Drawbacks of Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional metal braces can make your smile look less professional and personable. They also often cause discomfort, dietary restrictions, and require extra upkeep.
Luckily, advancements in dental technology have paved the way for a discreet and comfortable orthodontic solution━Invisalign® treatment. These easy-to-use clear aligners can produce results in half the time of metal braces and be removed and reattached with no professional help.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign or Invisalign clear aligners are nearly undetectable alignment trays that work by gradually shifting your teeth into their proper place. Invisalign uses patented SmartTrack technology to gently guide your teeth over time and is comfortable enough for you to remove the trays on your own.
Benefits of Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign clear aligners offer several benefits over traditional metal braces, some of which include:
- Clear appearance
- Comfortable
- Easy to maintain
- Shorter treatment time
- No dietary restrictions
- Removable
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Your Initial Consultation
Your journey to a straighter smile begins at your initial consultation at our Sacramento dental office. Dr. Grivas will examine your mouth, discuss your smile goals, and determine whether you’re a candidate for Invisalign treatment.
In some cases, supplementary procedures such as an interproximal reduction may be required. Interproximal reduction is used to remove a small layer of enamel from adjacent teeth to help the aligner trays fit better.
Your Customized Plan
We’ll take detailed impressions of your teeth to serve as the blueprint for your custom-made aligner trays. These high-quality images will allow us to create a step-by-step guide for your teeth which will gradually correct their alignment. Your aligner trays will be fabricated off-site at a special lab, using the impressions we provide.
Your Invisalign Clear Aligners
At your next appointment, you’ll be fitted with your first customized Invisalign aligner trays. Dr. Grivas will ensure that the trays fit comfortably and securely. You’ll leave the office with some or all of your Invisalign clear aligner trays.
You’ll wear your set of aligner trays for about 20 to 22 hours a day, only removing them to eat or drink. The entire Invisalign process typically takes 12 to 18 months, depending on your smile goals. Once you’ve worked your way through a complete series of aligners, you’ll have a straighter smile.
Who Is A Candidate for Invisalign Clear Aligners?
If you want to brighten your smile without the hassles of metal braces, Invisalign could be a solution for you. Dr. Grivas often recommends Invisalign to adults whose teeth have shifted in the time since they had metal braces.
While clear aligners are an ideal solution for adults with mild to moderate teeth placement issues, teenagers have a more malleable jaw and need an adjusted treatment. Talk to Dr. Grivas about Invisalign Teen if you want to help your teenager avoid braces and achieve a healthy smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, receiving your Invisalign clear aligners shouldn’t hurt or cause discomfort. However, we may provide an anesthetic for supplemental procedures like interproximal reduction. If you’re feeling especially nervous during any part of the procedure, we can offer sedation to help you relax.
Once you start wearing Invisalign, it’s not uncommon to feel some soreness for a few days. This is a side effect of your teeth being guided into place and should subside once you become accustomed to whatever tray in the series you’re wearing.
If you put in a new tray and experience soreness lasting more than a few days, call us immediately and we’ll do our best to solve any problems you’re having.
It’s extremely important to keep track of your trays and to keep them safely stored in their provided case when you take them out. If you lose an aligner tray, call us immediately.
To maintain your Invisalign aligners, Dr.Grivas recommends following these tips:
- When you’re not using them, keep them in their designated holding cases in a place where you will remember them.
- Clean your Invisalign trays every time you take them out and before you put them back in. We suggest using an Invisalign brand cleaner or lukewarm water, gentle antibacterial soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Remove your aligners from back to front to avoid tearing them.
Do not use denture cleaner or hot water to clean your aligner trays as this can result in damage. Failing to clean your Invisalign clear aligners properly before putting them back in can result in bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay.
When you first start wearing Invisalign clear aligners, it’s common to have some minor difficulties with speech. But once you’ve adjusted, these difficulties tend to resolve themselves.
Remember to take out your Invisalign aligners when you eat, drink fluids other than water, and clean your teeth. Store them as soon as you can once you’ve taken them out.
Other than these minor changes, most patients adjust to life with Invisalign fairly quickly.
Invisalign treatment requires half the time of traditional metal braces, which is anywhere from 12 to 18 months. Many patients report seeing results within as little as a few weeks.
Start Your Invisalign Journey With Dr. Grivas Today!
Invisalign clear aligners can straighten your smile without requiring uncomfortable, unappealing metal. Contact Dr. Grivas and his team at his Sacramento, CA office by dialing (916) 929-9222 to schedule your consultation. Start your journey towards a better smile with Dr. Grivas and Invisalign!
