Many patients are concerned with the alignment of their teeth. It can make them feel awkward when talking or eating, and can even cause some patients discomfort. A typical solution to this problem over the years has been braces. However, many patients are averse to the idea of wearing the brackets and wires due to their appearance. Preston Bend Dental can now offer a viable alternative with Invisalign in Plano, TX.
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that can help patients with an overbite, underbite, or generally misaligned teeth bring them into a straighter, more comfortable orientation. It accomplishes this by using clear plastic aligner trays that fit over your teeth. The trays are meant to be worn in a specific series, with each one being a different shape that gradually changes as your teeth move into alignment. The individual trays are meant to be worn up to 22 hours a day for about 2 weeks each before moving onto the next one. Treatment can take anywhere from 8-18 months depending on your degree of misalignment. Invisalign has advanced over the years to be able to address more and more complicated orthodontic issues, so most patients who are considering orthodontic treatment should be able to benefit from it.
You can get the straighter smile you’ve always without having to get braces, all thanks to Invisalign.
If you think Invisalign can help your smile, please call your dentist in Plano today.
If your teeth aren’t properly aligned, then food particles and other debris can easily get trapped between them. Not only that, but it’s more difficult to remove them with your toothbrush and floss. That’s why patients with crooked teeth are often more likely to develop cavities. The good news is that Invisalign clear aligners are an option if your case isn’t too severe, allowing your journey to a straighter, healthier smile to be basically invisible.
Some patients have one large gap between their two front teeth. Others have several, smaller gaps throughout their mouth. In both cases, low self-esteem, trouble enunciating clearly, and oral health problems, like periodontal disease, are common. For that reason, we recommend scheduling a consultation with us to find out if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. If the answer is “yes,” then we will gradually and gently close the gaps with custom-made clear aligners.
An overbite is a common orthodontic problem that refers to when the upper teeth protrude far beyond the lower ones. This might not seem like much of an issue, but it can actually lead to several problems, including difficulty enunciating clearly. That’s why we recommend having it fixed sooner rather than later. The first step? Scheduling a consultation with us so we can assess the severity of your case and determine if Invisalign clear aligners are ideal for you.
The opposite can also happen (the lower teeth sit in front of the upper ones). This bite problem is often more noticeable, which results in lower self-esteem. Not only that, but it can make it difficult to communicate clearly and chew properly. So, even if yours seems minor, don’t wait – explore your orthodontic treatment options now! You might be surprised to find out that Invisalign is an option and, in turn, the smile transformation process won’t involve any metal.
Crossbites, like the other bite problems on this list, can negatively impact the look, health, and function of your smile. There is some good news though: more mild cases can usually be corrected with Invisalign clear aligners. That means you won’t have to deal with “metal mouth,” dietary restrictions, and complicated oral hygiene regimens. Plus, the average treatment timeline is only 12-18 months, so you’ll get the results you want relatively fast too!
If there is space between your upper and lower teeth that’s preventing you from biting down all the way, then you likely have an open bite. This is usually the result of either genetics or a childhood habit, like thumb-sucking. Fortunately, no matter where it stems from, Invisalign is often a solution.
The first step in the process is that Dr. Anita Madhav will need to give your teeth a thorough examination. This will allow her to see if Invisalign is the right treatment for you, as well as allow you to ask any questions you might have. Should you both decide to go forward, the process will start with her team taking a series of x-rays and photos of your mouth. These will be used to make your trays and assure they are perfectly fitted to your particular teeth. Once you have started wearing your trays, you will need to visit the office about every 6-8 weeks so your progress can be monitored.
Invisalign has a number of differences when compared to traditional braces, such as:
Invisalign helps patients undergo orthodontic treatment without having to alter their habits like they would with traditional braces. The discreet appearance allows them to keep their treatment private, and many people forget they are wearing their trays throughout the day until it is time to eat or brush their teeth.
If you’re considering Invisalign in Plano as a method of achieving the straight smile you’ve always wanted, chances are you have some questions first. Of course, we’ll be happy to address all of your concerns during your consultation. In the meantime, we invite you to read through this list of Invisalign questions that we get asked the most often.
Because multiple factors can affect the cost of Invisalign, we can’t name a set fee without examining your specific case first. Some of the factors that must be considered include:
During your consultation, your dentist in Plano can go over these variables and provide you with a cost estimate. Our team does everything we can to make your dental care more affordable, including filing claims with your insurance provider at the end of your appointment. We also accept third-party financing and offer no-interest payment plans.
As with any new type of dental appliance, it can take a few days to get used to having something new in your mouth. Some patients report that wearing the aligners does not impact their speech at all. Others say that they have a slight lisp for the first couple of days. Once you have fully adjusted to wearing the aligners (which should only take a week at most), your speech will go back to normal.
Much like the cost of Invisalign, the length of treatment can vary from patient to patient. It generally depends on how severe your misalignment is and how often you wear your aligners. For instance, if you don’t wear your aligners for at least 20 hours a day, your treatment may be delayed. That’s why you’ll need to have the trays in for as long as your family dentist in Plano recommends.
On average, Invisalign takes anywhere from 12 to 18 months to fully straighten most patients’ smiles. Contrast that to the 24 to 36 months it usually takes with traditional braces, and you’ll see why Invisalign is the clearly superior choice!
Yes. Whether you’ve had Invisalign or traditional braces, you’re going to need to wear a retainer after you’re finished with orthodontic treatment. It takes a while for your teeth to “remember” their new positions, and a retainer will prevent them from shifting back into their original misaligned state. In the case of Invisalign, your retainer will be another set of clear trays. Wearing them shouldn’t be much different from wearing your aligners. You’ll have to wear them for 22 hours a day for a few weeks or months, but eventually, you can switch to only wearing them at night.
