Invisalign®
Fort Worth, TX
 Although childhood is the best time to make orthodontic changes, more and more adults these days are becoming interested in getting straighter smiles. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, one in five orthodontic patients is over 18 years of age.
Many adults who seek to reposition their teeth often do it with reluctance and oftentimes don’t get treatment at all since they fear discomfort and embarrassment. However, thanks to a variety of dental options, now you have more subtle ways of improving your smile. Modern treatments like Invisalign are ideal alternatives to metal brackets.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign treatment works much the same as braces though it actually does not involve metal braces at all. Instead, the treatment consists of wearing an innovative system of clear teeth aligners that are more comfortable, virtually invisible, and easily removable.
Invisalign uses clear tray aligners made of special plastic based on the measurements of your mouth. The strong and durable plastic places enough pressure on certain parts of your teeth to move them slowly in a better position.
How Does Invisalign Work?
To get Invisalign, you first need to consult with Dr. Bacon at Del Mar Dental. We will first assess the condition of your smile, examine your overall dental health and then take various impressions of your mouth from different angles. We will then create an overall treatment plan to straighten your teeth and get the results that you desire.
We will first send the molds of your mouth to a dental lab so that they can create a series of custom-fitted tray aligners for you. Once these aligners are made you will be requested to wear them and replace your aligners with the next one in the series every one or two weeks. Each replacement will feel slightly different than the previous one since the aligners are designed to continuously shift your teeth.
For best results, you need to wear your aligners 20 to 22 hours every day. They will need to be removed when you are eating, brushing or flossing your teeth. Most people see results in 18 to 24 months, though some people who only need very slight cosmetic changes may just need to wear the aligners for as little as 10 weeks.
Invisalign treatment requires fewer dental visits. Since these invisible trays make your teeth move more slowly than traditional braces, they are also less uncomfortable. During the treatment, you may experience a slight lisp when speaking but you will soon get used to speaking with aligners in your mouth.
Uses of Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign treatment is effective for simple cosmetic, rather than complicated functional, changes. These include: | • |
Crossbites, open bites, underbites and overbites.
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Crowded teeth.
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Slight spaces between teeth.
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Alignment of baby teeth.
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Generally straighter smile. |
Limitations of Invisalign Treatment
Although Invisalign trays are not obvious when you talk or smile and are effective for simple dental repositioning, they cannot resolve complex orthodontic issues. For that, you will require metal braces and retainers.
Invisalign treatment may also be a bit more expensive than traditional braces.
If you are interested in getting Invisalign, call us at (817) 710-2609, and we will determine whether Invisalign is the right treatment for you. |
