Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that can be used to straighten your teeth, close gaps between your teeth, and fix many other dental issues. This innovative treatment uses clear aligners. At Central Texas Orthodontics in Austin, Texas, we can use this method to quickly and discreetly correct your dental issues and enhance your appearance.
Does Invisalign Change Your Face Shape?
During your invisalign treatment, you will wear a set of plastic aligners over your upper or bottom teeth. These aligners will gradually move your teeth into better positions within your mouth. If your dental issues are fairly minor, this orthodontic technique will probably improve the appearance of your smile without changing the overall shape of your face.
Improving Your Face
If you have more severe dental problems, receiving this orthodontic treatment may change the shape of your face. For example, an overbite can cause your facial features to look unbalanced and disproportionate. Fixing your overbite can alter the appearance of your face by improving the harmony between your facial features.
Receiving a Consultation
The best way to determine whether this orthodontic treatment will change the appearance of your face is to visit our office in Austin, Texas for a personalized consultation. During this meeting, we will carefully examine your teeth and assess the severity of your dental issues. We will let you know whether this treatment is likely to alter the shape of your face.
What Orthodontic Issues Can This Treatment Address?
Invisalign can be used to fix crooked teeth, crowded teeth, and many other orthodontic issues.
Straightening Crooked Teeth
Having crooked teeth can cause you to feel unhappy about your smile and lose confidence in your looks. You might cover your teeth when you smile or avoid smiling in photographs. Further, crooked teeth can be difficult to brush and clean. Failing to properly clean your teeth can cause you to experience dental problems as you get older. This orthodontic treatment is an ideal way to straighten your teeth and give you a more beautiful smile.
Correcting Bite Issues
It’s common to have an overbite, an underbite, or other bite issues. An underbite occurs when your lower teeth extend too far in front of your upper teeth. In contrast, you will have an overbite if your top teeth extend too far in front of your bottom teeth. Bite issues can cause you to have difficulty speaking and eating. You might also wear down your teeth. Wearing aligners can fix these issues.
Fixing Crowded Teeth
If your teeth are crowded together, you can experience a number of frustrating dental issues. For example, you might be unable to get your floss into the spaces between your teeth. This issue can lead to gum disease and other dental problems. Fortunately, aligners can be used to improve the spaces between your teeth.
Can This Orthodontic Technique Really Straighten My Teeth?
Invisalign is a proven orthodontic treatment that has helped people improve the condition of their teeth for many years. The FDA approved this product in 1998. Since then, more than eight million people have used this treatment to achieve beautiful smiles.
Further, this product has been refined and improved over the years. These improvements allow us to use aligners to straighten very crooked teeth, correct overbites, and address a wide range of other orthodontic issues.
Will My Aligners Be Customized?
You will receive a set of customized aligners to wear during your treatment. We will use a sophisticated digital scanning device to create a unique set of aligners that will correct your orthodontic problems. This device is capable of taking thousands of pictures every second.
After we have taken images of your mouth, you’ll receive a set of aligners that will use pressure to gradually change the position of your teeth. Each of your aligners will be made of clear, BPA-free plastic. You will begin wearing a new aligner every one or two weeks.
Will I Be Monitored Throughout the Treatment Process?
You will need to come to our office in Austin for check-ups every four to six weeks while you are receiving this treatment. During these meetings, we will use our special scanning device to analyze your progress. You will also be able to talk to us about how your teeth are feeling and ask us questions about your treatment. We will also give you new aligners to wear over your teeth.
Is This Orthodontic Treatment Comfortable?
This orthodontic treatment is a very comfortable way to straighten your teeth. Since you will not use metal braces during this treatment, you will not experience mouth abrasions and other issues.
Instead, you may feel a gentle sensation of pressure as your teeth adjust to each of your new aligners. This feeling indicates that the aligner is working to reposition your crowded or crooked teeth. To ensure that you feel comfortable while your mouth is adjusting, you can take over-the-counter medication when you begin wearing your aligner.
Will I Have to Wear My Aligner During the Day?
In order to shift the position of your teeth, you will need to wear your aligner for most of the day. Although the details of your treatment will vary, it’s normal to wear your aligner for twenty to twenty-two hours each day. Using your aligner as instructed will help you achieve the best results from this treatment.
