Straight, sparkling teeth are the hallmarks of a dazzling smile. It’s no wonder millions of patients seek out orthodontics to straighten up their smile.
On the other hand, a misaligned bite can severely affect how you chew or speak. Crooked teeth can, over time, cause teeth to wear down faster, increasing the chances of tooth decay and gum disease, which can negatively affect your oral health.
For several years, patients had few options that didn’t involve a mouth full of metal to correct their crooked teeth. With Invisalign®, patients now have a less invasive method that provides beautiful results and boosts your overall oral health.
What Can Invisalign® Do?
Invisalign® uses clear trays, specially molded for each patient, that help align the teeth to the position needed. Made of a transparent plastic-type material, Invisalign® trays work by moving the teeth in increments until they reach the desired position.
Invisalign® can help treat:
- Gaps between teeth
- Overcrowding or misaligned teeth
- Improper bite (underbite, overbite, crossbite, and open bite)
- Misaligned jaw
Patients wear their first Invisalign® trays for 22 hours per day, for about two weeks, before moving on to a new set of trays. Treatment time will vary with every patient but can range from six to 18 months.
How Does Invisalign® Help Oral Health?
Correcting teeth alignment affects more than the way your smile appears. Misaligned teeth can contribute to a host of oral health problems. Crooked or misaligned teeth can make it harder to keep teeth clean, affecting overall oral hygiene, and leading to problems like tooth decay and gum disease. Gaps between the teeth can cause more food to get stuck in teeth and increase the chances of decay and gum irritation. Issues like an overbite, underbite, or overcrowding lead to abnormal wearing of the surface of the teeth. An improper bite can also severely affect the jaw area and contribute to issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) that cause patients pain and tenderness.
What Are the Benefits of Invisalign®?
By far, one of the biggest advantages of Invisalign® is its ease and convenience. The trays are specially designed to be as comfortable as possible to wear, with smooth surfaces that won’t scratch gums or the inside of your mouth despite everyday use.
Patients who use Invisalign® don’t have to avoid certain foods for fear they may get stuck in their braces. It’s an easier treatment process that can provide almost the same results, often in a shorter period of time.
And there’s just no denying the allure of Invisalign® over conventional orthodontics. Invisalign® is created to seamlessly blend into the rest of your smile—avoiding the “brace face” look.
When well taken care of, teeth are made to last a lifetime. Using Invisalign® treatments to correct alignment will create an attractive, healthy smile we can take well into our golden years.
Are you a candidate for Invisalign® treatments? To schedule a consultation with Dr. Julie Gum, please call our office at 610-746-0488.
