Invisalign – Midlothian, TX
Straighten Your Teeth Without The Hassle of Metal
When you look at your smile in the mirror, can you only focus on how crowded and misaligned your teeth are? In the past, your only option would be to litter your grin with metal brackets and wires that would ruing the professional image you have to maintain for work. Fortunately, at Dental Center of Midlothian, we utilize the latest technology and techniques in the dental world to straighten your smile with a comfortable and convenient alternative called Invisalign. This modern orthodontic solution offers countless benefits to our patients, making it the perfect cosmetic dentistry treatment for practically any patient suffering from minor to moderate orthodontic problems.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign uses a system of clear plastic aligners that are customized to snuggly fit over your teeth to shift them into their ideal positions. Each time you switch to the next set of aligners in your series, they’ll place a targeted amount of pressure on certain areas to smooth out crowding, misalignment, gaps, and even minor bite problems. Once you’re finished, you’ll have beautiful and straightened teeth that make you feel proud to smile.
What is the Invisalign Process?
To begin your Invisalign treatment, you’ll schedule a consultation with Dr. Johnson. During your visit, he’ll conduct a visual examination of your mouth and capture several photos of your oral structure. Using all of the information he has gathered, he’ll be able to determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure and develop a detailed treatment timeline so you know exactly what to expect throughout the process.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
If you’re interested in clear aligners, you’ll be happy to hear that Invisalign is quite versatile. In fact, they’ve helped patients with everything from noticeable gaps to considerable overbites over the last two decades! To learn more about the common orthodontic problems that this popular orthodontic treatment can address, keep reading.
Crowded Teeth
If there isn’t enough room in your mouth for all of your teeth, they will begin to crowd together. Even in more mild cases, this is a problem because it creates unique crevices that are hard to clean with your toothbrush and floss. So, even if you aren’t self-conscious about the appearance of your smile, it’s worth coming in to find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. That way, we can move your teeth into proper alignment without noticeable brackets and wires.
Gaps Between Teeth
If you are a teen or adult who wants to fix noticeable gaps, then don’t hesitate to reach out to us to schedule a consultation. From there, we can learn more about your case and determine if Invisalign is a suitable orthodontic treatment for you. If it is, then we will have a custom series of clear aligners made to gently and meticulously guide your teeth from where they are now to where they should be. The final result will be a smile that looks great, functions better, and is healthier.
Overbite
Overbites are quite common, and – in both mild and severe cases – they have the potential to make chewing, speaking, and smiling confidently difficult. For that reason, we encourage patients to schedule a consultation with us and explore their treatment options. If Invisalign can bring your teeth and bite into proper alignment, then we will create a custom series of clear aligners to do so. Since the average treatment timeline is only 12-18 months, it won’t be long until you see the results either!
Underbite
If your lower teeth sit in front of your upper teeth (even if just slightly), then you have an underbite. In addition to the aesthetic drawbacks, this orthodontic problem can result in chronic jaw pain, difficulty chewing, and TMJ dysfunction. Again, there’s some good news: Invisalign has proven to be effective at addressing more mild cases. Usually, this requires the use of other orthodontic accessories, like attachments, but don’t worry – those are more discreet than traditional braces.
Crossbite
If you’ve read through the previous two sections, and it sounds like you have a mixture of an overbite and an underbite, then you likely have a crossbite. Although there are several long-term consequences that come with this orthodontic problem, one of our main concerns is premature wear and tear on certain teeth. This can create a “stubby” look while also increasing your risk of chips, cracks, and fractures. So, it’s worth scheduling an Invisalign consultation!
Open Bite
When you bite down, do your teeth come together evenly? If they don’t – whether it’s in the front or back – schedule an appointment with us. Oftentimes, Invisalign can realign your bite with the help of additional orthodontic accessories, like rubber bands and buttons.
What are the Benefits of Invisalign?
Invisalign in Midlothian is such a popular orthodontic treatment option because it offers a large range of benefits that traditional braces don’t, including:
- Discretion: Each aligner is made from a clear plastic that is practically unnoticeable. This makes it difficult for onlookers to notice that you’re even undergoing orthodontic treatment, allowing you to smile with confidence, even while you’re wearing them.
- Comfort: Metal brackets and wires poke and prod at your oral tissues and gums, making your treatment uncomfortable and even painful to endure. Because Invisalign aligners are smooth and customized to comfortably fit in your mouth, you won’t have to deal with this major daily inconvenience.
- Removable Convenience: Because your Invisalign trays are removable, you can eat all of your favorite foods and brush and floss more easily.
- Easy Follow-Up Visits: While you’re going through your treatment, you won’t have to worry about it taking over your free-time. Typically, we only call patients in every four to six weeks for a quick visit that only lasts for 30-minutes or less.
