For many patients, Invisalign® treatment is a good alternative to traditional braces. Treatment time is often shorter, and patients can maintain better oral hygiene during the process. This type of orthodontic treatment uses a series of clear aligners to straighten teeth. The patient wears the trays for 20-22 hours a day, only removing them for eating and oral hygiene routines. The aligners put pressure on the teeth to move them into the correct position, and the patient changes aligner trays periodically so that movement keeps occurring.
The patient changes Invisalign® trays based on the dentist's recommendation. This varies based on the patient's length of treatment and amount of orthodontic movement necessary.
Typically, patients start by wearing aligners for two weeks at a time. After getting accustomed to wearing the trays, the patient may be able to change aligners sooner than two weeks. This depends on how quickly the teeth are moving into the right position. The patient may initially switch to 10-day changes, and if that goes well, the dentist may recommend weekly changes.
One of the main benefits of Invisalign® over regular braces is treatment time can be halved if the patient is compliant. Instead of visiting the dental professional only once a month to tighten braces, the patient can have new orthodontic movement happening every week.
Many patients wonder when it is time to switch to weekly aligner changes instead of biweekly ones. While this varies in each case, there are a few signs to watch for. The aligners may start feeling loose after a few days, and the patient may not feel pressure on the teeth anymore. These are signs the patient's teeth are moving according to the treatment plan, so aligners can be changed more frequently.
Patients may also want to speed up treatment if there is a special event coming up, such as a wedding. With regular braces, altering treatment time is usually not possible. However, with Invisalign®, this is an option the patient and dentist can discuss.
Sometimes, teeth do not move into the expected position on the expected timeline. When this happens, the patient may have to wear each set of aligners for a longer period of time. The dentist can check to see that the teeth are moving into position with each new Invisalign® tray, a process called tracking. If the teeth are not tracking, the tray may not fit well on the teeth. If the correct movements do not start occurring, the dentist simply requests a revision of the patient's case. In this scenario, the patient gets all-new aligners so that the process can continue to go smoothly.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces in Lilburn, GA
Invisalign® is an attractive tooth-straightening treatment option for those who want to avoid traditional braces. When patients is compliant with all aspects of treatment, including aligner wear time, they can look forward to a beautiful smile.
Request an appointment or call Lilburn Family Dentistry at 770-800-0178 for an appointment in our Lilburn office.
If you have uneven or crooked teeth, you might be very self-conscious about it. Teeth straightening can correct this issue and give you the smile you want. But, some options are much more noticeable than others. Invisalign® offers effective teeth straightening. It is discreet and almost unnoticeable. Gently correcting the teeth without the obvious flash…
An effective and yet inconspicuous way to straighten the teeth, Invisalign® gives individuals the flexibility to enjoy a wide range of foods while undergoing the teeth straightening process. When compared to traditional braces that come with a long list of what can be eaten and what needs to be avoided, removable alignment trays bring more…
Maybe you want to straighten your teeth, but you are looking for a more discreet method like Invisalign®. These aligners have exploded in popularity because they are a less obvious way to correct misaligned teeth. Many people with alignment issues who were unsure about braces have now embraced Invisalign. You might be on the fence…
Having a broken tooth can be a stressful situation, but it does not need to permanently alter your smile. Knowing what to do immediately after a tooth breaks or if it cracks can mean the difference between needing an implant later and saving the original tooth.A broken tooth is an urgent matter, and in many…
Keeping up with oral hygiene basics can prevent cavities and other issues with your teeth. Proper daily care can also stop discoloration of the teeth and reduce bad breath. Here are some dental habits that people can benefit from including as part of a daily routine.One of the most important parts of oral hygiene is…