If you wish to correct your smile but are uncomfortable with metal braces, Invisalign may be an ideal option. This advanced dental treatment can realign the misaligned teeth without requiring brackets or metal wires. They are transparent; thus, they offer you private treatment.

At South Coast Dentistry, our dental professionals provide quality invisalign treatment to patients seeking these services in Aliso Viejo. We correct your dental problems and restore your perfect smile. Do not hesitate to contact us if you have a dental problem. We will schedule a consultation to determine whether Invisalign is ideal for you before we embark on treatment.

Invisalign Overview

Invisalign works similarly to traditional metal braces. Although, one of the major concerns people usually have about braces is the metalwork’s esthetic effect on their smile. Particularly for adults, having to wear unattractive braces for lengthy periods can be highly discouraging. Invisalign, on the other hand, provides a virtually invisible aligning structure containing zero metal and quickly straightens teeth.

Invisalign is a series of custom-made, clear trays. These trays are shaped to change and shift the teeth structure to achieve a healthy mouth and an aligned bite. The dental professional changes the trays every couple of weeks to fit the configuration of the new tooth.

Apart from the reduced visual effect, the trays can be removed temporarily for critical occasions. Another best thing about Invisalign dental treatment is that you can view your final smile even before treatment starts. You will also be in control of the duration of the treatment. Many patients report 100% satisfaction with the Invisalign treatment and stunning results.

Bite Problems that Invisalign Can Correct

Invisalign can correct several dental problems. Some of these problems are:

  • Overbite— arises when the upper teeth cover entirely or protrude further than the lower teeth. Ultimately, TMJ (temporomandibular) disorder and jaw pain may occur.
  • Underbite— underbite is the opposite of overbite. That is, lower teeth completely cover or protrude further than upper teeth. Ultimately, TMJ and jaw pain can occur.
  • Crossbite— a prevalent dental problem that arises when one or several upper teeth bite into the lower teeth. Consequently, uneven wear could result in gum disease and bone erosion.
  • Gapped teeth— gapped teeth can sometimes arise because the jawbone continues growing abnormally or due to missing teeth.
  • Overcrowding— happens when the space in the mouth is too small for the proper alignment of teeth. Overcrowding can lead to tooth decay and increase the chances of developing gum disease.
  • Overlapping teeth— overlapping teeth occur when teeth are positioned in front of adjacent teeth on the same dental arch.

Suitable Candidates for Invisalign Treatment

Dental treatment with Invisalign aligners is ideal for almost anybody who wishes to arrange their teeth in a more orderly fashion or improve their smile.

  • Teenagers— Invisalign treatment can assist in correcting various misalignments in teens’ teeth. Aligners are suitable for teens since they are clear, therefore, easily achieve enhanced dental health and improved smile. This is especially beneficial since the teen years are usually filled with self-consciousness. Also, with easier use and shorter treatment periods, Invisalign is a suitable dental treatment option for teens who wish for a perfect, winning smile.
  • Grown-ups— more grown-ups are opting for corrective dental procedures and taking control of their oral health. Invisalign aligners are suitable for any adult who wishes to have flexibility with the alignment process and achieve an enhanced smile and appearance without using the conspicuous traditional metal braces.

However, some people are not ideal candidates for Invisalign. If you need corrective function on your posterior teeth, you might not be a good candidate for Invisalign treatment. Also, if your teeth need to be gradually guided upward or downward to be more aligned with the rest of your mouth, Invisalign aligners cannot achieve this. In this case, traditional metal braces would be ideal. Consult your dentist to find out if you or your loved one is suitable for Invisalign treatment.

The Invisalign Treatment Process

Although the Invisalign treatment procedure may slightly change based on the patient’s situation, here is a detailed general treatment process that most patients experience:

Initial Consultation

During your first appointment, you will have an in-person discussion with your dentist, at which meeting they will discuss the Invisalign procedure, how it works, and the estimated cost of treatment. This will give you all the necessary information to decide accordingly. The dentist will also ask questions to determine whether Invisalign treatment is the best option for you. If it is, they will create a treatment plan customized to your needs.

