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How Does Invisalign Work?
Dr. James May • Nov 01, 2019
So you want to get a beautiful straight smile, but don’t want to have the mouth full of metal brackets and wires to achieve this? That’s ok! Orthodontic technology has come a long way in helping individuals obtain that glamorous smile without having to undergo traditional metal braces. It’s called Invisalign. Invisalign is a series of virtually invisible or clear trays that help to reposition your teeth. These trays are custom fit to your teeth and the treatment plan that you and your orthodontist will conduct.
The first step is to find an Invisalign provider Houston TX
which can be found with Dr. J May Orthodontics. Dr. May and his team are experts in Invisalign treatments and can schedule a consultation today.
Getting a consultation with your orthodontist is highly important. It is during this first meeting that an orthodontist is able to recommend the Invisalign treatment. It is important to note that there are some cases that patients cannot be fixed with Invisalign. During this consultation, your orthodontist will be able to tell if it is the right fit, or if you have a slightly more severe case that should result in another option.
Once you have been all cleared for Invisalign treatment, your doctor will then perform a digital scan of your teeth to create a more precise treatment plan. Using a 3D imaging system, a series of pictures will be taken to better “map out” the course of your treatment. Once these images are taken, there is no guesswork as to what your end result will be. You can see if for yourself before the aligners even touch your teeth!
These images will then be used to create your custom made Invisalign aligners. These trays are custom fit to your teeth and will feel and look almost invisible. Constructed from smooth BPA-free plastics, the trays are comfortable and non-irritating enough to wear 24/7. Invisalign liners should be worn at all times unless eating or brushing/flossing. They will not work if they are not on!
Every two weeks a new set of trays will take place of the old ones. With the graduation of each tray, you are one step closer to a straighter smile! Every tray is roughly moving your teeth 0.25 mm. The treatment time for each patient can vary, but typically adults can endure a full treatment plan within a year. Because Invisalign is virtually invisible, the day to day wear of them will make it less awkward for the patient. No one likes to feel self-conscious at any point in their lives and Invisalign is a perfect way to fix any dental issues without having them brought to everyone’s attention.
Once you have come to the conclusion that you are ready to have straighter teeth to accompany your beautiful smile, talk with an orthodontist that can determine if Invisalign is the right fit for you. Call and schedule a consultation with Dr. May and his team today.
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Alright, so you have just gotten your braces taken off and your smile is looking fantastic... what’s next? The retainer! That’s right- it does not matter what type of orthodontic treatment you received such as traditional metal braces or clear aligners, everyone has to wear a retainer in order to help keep your newly straightened teeth in their positions and not revert back to their original spots. So now your question may be, how long do I have to wear my retainer? Orthodontists will recommend that you should be wearing your retainer for 12 hours or more every day, following the first 8 weeks after your treatment ends. This helps to ensure that your teeth, which have just spent months moving to this new spot, do not shift as these 2 months afterwards they are the most susceptible to moving. After this time, your Houston orthodontist such as James May Orthodontics, may advise from wearing them for most of the day to nighttime only. Make sure you only switch after your orthodontist gives you their approval that your teeth are not going to shift. If you prefer to wear your retainer longer even after the orthodontist gives his thumbs up, that is not going to harm your smile in anyway – just make sure you are taking them out when you eat and keep them clean! Teeth are pretty amazing little pieces of our bodies and they are incredibly dynamic. Unless they are held into place after your treatment, they will continue shifting, and after all the time and effort going through braces, do you honestly want to jeopardize that progress? Wearing the retainer as instructed will help to reduce the risk of shifting teeth. Your orthodontis is also going to instruct you to wear your retainer to bed every night for at least the first year after treatment. After a year, or when through your orthodontists instruction, you can begin to wear them every other night. After another year a lot of patients will opt to wear theirs only a few times a week during their sleep routine. Some people are more prone to having their teeth move fiercely than others and after a while you may find your retainer a little tight as you put it on. Talk with your orthodontist to see your options. There are different types of retainers, however, the same rule of wear still applies to them all. The Hawley retainers are going to be the most common one people recognize. These are made of acrylic and metal. The Essix retainer has the appearance of as an Invisalign or ClearCorrect aligners, however, these tend to be a little more durable and sturdy as they are going to be lasting a little longer than the average aligner tray. The final retainer is a permanent one. Sure, technically this one does not a set amount of time you need to wear it, as it does not come out. It is attached to the back of your teeth and is not visible from the front. No matter which type of retainer you and your orthodontist agree is the best choice for you, the function for all of them is to serve the purpose of keeping your teeth straight and not reverting back to how they were.
We all know that having braces is the common method of correcting crooked teeth and helping to improve your misaligned bites, but did you know that there is some prep work to be done before you get your pearly whites attached with some metal? One of these preparation tactics your orthodontist could use is by placing spacers in between some teeth. Most of the time, those who are getting traditional braces will most likely have orthodontic spacers. The main purpose of spacers is to make sure there is enough space between certain teeth (hey, molars we are looking at you). The reason for this small distance is to make sure your orthodontist has enough room to attach and install your braces. Traditional metal braces use brackets and wires that are connected to your teeth. These wires are connected and anchored to rings, or metal bands. Since back teeth are usually packed and wedged close together, these spacers help to create that extra room for installing those metal bands. To insert your spacers, it is really a very simple process. Your orthodontist will use a small device or even dental floss to help stretch out the spacers first, warm them up a bit before use, if you will. Then, once you’re sitting in the chair and mouth open wide, each one will be wiggled into place between the predetermined teeth. Spacers are important to help gain that extra space, but typically do not need too long to begin their work. Most orthodontist will insert spacers roughly a week before the traditional braces are scheduled to go on. As simple as spacers are to put in, they are simply as removed, and if they have their job correctly that space will have widen enough for them to easily slide out. While most patients do not report major pain from spacers, there can be a feeling of slight pressure or pinching. However, this feeling is quickly reduced with over the counter pain medication, such as Aspirin, and should not last more than a day or two. Each case and patient is unique, therefore not all treatment plans are alike. Consulting with an orthodontist or dentist beforehand will help to better understand if spacers or braces are needed. Spacers can be made of many different materials, however, the most common types are going to be rubber and metal. Because they are still a part of the orthodontic treatment plan, spacers are typically included in to cost of braces. Braces in general can range anywhere from $3000 - $7000, depending on treatment plan. While there are payment plans available, most dental insurance policies can help cover costs. Check with your provider to see whether they cover orthodontic treatments, or find out from your Houston orthodontist , such as the expert team at James May Orthodontics, to see what may be available for you. If you are interested in learning more about spacers or about the orthodontic treatment plans available, schedule a consultation today with James May Orthodontics today!
