Invisalign has changed the game when it comes to straightening teeth. Rather than needing metal brackets and wires attached to your teeth, you could get a more beautiful smile discreetly. Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible, so you won’t have to worry about smiling for the camera or making a good first impression.
While Invisalign is often a great choice for people, there are some smiles that may be more effectively straightened with traditional braces. Invisalign’s benefits do come with limitations. The invisible aligners are recommended for people whose teeth don’t need too much movement, such as for people who previously had braces but whose teeth have shifted.
The only way to know whether you’re a candidate is to schedule a consultation with an experienced Invisalign provider such as Dr. Gabriel. He can tell you whether Invisalign can improve your smile and what your options are.
At your Invisalign consultation, Dr. Gabriel will examine your teeth and jaw. He’ll perform a visual examination and take x-rays or digital scans to look at the position of your teeth. From this information, he’ll develop a treatment plan for you. Dr. Gabriel will let you know if Invisalign is the best orthodontic option for you.
If you’re a candidate for Invisalign, your scans can be sent to the laboratory to begin creating your first set of aligners. This can take a few weeks to complete.
Once your first set of aligners is ready, we’ll let you know so you can come back to our office. Dr. Gabriel will make sure they fit on your teeth and go over care instructions with you. Once you’re clear on how to use the aligners on a daily basis, you’ll be able to begin your Invisalign treatment.
You’ll wear your aligners for about 20 to 22 hours a day, every day. You can remove your aligners for cleaning and eating but they should stay in your mouth most of the time, even while you sleep. It’s important to wear your aligners for the recommended amount of time to keep your treatment on track.
Every two weeks, you’ll receive a new set of aligners to continue your treatment. You can opt to receive them by mail or come by Dr. Gabriel’s office to pick them up. This cycle will continue until your treatment is finished.
At-home aligners have become a popular idea. It sounds extremely convenient to straighten your teeth with aligners without ever needing to visit a dentist’s office. But there are serious risks to these entirely at-home treatments that can leave you needing more dental work than before.
A dentist who never physically examines your teeth may not detect issues in time to be corrected. Large problems can develop that could’ve been avoided entirely due to the lack of actual dental appointments.
No, Invisalign doesn’t ruin your teeth. In fact, by correcting misalignment issues, Invisalign can improve the health of your teeth. When your Invisalign treatment is under the care of an experienced and professional dentist like Dr. Gabriel, you face few risks.
When you come in to visit Dr. Gabriel every month or so for your regular Invisalign checkup, he’ll make sure your treatment is going smoothly. If he finds any issues with your treatment, he’ll work to correct them immediately so your teeth will be safe.
Invisalign treatment can change your face shape. The amount of change you’ll see depends on the issues you’ve had with your alignment and how severe they were. Sometimes, the changes in your face may not be noticeable until you compare photos from before your treatment.
To more clearly see the possible changes in your face, we recommend taking progress photos as your treatment progresses.
Invisalign won’t make your teeth yellow if you’re following proper care instructions. If your teeth seem to become yellow during your Invisalign treatment, contact Dr. Gabriel and he can talk about the potential causes of the staining and solutions.
Not brushing your teeth after eating and drinking can stain your aligners and your teeth. Eating or drinking while wearing your aligners can also stain them, making them appear yellow. Even if your teeth aren’t yellow, you’ll be wearing stained aligners, which affects your smile’s appearance.
No, you can’t eat with Invisalign in. You’ll have to remove your aligners any time you want to eat or drink anything other than water. Eating while wearing an Invisalign aligner can damage and stain it.
If you damage your aligner, you’ll need a replacement. Call Dr. Gabriel at (724) 935-2100 to talk about Invisalign replacements. Stained aligners still straighten your teeth, but they affect your smile’s appearance and can make your teeth appear discolored.
One unintentional side effect of Invisalign treatment is that people can lose weight. Because you have to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, you’ll need to plan your meals more carefully and limit snacking.
Every time you want a snack or drink other than water, you’ll have to take your aligners out and brush your teeth after you’re done, which can be a lot of effort. Many people are able to get their eating habits under control, which can help with weight loss. This is sometimes referred to as the Invisalign Diet.