A straighter smile can improve more than the way your teeth look. Proper alignment can also make it easier to bite, chew, clean your teeth, and maintain long-term oral health. As part of a cosmetic dentistry plan, Invisalign® offers a discreet, removable alternative to traditional braces, using a series of clear aligners to gradually guide the teeth into a better position while fitting more comfortably into your daily routine.
At Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Helaine Smith and her team take the time to evaluate your smile, listen to your goals, and determine whether Invisalign is the right fit for your needs. With a focus on patient comfort, education, and personalized care, the practice helps patients pursue healthier, more confident smiles in Pound Ridge, NY.
What does Invisalign do?
Invisalign moves teeth using clear aligners (clear trays that fit over your teeth) to achieve a stable bite. This enables you to have a stable bite and a healthier mouth, but it makes it easier to clean and less likely to lose bone and tooth structure, which can happen with misaligned bites.
How does the Invisalign system work?
Invisalign works by using forces built into the clear aligners that move teeth in a synchronous manner.
What are the health benefits of Invisalign?
Invisalign has many health benefits. Eliminating crowding often creates more space in the oral cavity, giving your tongue more room. This can improve some types of sleep apnea. A proper bite allows teeth to receive biting forces along the tooth’s straight axis. This prevents bone loss and recession, helping you keep your important teeth, gums, and bone intact. Also, straight teeth are easier to clean, which can reduce the bacterial load in your oral cavity.
What are some of the benefits of Invisalign over regular braces?
You can do almost all of the treatment at home. The clear aligners are changed by you at home each week. This eliminates the monthly appointments required with traditional braces. Invisalign is pain-free. And Invisalign is almost invisible. Also, trays can move the teeth in multiple directions simultaneously, whereas wires move them in one direction at a time.
Who is a good candidate for Invisalign?
Almost any healthy person is a good candidate for Invisalign.
Your Invisalign treatment program is designed around your alignment goals. If you’re seeking to correct minor gaps or crookedness, your treatment may last a year or less. For more significant issues such as an overbite, underbite, crossbite, or more severe overcrowding, treatment may extend to 12 to 18 months or longer. When you visit us to discuss how Invisalign could help you achieve your best smile, we will estimate how long your treatment may take.
You can absolutely undergo Invisalign treatment even if you’ve previously worn braces! In fact, it’s relatively common to experience what is called orthodontic relapse after completing a course of treatment with braces. While your teeth are nice and straight after your braces come off, they aren’t fully stabilized in the jawbone for at least a few years. Orthodontic relapse, teeth shifting out of their ideal position, can occur if the post-braces retainer is not worn often enough or for long enough. Fortunately, most cases of orthodontic relapse are pretty mild and easily addressed with a short course of Invisalign treatment.
Your Invisalign aligners are worn for two weeks at a time. Still, you want to take good care of them so they do not develop odor or stains. You also want to develop really good habits around storing your aligners when you remove them for meals. To prevent loss, it is helpful to keep a carrying case with you and place your aligners in it when dining, especially when dining out. If at all possible, do not leave the carrying case on the table during your meal. When you put the case in a backpack or purse, you’re far less likely to accidentally throw your aligners in the trash.
When you remove your aligners to brush and floss your teeth, you can place them in water or an approved cleanser. This can help loosen debris and inhibit bacterial accumulation on the surface. Provided that you use non-abrasive toothpaste, you can put a small dab of paste on your finger and rub your aligners down for a more thorough cleaning.
Invisalign treatment is like wearing braces, but better! The aligners work by applying pressure to specific teeth to move them into their ideal positions. This is how braces work, as well. The difference is that your Invisalign treatment uses clear plastic aligners rather than metal or plastic brackets. Nothing is affixed to your teeth, so you’re able to eat normally and also brush and floss your teeth without having to work around foreign structures. Retaining this ability to brush and floss well, your risk of cavities is quite low during your Invisalign treatment.
When you remove your aligners to brush and floss your teeth, you can place them in water or an approved cleanser. This can help loosen debris and inhibit bacterial accumulation on the surface. Provided that you use non-abrasive toothpaste, you can put a small dab of paste on your finger and rub your aligners down for a more thorough cleaning.
Does Insurance Cover Invisalign?
Most insurance companies extend the same coverage for Invisalign as they do for traditional orthodontic treatment. It is wise to contact your insurance carrier directly for information regarding prerequisites, coverage amounts, and limits, if applicable.
Is Invisalign Appropriate for Children and Teens?
Yes! The makers of Invisalign have continued to develop ways to improve an already proven system. One of those improvements has been the development of Invisalign First®, a treatment program designed specifically for growing smiles. Children as young as age 6 can receive treatment to address the width of the dental arch and the spacing of teeth that are still transitioning from baby teeth to permanent teeth. Invisalign First® features all of the same benefits of the standard Invisalign treatment, including sophisticated imaging and treatment planning, comfortable, clear aligners, and attachments as needed.
Get a Straighter Smile Discreetly with Invisalign in Pound Ridge, NY
If you are ready to explore a more discreet way to straighten your smile, please contact our office at 914.764.3540 or send us a message here.
