5636 Westheimer Rd, Houston, Texas 77056
Call Us Today (713) 621-5141
Do you dream about having a smile full of sparkling, straight teeth, but you just can’t imagine yourself wearing traditional metal braces? You’ve probably invested in a professional, mature image, and you shouldn’t have to look like a teenager to straighten your teeth. We agree. Now, your dreams can come true. To get started enhancing your smile without a metal mouth, give our office a call!
Invisalign, an orthodontic treatment approved by the FDA, is the virtually invisible method to straighten your teeth without conventional metal braces. With Invisalign, a custom-molded set of transparent, removable aligners will progressively reposition your teeth. You can simply remove the aligners before eating, brushing, flossing, or special occasions. This technology is more comfortable and convenient than traditional braces. Patients do not experience the mouth abrasions caused by metal and wires, and Invisalign aligners are easy to clean. Adjustment appointments aren’t necessary, either.
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.
Then a lab will create a series of aligners to reposition your teeth over one to two years. You’ll change aligners every two weeks until your smile is straight and beautiful. Typically, you will visit us every six weeks for progress reports. In some cases, small attachments may temporarily be bonded to your teeth to allow for movement.
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.
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 relearn your brushing and flossing technique and even purchase specific products designed to clean the brackets and archwire. The removability of your clear aligners removes these problems entirely.
Furthermore, Invisalign is ideal for solving a number of 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!
Transparent, removable, no-hassle orthodontia – now that should put a smile on your face!
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.
If you’re considering a metal-free option 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