Removing Your Aligners
You will be able to take off your aligner when you are eating. Instead of altering your diet during your treatment, you will be able to continue to enjoy chips, apples, and other crunchy snacks.
You’ll also be able to take off your aligner when you are flossing and brushing your teeth. Removing your aligner during this time will make it easier for you to practice good oral hygiene throughout your treatment.
How Long Will I Have to Wear My Aligners?
As you might expect, you will need to wear your aligners for a longer period of time if you are using this technique to correct very crowded teeth or other severe orthodontic issues. If you are trying to fix more minor teeth problems, the length of your treatment plan will be shorter.
In general, you should plan on wearing aligners for twelve to eighteen months. When you have your first visit to our office in Austin, we can tell you more about the duration of your treatment plan. As you continue to wear aligners, we can provide you with updated information about the anticipated length of your treatment.
What Happens After I Finish My Treatment?
We will typically instruct you to wear a retainer after you complete your tooth-straightening treatment. A retainer is a plastic device that you will wear over your teeth. This device will stop your teeth from slowly moving back to their original positions in your mouth.
Although it’s common to wear your retainer during the nighttime, the length of time that you must wear this device will depend on your unique situation. We will provide you with detailed instructions about how to use your retainer after your treatment is complete.
Can Teenagers Use Aligners to Fix Crooked Teeth and Other Orthodontic Issues?
Invisalign can be an ideal way to improve your teenager’s smile without requiring them to wear uncomfortable, visible braces. Since your teen will not have to change their appearance in order to improve their teeth, they will be more likely to feel confident and happy about using this orthodontic technique.
In addition to allowing your teen to improve their teeth in a discreet manner, this tooth-straightening method has other advantages that braces lack. Instead of trying to deal with brackets and wires when they floss and brush, your teen will be able to remove their aligner when they clean their teeth. Further, your teen won’t have to give up popcorn, caramels, and other enjoyable snacks during the treatment process.
Can I Chew Gum While I Am Wearing My Aligner?
You should not chew gum while you are wearing your aligner. Gum can get stuck to the plastic that is used to make your customized aligner. To avoid damaging your oral devices, you should take out your aligner when you want to chew gum.
Will Wearing My Aligner Change My Speech?
It takes time to get used to your new aligner. When you begin this treatment, your speech may sound slightly different. However, you will quickly adjust to your aligner. After this point, your speech should return to normal.
Can I Take Off My Aligner During a Special Event?
If the idea of wearing braces or other oral appliances at a wedding, family reunion, or another significant event is preventing you from fixing your teeth, you’re in luck. You don’t have to worry about this problem when you use aligners to correct your teeth.
Removing your aligner for a short period of time will not decrease the benefits of this orthodontic treatment. As a result, you can take off your aligner on your wedding day, during an important presentation at work, or when you are experiencing other meaningful life events. That said, to achieve meaningful improvements in your smile, you should plan to typically wear your aligner for twenty to twenty-two hours a day..
What Tools Should I Use When I Am Cleaning My Aligners?
It’s important to take good care of your aligners throughout the treatment process. Carefully cleaning your aligners will prevent them from becoming discolored or developing other issues. You should clean each of your aligners with a soft toothbrush and water. Certain types of toothpaste can discolor the plastic that was used to make your aligners. As a result, you should avoid cleaning these devices with toothpaste.
You can also use a denture cleaner to scrub your aligners. Alternatively, you could clean your devices with mouthwash. To avoid damaging your aligners during the cleaning process, you should not use a mouthwash that includes alcohol.
Will My Aligners Be Expensive?
If you are looking for a cost-effective way to improve your teeth, don’t worry. Using aligners to correct your smile will typically cost about the same amount of money as receiving braces. If you have dental insurance, your provider may pay for a portion of your treatment costs.
We can also provide other financing options that will help you pay for this treatment. For example, we might be able to give you interest-free financing. Alternatively, you might get a discount on your aligners if you pay for the full cost of your treatment upfront.
Enhance Your Smile
Crowded teeth, crooked teeth, and other orthodontic problems can negatively impact your appearance and increase your chances of experiencing severe dental issues in the future. Instead of using visible braces to fix these issues, you can achieve a beautiful smile with Invisalign. To learn more about this innovative orthodontic treatment, contact us at Central Texas Orthodontics in Austin, Texas.
