Invisalign – Houston, TX
A Clear Path to a Straight Smile
You don’t have to get metal braces anymore if you’re unhappy with your crooked, crowded teeth or a misaligned bite. Invisalign in Houston allows adults and teens alike to get the perfectly straight smiles they’ve always wanted while those around them never notice their treatment. The only thing that stands out with Invisalign is the gorgeous results, and you can get started just by reaching out to Dr. Terri Alani!
Why Choose Terri Alani, DDS for Invisalign?
- 100% Customized for Each Patient
- Perfect for Adults & Teens
- Able to Work Faster Than Metal Braces
What Is Invisalign?
Instead of using metal brackets and wires to move the teeth, Invisalign relies on a progressive series of clear plastic trays. They simply slide on and off, and the patient swaps them as time goes by until their teeth reach their final position. Invisalign has been used to help millions of patients across the globe, which is why it is the only household name when it comes to clear aligner treatment.
How Does Invisalign Work?
First, we use 3D computer imaging to design a comprehensive treatment plan. This allows you to preview the final positioning of your teeth before you start treatment. Yes, you will see your future smile before treatment begins!
Your treatment plan will be sent to an Invisalign lab that will use it to create your trays. You’ll wear different sets, changing every two weeks, until you’ve gone through the entire series. Depending on the starting position of your teeth, small attachments (that are virtually invisible) might be glued to some to achieve more dramatic tooth movement.
What Is It Like to Use Invisalign?
After your Invisalign series is created, you’ll need to wear each pair of aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours per day. The longer that you wear your aligners, the faster and more effective your treatment will be. Keep in mind that not wearing your aligners for long enough can disrupt your treatment, so it’s important to keep your aligners on you while you travel. It’s also important that you keep them in their protective case when not in use; while they are durable, they are not indestructible.
Benefits of Invisalign
If you’re a working professional who’s maintaining a particular image, but you’ve always wanted to improve your smile, Invisalign is truly the perfect treatment thanks to its transparent appearance and removability. Traditional braces force you to adhere to a different diet to avoid damaging your hardware. They also force you to re-learn your brushing and flossing technique and even purchase specific products designed to clean the brackets and archwire. The removability of your clear aligners eliminates these problems.
Furthermore, Invisalign is ideal for solving many dental issues simultaneously and in less time compared to traditional braces. It can fix crooked or rotated teeth, gaps, and even uneven bites in as little as 12 months!
Understanding the Cost of Invisalign
Invisalign treatment is largely comparable in cost to traditional braces. However, not wearing the aligners for long enough can influence the length of your treatment time. While adjustment appointments are not necessary, it is important that you come to our office every so often to confirm that the aligners are shifting your teeth as planned. If they aren’t, you’ll need to spend more time visiting our office, which could increase overall costs. Overall, Invisalign treatment will cost either less or relatively the same as traditional braces.
Invisalign FAQs
If you’re considering a metal-free alternative for realigning crooked teeth, you’ll find Invisalign to be a fantastic option! We understand if you have many questions about treatment, especially if it’s your first time hearing about them. Dr. Alani and her team are happy to provide detailed answers regarding this incredibly effective and convenient treatment. For your convenience, we’ve included a handful of the most common questions we hear. If your question is not listed, feel free to contact us directly.
How do I keep my clear aligners clean and transparent?
During your routine oral care, simply place your aligners in their designated cleaning crystals (which Invisalign sells) or in a generic denture cleanser. This will work to loosen food debris and plaque that may have collected on them throughout the day. To keep them clear, make sure to brush your teeth after consuming richly-pigmented foods and before wearing your aligners. This will ensure that the stains do not transfer from your teeth to the appliance.
Does Invisalign treatment hurt?
When you wear your first pair of aligners, it’s normal to experience a small amount of pressure on your teeth. Over the next 24 to 48 hours, you may notice a mild amount of discomfort. This is because your teeth are adjusting to their new positions as the aligners begin to apply pressure. However, this quickly goes away as your mouth begins to adjust. If needed, you can also take ibuprofen to alleviate any discomfort.
Can Invisalign help address relapses from treatment with traditional braces?
Yes! One of the most common reasons patients consider Invisalign (other than because they want to avoid traditional braces altogether), is because they previously wore braces but did not comply with their retainer following the end of treatment. Invisalign is commonly used for addressing relapses, albeit minor ones. Once you complete a detailed consultation at our office, we’ll be able to confirm if Invisalign would be effective in your specific case.
Can I chew gum with Invisalign?
Unfortunately, no. Invisalign’s clear aligners may be strong, but they are certainly not capable of sustaining force from regular chewing and grinding. If you must chew gum, make sure to remove the aligners and only chew it for about 20 minutes. Any longer is unnecessary and only gets in the way of your treatment. Chewing gum or any other food while wearing your aligners can cause them to crack and become ineffective at shifting your teeth. If your aligners become damaged for any reason, call our office as soon as possible so we can get you a replacement.
Does Invisalign affect my speech?
In the beginning stages of any oral appliance treatment, there are instances where you’ll need to adjust to using that appliance. Invisalign clear aligners are ultra-thin, which means they are far less intrusive compared to other devices out there. However, because they are custom-made to fit your mouth and teeth exactly, your adjustment period should only take a day or two at most.