Invisalign – Forest, VA

What Is Invisalign?

Traditional braces use brackets and wires to pull your teeth into position. Invisalign works differently because it relies on a series of clear aligners. Each one in the series applies continual pressure to gradually move your teeth into a better position. It’s recommended you wear your aligners for at least 22 hours per day and switch to the next one in the series every week. Although everyone’s treatment plan differs, most patients are finished with their series in about 12 months; however, if your alignment issues are complex, you can expect the process to take a little longer.

During your journey to a complete smile, you’ll enjoy a more convenient treatment plan than what’s expected with metal braces. Since the aligners are removable, you won’t need to worry about any dietary restrictions. This also makes your oral hygiene routine a breeze because there aren’t any brackets or wires to clean around.

How Invisalign Works

If you’re interested in getting Invisalign, the first step of the process is to have an initial consultation. During this visit, one of our experienced dentists here at Crossroads Family Dentistry will evaluate your oral health and ask you some questions about what you’d like to improve about your teeth. This appointment is also a great time to ask any questions you may have about Invisalign and how it can help you.

If we determine that Invisalign is the best choice for you, we’ll then develop your custom treatment timeline, take images of your mouth, and impressions of your teeth. We will send all of the images and information we’ve collected to a special Invisalign lab where they will craft each set of your aligners to our specifications.

In a few weeks, we’ll call you back in to pick up your first set of aligners once they’ve arrived. You’ll wear each pair for two weeks generally and will slowly begin noticing your teeth getting straighter. Every several weeks, you’ll visit our dental office in Forest for a quick evaluation to ensure your treatment is on track and to receive the next set of trays in your treatment.

Once your treatment is almost complete several months later, we will likely fit you for a retainer. This important appliance keeps your teeth from drifting back into their original positions and becoming crooked again. We’ll let you know how long you’ll need to wear it, and any additional aftercare recommendations we may have.

Who Invisalign Can Help

It’s easy to feel insecure about your imperfect teeth, causing you to hide your smile when speaking or taking a picture. Unfortunately, your self-esteem isn’t the only thing that suffers from your dental alignment issues.

Overlapped, gapped, or tilted teeth are more difficult to keep clean. This allows harmful plaque and bacteria to accumulate in hard-to-reach places, increasing your risk of preventable oral health problems, like tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Not to mention, you also have a heightened risk of a dental emergency if there’s trauma or injury to your face or mouth.

Fortunately, Invisalign in Forest is an incredibly versatile treatment that can solve a variety of orthodontic problems. During your consultation, our team will assess the severity of your case and develop a treatment plan to help improve your oral health as well as the alignment of your pearly whites. Below are some of the most common issues we treat with Invisalign.

Living with Invisalign Aligners

At this point, you’ve probably heard a lot of great things about Invisalign, including that the aligners are clear and comfortable. But are there any changes you need to make to your daily routine, like cutting out certain foods from your diet? It’s a great question! Fortunately, clear aligner treatment is pretty hassle-free. In this next section, we’ll cover what you need to know about life with Invisalign, starting with how often you need to wear the aligners.

Wearing Your Trays

While each treatment plan is unique, there are some guidelines all patients need to follow, like keeping the aligners on for 20-22 hours a day. This is crucial because, if you consistently miss the mark, then your chances of falling off-track with your treatment plan will increase significantly.

The easiest way to meet the mark day after day is by adopting good habits, like only taking your aligners off when it’s absolutely necessary and putting them in their designated case when you aren’t wearing them so they don’t get lost or damaged.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Good news: keeping your aligners clean doesn’t require special oral hygiene products. In fact, there’s a good chance you already have everything you need: a soft-bristled toothbrush, clean water, and clear, mild dishwashing liquid.

Tip: Always check the temperature of the water first! If it’s too hot, it can warp the plastic, negatively impacting how they fit in the process.

Eating & Drinking

Another perk of Invisalign: you don’t need to completely alter your diet. In fact, you can continue to eat all of your favorites throughout your orthodontic treatment! All we ask is that you keep crunchy, sticky, and sugary foods to a minimum in an effort to prevent both dental and orthodontic emergencies. Instead, do your best to eat healthy, well-balanced meals that are packed with nutrient-dense foods, like seasonal vegetables.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

Initially, losing or damaging a tray may not seem like an issue. However, both situations have the potential to significantly delay your treatment plan, so it’s important that you act fast. More specifically, we recommend calling our Forest dental team right away so we can take a look at where you are in the teeth-straightening process and determine if it’s safe to move onto the next set in the series a bit early.

Attending Routine Check-Ins

Another crucial component of life with Invisalign is attending routine check-in visits. These appointments typically occur every 6-8 weeks, and they are crucial because they allow us to monitor the movement of your teeth. If everything looks good, we can provide you with the next set in the series. If something isn’t right, we can determine why that is before making the necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.

The Benefits of Invisalign

Invisalign is so popular because it offers a laundry list of benefits that traditional braces don’t. The most obvious advantage is that your aligners will be practically unnoticeable. You won’t have to deal with the cumbersome look and feel of brackets and wires. Some additional benefits that are common reasons patients choose Invisalign include:

• Maximized comfort: The trays are made from smooth plastic with no sharp or jagged edges, meaning you won’t have to endure cuts and irritation like you would with braces.
• Improved Oral Hygiene. To brush your teeth, all you need to do is take out your aligners. With braces, you need to maneuver between brackets and wires, which doesn’t allow you to cover the entire surface area of your teeth.
• Removable and Convenient. Because you can remove your aligners at any time, your everyday life won’t be as heavily impacted as much as it would with traditional braces.
• Enjoy Your Favorite Foods. All you need to do to eat is remove your aligners, meaning that you can enjoy the foods you normally would without worrying about breaking your oral appliance.

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

You likely want to know Invisalign’s cost before committing to it. After all, how else can you ensure that treatment is cost-effective? The truth is that the cost of Invisalign treatment varies from patient to patient. You’ll need a consultation to get an accurate estimate of how much your specific treatment will cost. Fortunately, we at Crossroads Family Dentistry can see you in person to discuss your Invisalign needs, estimate the cost, and explore payment options. To learn more about this process, keep reading or call us today!