Invisalign treatment

The Clear Way to Straighter Teeth

By Kira Zwolinski

            Forget everything you’ve heard about straightening teeth.  A proven technology now exists that lets you straighten your teeth invisibly.

Invisalign® makes it easy to straighten your teeth while doing away with bands, brackets, and wires.  This breakthrough technology lets you have the straight smile you’ve always wanted- without the hassle of braces.

Whether your smile needs minor improvements or more extensive adjustments, Invisalign can certainly help.  It’s successful in treating overly crowded or widely spaced teeth.  It can also relieve more complex issues, including overbites, under bites and even cross bites. Because Invisalign is clear and nearly invisible, most people will never know you’re straightening your teeth.           

            Invisalign is comfortable to wear and it doesn’t require you to change your busy lifestyle.  The aligners are removable which allows you to continue eating your favorite foods while brushing and flossing normally.  By effectively keeping your teeth and gums healthy you’re helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Some orthodontic appliances, like braces, can cause gingivitis. Properly positioned teeth are easier to brush and floss than teeth that are crowded, crooked, or spaced too far apart.  Unlike braces, Invisalign® is clear and removable. You can brush and floss normally to maintain good oral hygiene. There are no metal brackets or wires to cause mouth irritation.         Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten teeth without braces.  Invisalign uses a series of clear, removable aligners to gradually straighten teeth, without metal or wires. Invisalign uses a 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position from which a series of custom-made, clear “aligners” are produced.  Each aligner moves the teeth in increments and is worn for about two weeks. The aligner is then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved. Each aligner is worn sequentially by the patient to produce extensive tooth movements in both the upper and lower arches.

             The course of treatment involves changing aligners approximately every two weeks, gradually moving your teeth into a straighter position step by step. An average Invisalign course of treatment takes about 12-18 months. You’ll see your Invisalign Certified Dentist for adjustments and to check your progress.  At regular intervals, you will receive a new set of custom-molded clear aligners to continue the straightening process. The total number of clear aligners is specific to you, determined by your doctor for your course of treatment.

Like brackets and arch wires are to braces, Invisalign® aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth.  The principal difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application.  At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.

STEP 1: Visit an Invisalign Certified Dentist

During your initial visit, your dentist will evaluate, assess, and discuss a course of treatment for you. Bite impressions of your teeth will be taken in the office and sent off to the Invisalign technology lab for processing.

STEP 2: Invisalign® Makes Your Aligners

Invisalign® uses their advanced 3-D computer imaging technology to transform your bite impressions into your custom-made series of clear and removable aligners.

STEP 3: You Receive Your Clear Aligners in a Few Weeks

During your next visit to your dentist, you will receive your first set of clear aligners.

STEP 4: You Wear Your Aligners

You will wear each set of clear aligners day and night for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss.  Patients, on average, complete treatment in approximately a year.  You’ll visit your dentist at regular intervals to check your progress.

STEP 5: You’ve Finished Treatment

When you’re finished wearing each clear aligner in the series, your treatment will be complete and you will have straighter teeth and the beautiful smile you deserve.

You can contact us in the office if you have further questions or if you’d like to schedule a free consultation. The number is (843) 916-0990. DocMark.com; 1321 44^th Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577