What to Expect with Invisalign Braces?

by Kevin Smith Author

The condition and appearance of your teeth make a big impact on your overall confidence. Unfortunately, there's only so much you can do about your smile when it comes to straight teeth. Typical metal braces aren't the best choice for everyone, so, fortunately, there's an option for straightening your teeth with nearly invisible braces. Here's what you need to know if you're considering getting Invisalign in San Antonio, TX.

Problems Invisalign Corrects

First of all, you may be wondering if you're even a good candidate for Invisalign. Many problems that can be corrected by traditional braces can also be corrected with Invisalign. These problems include crooked and crowded teeth, gaps or irregularly spaced teeth, and some bite problems like an underbite, crossbite, and overbite. Your dentist is the best person to tell you if this treatment option will work for you.

How Invisalign Works

Rather than using metal wires and brackets like traditional braces, Invisalign uses plastic aligners to more gradually move and straighten your teeth. The aligners are computer-generated and manufactured specifically for your teeth through all the stages of straightening. The goal isn't simply to straighten the teeth but to create a natural-looking smile that also supports your cheeks and lips. In order to do this, a patient-specific plan is used to create the aligners which are changed every 2 weeks.

Invisalign Process

The treatment plan begins with a consultation to make sure your dentist recommends this type of treatment. Once it's been determined that Invisalign is a good fit, the custom plan is built. This includes digital x-rays, photos of the teeth, and molded impressions. Computer software uses all this information to predict how the teeth will change so that the aligners will move the teeth gradually until the end result is achieved. For most patients, this process takes about a year to complete.

Benefits of Invisalign

There are numerous benefits of choosing Invisalign in San Antonio, TX, over traditional braces. A major benefit of Invisalign is a superior comfort. The aligners fit right over the teeth and have smooth edges so that your tongue and gums won't get irritated that way they often do with metal braces. In addition, they're removable so you can continue to eat most foods as long as you take out the aligners and then replace them. It's easier to keep your teeth clean and the aligners are easy to clean as well.