While crooked teeth are a cosmetic issue, treating crooked teeth is also ideal for your overall oral health. One of the most popular ways to straighten teeth is Invisalign. Dr. Georgia Haddad of Beach Cities Dental Group highlights the benefits of this Oxnard, CA cosmetic dentistry offering.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional braces that treats mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. Instead of metal brackets and wires, Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners to slowly move your teeth into place. The plastic used is designed to be as thin as possible so that it’s comfortable, but it’s durable enough to stand up to everyday wear.
The Benefits of Invisalign
There are many reasons why Invisalign is preferred by both patients and professionals. First, Invisalign is much more discreet than traditional braces. This is especially important for adults that want a subtle way to straighten their teeth. Because the clear aligners are fitted perfectly to your smile, it’s hard to tell that they’re there unless someone is specifically looking for them.
Treatment with Invisalign is usually shorter than with traditional braces. On average, Invisalign takes around 6-18 months, while braces can often take years. You don’t have to come into our office as often for checkups, either. Traditional braces require a professional to tighten the wires every month, but you change out the aligners yourself with Invisalign.
While you wear the aligners for around 22 hours each day, they’re a removable device. You don’t have to change your diet because foods can get stuck in your braces or break a wire because they’re taken out for meals. It’s also easier for your oral health routine. Learning how to clean around brackets and wires can be difficult and staining can occur if it isn’t done properly. Since you can remove the aligners, you can brush your teeth like normal and clean the aligners separately.
Lastly, Invisalign is more comfortable than other methods. The plastic is designed to be smooth and comfortable. It doesn’t irritate your gums and doesn’t pinch. Brackets and wires can dig into the soft tissues of the inside of your lips and cheeks, with wax needed to prevent this. This isn’t an issue with Invisalign.
The Invisalign Process
A cosmetic dentistry consultation will be had with our office to make sure that Invisalign is the right solution for you. Our office has state-of-the-art dental technology to create a set of aligners to fit your smile perfectly. You’ll be able to see a projection of the results, the number of aligner sets you’ll be getting, and approximately when your treatment will be complete.
The aligners will be changed out about once every two weeks. Each one is slightly different to slowly move your teeth into place. It’s common to feel some pressure when your aligners are changed for the first few days. Periodic checkups will be scheduled in our office so that we can make sure the treatment is progressing the way it should be.
Invisalign and Cosmetic Dentistry in Oxnard, California
Do you think your smile could benefit from Invisalign? Call us or schedule an appointment online.