since they limit how much contact saliva makes with the wearer's teeth during their day. Saliva serves as a natural mouth cleaner and it protects teeth against tooth decay.
The dentist will also evaluate the cause of the patient's poor teeth alignment before recommending clear aligners. Invisalign® is great for orthodontic issues caused by poorly positioned teeth, but it is not as effective at resolving those caused by irregular jaw positioning.
Once the patient is cleared for Invisalign®, the dentist will create 3D images of their teeth. The images are used to customize the aligner trays the patient will use and to show projections of what the treatment's end results would look like. The information is sent to an Invisalign® lab where the aligner trays will be made. That usually takes about two weeks. Once the aligner trays are ready, the patient will be educated on how to insert, remove and take care of their aligner trays.
Thanks to Invisalign®, dentists can tackle a wider range of teeth alignment issues. People with poor teeth alignment can now get the treatment they need without ruining their smiles. Call or visit our Alexandria clinic to get started.
Request an appointment here: https://alexoldtowndental.com or call Alexandria Old Town Dental at (703) 763-1078 for an appointment in our Alexandria office.
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