Invisalign® system provides a potentially ideal alternative to conventional metal braces.
Compared to the traditional wire-and-brackets method of orthodontic treatment, the Invisalign® system offers a multitude of benefits. They are virtually invisible compared to their metal counterparts, but the advantages certainly don’t end there.
At Parshin Dental, we carefully evaluates prospective Invisalign® candidates to ensure that the treatment is well-suited to their particular cases.
What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® comprises a series of aligners made of a clear, non-abrasive plastic that are customized to fit comfortably in your mouth. The first aligner in the series represents a slight change in how your teeth are currently aligned, while the final aligner in the series represents the proper alignment of your teeth according to the goals for your orthodontic treatment. Each aligner in between is molded so that it gently guides your teeth closer toward their optimal positions in your mouth.
Before you begin treatment, the Invisalign® you will have the opportunity to view the results you can expect to achieve through the Invisalign® 3D imaging software. The Parshin Dental team will then take impressions of your mouth so that your aligners can be created. However, unlike many Invisalign® providers, the Parshin Dental team will not use putty impressions as a basis for the creation of your Invisalign® aligners. Rather, we will use his in-office CEREC® system, with its advanced CAD/CAM software, to scan your mouth. The resulting digital impression will be more accurate than a putty impression, while being more pleasant and less time-consuming for you. Treatment planning with the CEREC® system will also allow for more predictable and precise movement of your teeth over the course of treatment.
Unlike traditional metal braces, your Invisalign® aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing. As long as you wear them as advised for 20 to 22 hours every day, you should achieve the results you desire in roughly the same time that you would braces, but without the conspicuous appearance of metal or discomfort of wire and brackets.
What are the benefits of Invisalign®?
The aesthetic benefits of Invisalign® may well be – no pun intended – clear, but there are other benefits associated with the treatment. Among other benefits, Invisalign® aligners:
- Allow you to eat whatever you want: Unlike patients who wear traditional braces, there are no dietary restrictions placed on Invisalign® patients. You can remove your aligners to eat whatever you like, including such notoriously off-limits-to-braces-wearers foods as apples and popcorn. You will want to be sure to avoid sugary and acidic foods out of common sense, however, and to brush and floss after each meal; otherwise, you may end up trapping bacteria in your aligners and causing damage to your teeth.
- Are comfortable: The smooth plastic used in Invisalign® aligners is completely non-abrasive, and the aligners themselves will be meticulously crafted to fit over your teeth. You will experience no pain or discomfort as a result of sores, cuts, or scrapes, quite unlike traditional metal braces.
- Promote good oral health: You can – and indeed should – remove your aligners to brush, floss, and rinse at least twice a day and after each meal as you normally would. You don’t have to worry about food particles getting stuck in your brackets as you would with metal braces. This can cause demineralization, the formation of permanent white spots on the teeth.
- Make orthodontic treatment predictable: While treatment with metal braces can present unanticipated challenges mid-treatment, Invisalign® treatment is planned from beginning to end before the first set of aligners are placed in the mouth. It is very rare that treatment ever veers from its planned course as long as patients wear their aligners exactly as recommended.
How long does Invisalign® treatment take?
Invisalign® treatment time will vary from patient to patient. Generally, the treatment timeline with Invisalign® will be much quicker than the treatment timeline with conventional metal braces, given the same orthodontic issue. The average treatment time with Invisalign® is about one year. In some cases, results may even be achieved more rapidly with Invisalign®.
Each set of aligners in the series is worn for approximately two weeks, after which it is exchanged for the next set. Invisalign® check-up appointments at our Staten Island office will be scheduled every six weeks or so. We will use these appointments to confirm that your treatment is proceeding according to plan and address any questions or concerns you might have. This treatment cycle will continue until you have reached your orthodontic goals, at which point you will begin maintenance therapy through the use of a retainer.
Are you a suitable candidate for Invisalign® treatment?
In general, Invisalign® is effective in treating minor to moderate cases of misalignment, crookedness, and overcrowding of the teeth. It can also be used to close small gaps between teeth and treat minor to moderate malocclusion, which is also known as irregular bite, crossbite, or overbite. The Parshin Dental team may consider patients with more severe instances of these orthodontic issues suitable candidates for Invisalign® on a case-by-case basis.
Patients with orthodontic issues caused by jaw misalignment are not likely to be good candidates for Invisalign® treatment. We will recommend alternative treatments to such patients.
If the Parshin Dental team determines that you are a suitable candidate for Invisalign®, then you simply must be willing to wear the aligners from 20 to 22 hours a day and care for the aligners as instructed in order to achieve the healthy, attractive smile you desire.
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