Correcting a crooked smile doesn't have to mean a mouth full of wires and brackets. One popular orthodontic alternative to traditional metal braces is Invisalign®. With Invisalign’s clear aligner system, issues such as crowding, spacing, and overbites are corrected in a gentle aesthetically pleasing way. Clear aligners, or trays, are custom-made to gradually create the desired outcome.
As a Preferred Provider, Dr. Shahdad offers Invisalign to patients who don't require extensive orthodontic alterations, more severe cases are referred to a local orthodontist. The professionals at DFW Absolute Dental believe Invisalign provides a comfortable alternative to traditional orthodontic metal brackets and wires. Patients enjoy all the cosmetic benefits without any disruption to their life-style.
Invisible Correction: Invisalign aligners are made of a clear, plastic molded to fit the teeth. Patients can have their smile transformed almost invisibly!
Cleanliness: Invisalign can be removed to be cleaned after use. Patients can practice normal, regular dental hygiene, such as flossing and brushing.
No Dietary Restrictions: Since the clear aligners can be removed, patients need not give up on certain foods and can instead enjoy their regular diet and snacks!
Functionality: Thanks to their transparency, Invisalign can help people who feel self-conscious about their appearance, or who want to feel more comfortable in social and professional settings. Also, their size and proximity to the teeth mean Invisalign patients should not notice any problems with speech.
Comfort: Invisalign doesn't involve any protruding pieces of metal, brackets, or wires, thereby reducing the amount of tenderness and discomfort felt by the patient during the straightening process.
While Invisalign technology has been around for several years now, many people are not familiar with the treatment or necessarily how it works. In many cases, patients aren’t even aware it exists until Dr. Shahdad tells them about it! Regardless, DFW Absolute Dental is prepared to answer your questions. Below, you’ll find a series of the most common questions and their answers, so you can learn more about the treatment with added convenience. If your question is not listed, don’t hesitate to give our practice a call. We can’t wait to help you achieve the straighter and healthier smile you’ve always wanted!
The length of your Invisalign treatment really depends on how significantly you need to shift your teeth. It also can vary on how committed you are to wearing your clear aligners once they arrive. The best way to determine the length of your unique treatment is to schedule a consultation at our office. With that said, most Invisalign treatments take about 12 months. However, treatments can also take as little as 6 months or as many as 18 months, depending on the previously mentioned factors. In order to maximize your treatment time, make sure to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours per day.
Once you have finished wearing the last pair of Invisalign clear aligners, you’ll be provided a retainer that is worn for several months after your treatment. The reason this is required is because teeth are the most susceptible to shifting back to their original position once they have already been shifted by orthodontics. Retainers are provided after using traditional metal braces for this very reason. In the first several months, you’ll be asked to wear the retainer as much as you did your aligner series. Once enough time has passed, you’ll be asked to only wear the retainer at night while you sleep.
Invisalign has only advanced over the many years that it has been around, making it easier for people with increasingly complex needs to use the treatment effectively. However, it’s important to note that if you have severely crooked teeth or a very uneven bite that affects your back teeth, Invisalign may not provide the results you need. During your consultation, we’ll be able to confirm exactly what needs to be done and whether or not Invisalign is right for you. Invisalign is best suited for teenagers and adults who have mild to moderate levels of crooked or crowding teeth, uneven bites, or misalignments.
In many cases, dental insurance does not cover Invisalign because it is largely seen as a cosmetic treatment. However, there are some plans that may pay a certain percentage of your Invisalign treatment, or pay for a certain dollar amount. There is also typically a lifetime cap on the amount insurance will pay for orthodontic treatment. The best thing you can do is speak with a benefits manager at your workplace or with your insurance company directly to determine your coverage.