Did you have metal braces as a teenager but now your teeth are crooked again? Did you always want to have braces but are afraid of how they would look? Do your teens need braces to align their bite? With Invisalign clear aligners, you can improve your smile at any age!
What is Invisalign Teeth Straightening?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear trays to gradually shift your teeth into alignment in lieu of metal braces. Because they are clear, they are nearly invisible! People may not even know you are wearing them—and that makes them a popular choice for teeth straightening at any age.
The aligners are perfect for adults or youth. If you are considering Invisalign for your teenager, a set of blue aligner dots on the trays will help monitor their usage. Invisalign trays are not intended for use as a sports mouthguard, however. They should be removed if a mouthguard is required.
Use Invisalign to:
- Align or realign crooked teeth
- Correct overcrowded teeth
- Close gaps between teeth
- Fix an underbite or crossbite
- Improve minor bite issues
How Does Invisalign Work?
Your dental professional will take precise scans of your mouth and teeth and upload these scans to Invisalign to create your custom tray series. Once the trays arrive, you’ll visit your dentist for the initial fitting and receive instructions on how to use them.
Your Invisalign trays simply “snap” onto your teeth and can easily be removed when you eat or drink, brush or floss. But you’ll want to wear them about 22 hours a day for optimal results. Every two weeks you’ll change out the trays you are wearing for the next set in the series, continuing until you’ve worked through all the trays to the end result.
Each time you change to a new set of trays, you will feel a slight pressure, and may experience discomfort for a couple of days as your teeth shift slightly into the new configuration. You may also notice a slight lisp initially in the first few days as you get used to wearing your aligners. That will go away.
The length of time you’ll need to wear the Invisalign aligners depends upon the complexity of your personal treatment plan. The typical length of treatment is between 12 and 18 months.
Benefits include:
- No metal brackets or wires
- Comfortable to wear. No irritation of the gums, inner cheek or tongue from metal and wire braces.
- Easily removable for eating or drinking, and cleaning teeth
- No visits to the orthodontist for painful adjustments; fewer dental visits overall
- Fast results; in often 50% shorter time than traditional braces
- Hygienic; aligners can be cleaned
Related post: How to Clean Your Invisalign Aligners
Invisalign Teeth Straightening in Reston, VA at Advanced Family Dentistry
With Invisalign, you don’t need to settle for a smile that is less than optimal. Whether you’re looking to improve your looks as an adult, or need to correct a bite as a teen, Invisalign is the perfect choice.
Here at Advanced Family Dentistry, we’d be glad to talk to you about Invisalign teeth straightening. Contact us today at 703-390-9191 to schedule your appointment. We’re conveniently located in Reston, Virginia.
Dr. Sonny Kim is a Diplomat of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), the highest education level for general dentists in this field.
Advanced Family Dentistry
Dr. Sonny Kim, DMD
11876 Sunrise Valley Dr., Suite 101
Reston, VA 20191
Phone: 703.390.9191
