Do you have crooked or misaligned teeth? Are you looking for a modern way to straighten your smile? Dr. Denise Halliburton offers Invisalign treatment to her patients at Halliburton Family Dentistry in Ellicott City, MD. Invisalign is a cosmetic dental treatment that uses clear aligners to straighten the teeth. This discreet and comfortable treatment method offers many benefits over traditional orthodontic treatment, making it more user-friendly. Discover more about Invisalign below.
Why Straighten Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth may not seem like a big deal to some people. But crooked teeth aren’t just a cosmetic issue. They cause some serious oral health problems as well. Cleaning crooked teeth is harder, especially if many are cramped or overcrowded. Floss may not be able to even fit in some of the gaps. Plaque and tartar build up in places that are harder to clean, leading to tooth decay and gum disease, even if you do everything right regarding oral healthcare.
Crooked teeth also cause an uneven bite. The pressure when you bite down isn’t evenly distributed across your smile. Certain teeth are put under more pressure than others, wearing them down prematurely and making them more likely to crack or break. You may require restorative dentistry to repair your teeth and restore them to full function.
Uneven bites are more likely to develop issues with TMJ disorders. The jaw joint doesn’t track properly and begins to break down. The muscles that control the jaw opening and closing tense and strain. You may experience your jaw popping and clicking, pain and tension throughout your head and face, and difficulty moving your jaw in certain ways or positions. The longer you avoid treatment, the worse the condition gets.
Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces
One of the main perks of Invisalign is that it isn’t very visible on your teeth. Traditional braces use metal brackets and wires to move your teeth into position, which are very easy to see. Invisalign aligners are clear and fit snugly to the teeth, so it’s hard to tell you’re wearing them unless people look very closely.
With Invisalign, you can continue to eat the same diet as you normally would. When you have braces, there are certain things you can’t eat. Hard foods like popcorn kernels can damage your braces, while gummy candy can get stuck in the brackets and wires, which are very difficult to remove. Since you take your aligners out when you eat, you can eat whatever you want as long as you brush or rinse food particles away before you put your aligners back in.
Your oral healthcare routine for your teeth also remains the same. You take your aligners out to brush and floss your teeth properly. With metal braces, you have to learn new methods to clean around the brackets and wires correctly. This may involve using new tools to get in and around everything. Without proper care, you risk having squares on your teeth where the brackets are when they come off.
Treatment with Invisalign is often quicker and cheaper than with traditional braces. On average, Invisalign takes 12-18 months, while braces often take multiple years. You don’t have to come into the office as frequently, either. Traditional braces work by getting their wires tightened every month to shift teeth alignment. With aligners, you replace them yourself and only need to come into the office for brief checkups to ensure things are progressing properly.
Treatment with Invisalign
Before every cosmetic treatment, we schedule a consultation with you. This lets us discuss your cosmetic goals, medical history, and budget. We also perform a thorough oral exam that includes imaging technology. Considering all this, we determine if Invisalign is the best choice to treat your crooked teeth. Invisalign treats mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. If you have severe orthodontic issues, we may need to refer you to a trusted local orthodontist.
To begin the Invisalign process, we will take impressions of the teeth. We use these impressions to map out your treatment. Patients wear each pair of aligners and switch them out every couple of weeks. The aligners gradually shift the teeth into a straighter and more balanced position. Invisalign treatment can take six months to eighteen months. Patients wear clear aligners for 22 hours daily, only removing them to eat or brush their teeth.
Caring for Your Invisalign Aligners
Taking good care of your aligners is essential for effective treatment. When you’re wearing them, never eat or drink anything besides water. Eating can scratch and damage the aligners and stain them, depending on the foods and drinks you consume. When scratched and discolored, Invisalign aligners no longer have the transparent quality they’re known for. It makes them more visible on your teeth.
When you remove your aligners, rinse them with cool or warm water. Don’t use hot water, as this can warp the material. Rinsing eliminates saliva and debris buildup that occurs while you’re wearing them. At least once daily, clean the aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste or mild soap. Don’t use abrasive materials, as they can scratch the aligners. Brushing regularly removes bacteria that accumulate throughout the day.
At least once a week, sterilize the aligners with a nonalcoholic mouthwash or designated aligner cleaner. Soak them for a few minutes to eliminate any bacteria the daily brushing doesn’t catch. This also ensures there is no lingering odor in the aligners. Store them in an open area to dry. Never enclose them in a sealed container. Bacteria love warm, wet environments and are likely to build up faster in these kinds of environments.
Store your aligners in a ventilated carrying case when you aren’t wearing them. This lets you know where they are whenever they aren’t in your mouth. It’s easy to take your aligners out to eat, set them on a napkin, and then accidentally throw them out with the trash.
Invisalign FAQs
Invisalign is often patients’ top choice to straighten crooked teeth. Learn more by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
Am I a candidate for Invisalign?
Patients with mild to moderate orthodontic problems are the best candidates for Invisalign treatment. We may recommend oral surgery or metal braces if you have severely overcrowded or misaligned teeth. In addition, we do not recommend Invisalign for young children. Teens and adults can receive Invisalign treatment because they have all their permanent adult teeth.
How long is Invisalign treatment?
If you follow your treatment instructions, you may start seeing results within one month. Depending on how misaligned your teeth are and how closely you comply with caring for them and your aligners, you can complete Invisalign treatment in six to eighteen months.
Does Invisalign treatment hurt?
Invisalign aligners are not as painful as traditional metal braces. Patients often feel some mild pressure or discomfort as they try on each new pair of aligners. However, this quickly fades as the teeth adjust to their new position.
Schedule a Dental Appointment Today
Do you want to learn more about Invisalign treatment? Visit our website to request a dental consultation with Dr. Halliburton. You can also call Halliburton Family Dentistry at 443.232.0656. Let us know if you have any questions about Invisalign; we will gladly assist you. Our office serves Ellicott City, Columbia, Elkridge, and Howard County.