The visibility of braces has kept too many people living with teeth they don’t love. Kids avoid braces because of the embarrassment of metal mouth — but so do adults.
Fortunately, there’s a new way to straighten your teeth that doesn’t come with the months of metal brackets on your teeth. With Invisalign®, you can get your dream smile with virtually invisible plastic aligners.
Dr. Maya Oliver offers Invisalign to her patients of all ages at Georgetown Orthodontics in Washington, DC, and beyond. She knows that this teeth-straightening treatment option can be a game changer because it’s more comfortable, more convenient, and significantly less visible than traditional braces.
But is it right for you or your child? Use this guide to find out.
Understanding how Invisalign works
Traditional braces affix metal brackets to each tooth, then attach those brackets to an archwire to gradually shift the teeth into position.
Invisalign works similarly, but instead of metal brackets and wires, it uses multiple sets of invisible aligners to guide the teeth. When you visit Dr. Oliver, she takes an X-ray of your or your child’s mouth to confirm candidacy for Invisalign. Because we offer SmartForce attachments, Dr. Oliver can use Invisalign to correct the broadest range of smile issues possible.
Next, Dr. Oliver takes a digital scan of your or your child’s mouth. Using that scan, the first set of Invisalign aligners are 3D printed to fit comfortably over the teeth in their current positions. They also get trimmed to align with the gum line, increasing comfort and reducing the visibility of the aligner while it’s worn.
The first aligner gently moves the teeth closer to the proper position. After a week or two (per Dr. Oliver’s recommendation), that aligner gets swapped out for the next one in the set, which moves the teeth into better alignment. As you wear each successive aligner, the teeth get closer and closer to their ideal spot. By the time the last aligner is worn, you will have a straight, even smile.
Invisalign fits into your or your child’s lifestyle
Many people love Invisalign because they only need to wear the aligners for 20-22 hours a day. That means they can take them out to eat, to give a presentation, or whenever else they choose.
This also makes Invisalign great for students. They can remove their aligners to play sports or during lunch hour so they feel as comfortable as possible with their peers.
If you’re worried your son or daughter won’t wear their aligners enough, Dr. Oliver can fit them with a compliance indicator. This blue dot shows you whether or not the aligners have been in place for a sufficient number of hours each day.
What’s more,throughout the course of treatment, Invisalign requires fewer visits to our office than traditional braces, making it more convenient for your family.
Ultimately, Invisalign is designed to integrate seamlessly into your life or your child’s. It’s an ideal way to get a straight smile without the visibility or hassle of braces. If you think this treatment could be right for you or your child, call our office at 202-600-8060 today.