Adolescents and adults continue to turn to Invisalign. But how does it compare to traditional braces? Read on to find out how Invisalign has revolutionized the orthodontics industry.
Millions of adolescents and adults undergo orthodontic adjustments to balance their bites and enjoy a more visually appealing smile. In fact, a well-aligned smile is easier to keep clean, so getting braces or clear aligners can set the stage for lower lifetime risk of gum disease and other oral health concerns.
Thi Hoang, DDS, and Theresa Hoang, DDS, are experienced dentists and certified Invisalign® providers. Invisalign uses clear custom aligners to adjust your teeth without some of the challenges of braces. At Las Positas Family Dental in Livermore, California, the team meticulously customizes your treatment to fit your needs. Come in today to find out why Invisalign is the best option for orthodontic treatment.
The basics of orthodontic care
Braces and Invisalign are orthodontic treatments that fix malocclusion and the functional problems caused by it. All orthodontic treatments gradually shift your teeth into optimal positions, often taking months or years.
Malocclusion is more than crooked teeth. It’s an issue that can cause significant tooth wear, present challenges with oral hygiene, and affect your speech. Fortunately, orthodontic treatments can correct:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Wide gaps between teeth
Some people require surgery before they start orthodontic treatment, but it isn’t a requirement for everyone. Once you get your braces off or complete treatment with aligners, you must use retainers to ensure your teeth don’t return to their former position.
Where braces fall short
Once the standard orthodontic treatment, braces use a bracket-and-wire system to place pressure on your teeth. During regular appointments, an orthodontist tightens the wires and bands in your braces.
While braces can effectively treat severe malocclusion, many people hesitate to get them (or don’t enjoy their time with braces) due to inconvenience and discomfort. For example, the metal brackets and wires can irritate the tissue on the insides of your mouth. Furthermore, frequent tightening can leave you with sore teeth.
Braces also require dietary restrictions, so you don’t accidentally detach a bracket, bend a wire, or get food stuck between them.
What makes Invisalign shine
While no orthodontic treatment is entirely without drawbacks, Invisalign’s benefits over braces are unmistakable. The system uses a series of clear plastic aligners to place pressure on your teeth for 20-22 hours each day. You can remove the aligners to eat, so you don’t need to limit your diet like with braces.
Here are a few other standout benefits that Invisalign offers:
No change to your appearance
Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible. During your orthodontic treatment, your teeth are unconcealed when you smile. You can even remove your aligners for photo opportunities.
When you finish with treatment, Invisalign doesn’t leave any stains on your teeth like braces sometimes do.
Less discomfort
While you might feel some pressure when progressing to a new set of aligners, you won’t experience the level of mouth irritation that comes with wearing braces. Based on your intraoral scans, the patented SmartTrack™ material is engineered to fit snugly and securely over your teeth.
More precision and predictability
Pre-procedure images make it easy for our team to plan your treatment. For some people, this leads to faster treatment than they would get with braces.
Fewer office visits
You’re in control with Invisalign. While you’ll still need to visit Las Positas Family Dental for occasional check-ins, we don’t need to tighten any wires or make regular adjustments. We simply advise you to progress to the next aligners in your series every 1-2 weeks.
Start your treatment today
Treatment with Invisalign is fully personalized, starting with a detailed consultation in our office. Call Las Positas Family Dental or book online to find out how Invisalign can transform your smile today.