Clear braces are a life-changing orthodontic treatment that allows you to enjoy all the benefits that traditional braces have to offer without suffering from uncomfortable metal. If you’d like to start your journey towards a beautiful and healthy smile, the first step is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Johnson today by contacting our office.
Living with Invisalign Aligners
Now that you know a bit more about how Invisalign works and what the benefits of this discreet orthodontic treatment are, you might be wondering what life with clear aligners actually looks like. Do you need to cut certain foods out of your diet? Do you need to change your oral hygiene routine? What happens if you lose one of your aligners? Don’t worry – you can find the answers to all of these questions right here.
Wearing Your Trays
The good news is there is really only one rule when it comes to wearing your trays: you need to wear them for 20+ hours a day. After all, if you don’t wear them, they won’t work! That’s why we encourage patients to get in the habit of only taking them out when absolutely necessary, like before eating. It’s also a good idea to use the stopwatch on your phone to track your wear time – just to make sure you’re wearing them enough.
Cleaning Your Aligners
Keeping your aligners clean is important. If you don’t, then stubborn stains will begin to surface, and your risk of tooth decay and gum disease will increase significantly. Fortunately, you don’t need any special tools, like interproximal toothbrushes. In short, the only thing that will change about your oral hygiene regimen during your Invisalign treatment is that you will need to dedicate a few minutes a day to cleaning your aligners and commit to brushing your teeth after each meal.
Eating & Drinking
We mentioned in the benefits section that you are free to eat all of your favorite foods throughout your teeth-straightening journey with Invisalign, which is one of the many reasons patients love this orthodontic treatment. That said, it is important to be mindful of what you eat and how it impacts your oral health. For example, if you over-indulge on foods and drinks with added sugar, then there’s a good chance that a cavity will develop, bringing your treatment plan to a temporary stop.
Losing a Tray
Having clear aligners is incredibly convenient… until you misplace them. If you look down and realize that your trays aren’t where you thought they were, don’t panic. Instead, carefully retrace your steps, and look in “random” places in the process, like the trash can, in the pockets of the pants you were wearing earlier, and in your refrigerator. If you don’t have any luck, then contact our Midlothian dental team ASAP so we can determine a way to move forward that results in as little treatment plan delays as possible.
Routine Check-Ins
With Invisalign, you don’t need to come in every 7-14 days for your next aligner. Instead, we will provide you with several sets of trays at once so that you can progress through your treatment plan at home. Every six to eight weeks, you’ll come to our office so we can monitor the movement of your teeth and make sure they are tracking properly. If they are, we will give you your next batch of aligners and see you at your next visit!
Invisalign FAQs
If you want to learn even more about Invisalign, you’re in the right place! Dr. Johnson would be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the clear aligners process during your initial consultation. Of course, if you’d like to do some more research until then, that’s okay too. In that case, keep reading for the answers to a few of the most frequently asked questions about Invisalign in Midlothian.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
That depends! For patients with minor misalignment, Invisalign treatment may be as little as six months. However, the average timeline is between 12 and 18 months. Although this is still a significant investment of your time, it’s better than the 24+ months traditional braces take. Plus, Invisalign’s clear aligners are entirely removable, don’t come with any dietary restrictions, and are practically undetectable. In short, since it’s a relatively hassle-free treatment, you’ll be done before you know it!
What Happens After Invisalign?
Once you’ve worked through your entire series of clear aligners, it will be time to celebrate! Before you leave your appointment, we’ll provide you with a custom-made retainer. This small, discreet orthodontic appliance will play an instrumental role in preventing orthodontic relapse (a phenomenon in which your teeth begin to move back into their previous positions). Although the wear time will depend on your unique dental needs, many patients are asked to wear it consistently for the first six months or so before transitioning to wearing it solely at night.
Can You Eat with Invisalign?
Good news: Invisalign doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions! As long as you remove your aligners, you can eat whatever your heart desires. Of course, it’s still a good idea to stick to mostly vitamin-rich, well-balanced meals. After all, your teeth and gums need to stay healthy for your treatment to be successful. With this in mind, avoid foods and drinks with added sugar and exercise caution when indulging in hard, sticky, and crunchy items.
How Do I Clean My Invisalign?
Fortunately, cleaning your Invisalign aligners doesn’t require a cumbersome routine. In fact, it’s very simple! To keep them clean and clear, simply rinse them with lukewarm water and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food particles, debris, and plaque. You don’t need to use toothpaste (it can leave behind microscopic scratches), and you definitely shouldn’t use household cleaning products like bleach. If your aligners begin to look yellow or start to smell, you can soak them in a mixture of water and the Invisalign Cleaning Crystals for 15 minutes.
Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?
More than 90% of patients don’t experience any changes to their speaking patterns. So, there is a really good chance that you won’t have a lisp, even when you first get your aligners. Even if you do experience a slight change to your speech, your mouth will adjust quickly, especially if you practice. Try reading out loud and talking to a trusted friend to speed up the process!