Invisalign Clear Braces
San Diego, California
One of the exciting advances made by cosmetic dentistry is this easy alternative to traditional metal braces. No longer do you have to walk around with a mouth full of metal for two years before you have an attractive smile again. There is no metal at all with Invisalign treatments, and nothing is fixed to your teeth.
What is Invisalign?
It’s an easy type of orthodontic work, a way of straightening your teeth without announcing to everyone you meet that your teeth are crowded and are being straightened. It consists of a series of clear plastic aligners, like tooth whitening trays but tighter-fitting, which you wear in sequence.
How does it start?
We would set up an appointment for you to consult about it, and ask your questions. We would show you some typical trays and Dr. Loye would assess the degree of crowding and misalignment you have, taking digital X-Rays and digital photos. He will take a mold of both upper and lower teeth.
Using Invisalign software, Dr. Loye will design a series of aligners, starting with one that fits your current set of teeth. The last one will be in the configuration he sees as your best tooth alignment, both top and bottom. In between will be a series of steps, each step nudging some teeth in the direction they need to go. The total number of aligners will depend on how much tooth movement you need, but typically it’s between 18 and 30.
The Invisalign company will use Dr. Loye’s data to manufacture your set of aligners and will send them to his office when they’re ready.
What do I do?
You wear these aligners in sequence, each one for two weeks. We will give you a group of them at a time, probably three pairs, and ask you to come in for a progress visit every six weeks or so. Your part of this is to wear the aligners for at least 22 hours each day. You can take them out any time, and should take them out for eating, brushing, and flossing. But the rest of the time, leave the current pair of aligners in position for best end results.
Benefits of Invisalign
- They work without anyone knowing, unless you tell them
- They allow for far better dental hygiene than metal braces, since you take them out for daily brushing and flossing. Food particles and bacteria can't hide in crevices as they can with traditional braces.
- You can eat and drink anything. If you enjoy sticky foods or candy, just remove the aligners and go ahead. Such foods have to be avoided by people wearing metal braces.
Most people who have had Invisalign treatments have been delighted with the ease and convenience, and with the excellent results. Straight, even teeth are not only more pleasing in a smile, but also healthier and less prone to developing dental problems later in life. If you would like to consult with us about trying Invisalign, please call or email us to arrange a free personal consultation. We will be happy to answer your questions.
Contact Us
The Dentist that Makes You Smile!
3830 Valley Center Drive, Suite 702
San Diego, CA 92130
