When you have crooked teeth that affect your smile, Invisalign treatment can help correct this. These aligners provide certain advantages over other forms of straightening teeth, such as traditional braces. Find out more about Invisalign in Bowie, MD so you can determine if this type of treatment might be right for you.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a treatment used for making teeth straighter. Patients wear clear aligners made of a thermoplastic material over a certain period of time. Wearing these aligners helps teeth shift into a straighter position, resulting in an improved smile.
What Benefits Does Invisalign Offer?
Invisalign aligners provide a more comfortable fit compared to metal braces. These aligners, which are made of a flexible material, are custom-made to fit each patient’s teeth. When you have them in, you shouldn’t feel any discomfort. These aligners also are clear, which makes them difficult for others to notice. Unlike metal braces, you don’t have to worry about other people noticing that you’re wearing them on your teeth.
What Can I Expect from the Invisalign Process?
Invisalign in Bowie, MD involves seeing your dentist in order to have your teeth evaluated. Your dentist will make impressions of your teeth, and these will be used for creating your customized aligners. When your aligners have been made, you will see your dentist again to have them fitted.
You can expect to see your dentist on a regular basis in order to switch to a new set of Invisalign aligners. This generally happens every one or two weeks. Each set you wear is updated to fit your teeth as they gradually shift over time.
How Long Do I Have to Wear Aligners?
You will need to have your aligners in for about 20 to 22 hours each day. Since they are removable, you can take them out when you eat or drink and when you need to brush and floss your teeth. Keep in mind that you should have them on your teeth while you are sleeping. Keeping them off too long each day can affect your results. The length of time you will need for Invisalign in Bowie, MD overall depends on different factors, such as how many crooked teeth you have and how severely crooked they are.
What Kind of Care Do These Aligners Need?
Invisalign aligners are easy to care for on a regular basis. You can use a special cleaning solution made for these aligners, or you can clean them off using warm water, toothpaste and a toothbrush. Make sure that you clean your teeth after eating before putting your aligners back in. This helps lower your risk of staining your aligners.