Taking Photographs and X-Rays

Your dentist will likely take x-ray images during your first appointment after determining that Invisalign treatment is ideal for you. They will take several 3D digital x-ray pictures of your entire jaw, teeth, face, and mouth from different angles to have a comprehensive map of the mechanics of your mouth on which to base their dental work.

These pictures enable the dental professional to move specific teeth on the screen, view the jawbone from various angles, and foresee or envision how the face will look in several years. Essentially, this technology shows how Invisalign aligners will change facial esthetics.

In particular cases, the dentist may take a lateral cephalometric x-ray— a form of x-ray that provides detailed pictures of the link between cheekbone and jaw. This helps the dentist to plan how they will align your teeth for desired results.

Once the dentist is done planning, they will take your teeth impressions and send them to the laboratory for processing. Using the imprints sent to them, the lab will utilize 3D computer imaging technology to create a set of customized aligners. The total number of aligners needed varies across patients, although twenty to twenty-nine per arch is typical.

Preparatory Work

Once your custom Invisalign aligners are ready, your dentist will schedule your next appointment for preparatory work. Preparatory work entails any activity done in readiness to fit the Invisalign aligners. Some patients might require composite patches smeared on every tooth to enable the aligners to hold onto every tooth and shift them. Patients vary, and only some of them require the patches. These patches are made from similar materials that composite fillings are created from and can be removed easily without discomfort after the Invisalign procedure.

Another preparatory work that varies across patients is the number of necessary interproximal reductions (slimming/trimming). This procedure is straightforward. It is done to create more room between teeth if the patient has crowded teeth. The dentist uses discs to scrap away a little enamel to free the teeth for less restricted, enhanced future movements.

First Fitting

Your dentist may insert the first set of your aligners during the same appointment for preparatory work. Invisalign aligners are made from your teeth impressions; thus, they should fit tight when you first put them on.

At this point, your dentist will assess the fit and might try several molds before being content. They will probably ask how the aligners feel, whether they are uncomfortable, or whether you feel any movement. At this stage, It is usual for the trays in your mouth to feel strange. They must be tight, although not painfully because they should be strong and stable enough to start the teeth realignment process.

Consult your dentist if you experience any distress or pain after your first fitting of the Invisalign aligners. Note that the aligners may be uncomfortable initially, but you will quickly be used to their feel. During the initial fitting, your dentist will also tell you how to attach and remove the aligners and how to take care of them.

Changing Your Aligners

You must wear each set of the Invisalign aligners for around 14 days before changing them. Sometimes if the teeth have yet to shift to the intended position, this period might be extended. Your dentist will give you the next aligner sets in your treatment plan to change at home. Every tray is molded as the next stage in the teeth movement, inducing the teeth toward the required alignment goal. That is how Invisalign works.

Even though you need not go to the dental clinic every time you change your aligner, you should schedule monitoring visits or follow-up checkups to ascertain that the treatment is progressing as intended. Schedule these visits every six to eight weeks. During these checkups, your dentist will do any slenderizing and give you the next set of Invisalign aligners.

The amount of scheduled checkups varies based on how many sets of aligners the dentist prescribed in your personalized treatment plan. And if you experience any severe discomfort or pain between visits, contact your dentist immediately. After you have worn all the sets of aligners, the treatment will be complete.

After your Invisalign treatment, the dentist will use your last appointment to see if additional refining (small bite adjustments) is required or to order retainers to assist in maintaining the new teeth’s position. Retainers are durable and only need replacement after they have worn out.

Essential tips for successful Invisalign dental treatment is to comply with wearing the Invisalign aligners as your dentist instructs. This include:

  • Having the aligners on for at least twenty to twenty-two hours a day.
  • Wearing every set for fourteen days or as your dental professional has instructed you.
  • Taking them out, cleaning, and keeping them properly.
  • Taking them out when drinking and eating anything.
  • Wearing every set properly (lower or upper, correct sequence, and affixing them gently until they snap in place and are completely seated).

Changes In Your Mouth

Once you start wearing your Invisalign aligners, you will experience peculiar and strange changes within your mouth. All this is expected as is part of being accustomed to Invisalign. You will experience the same side effects with metal braces.

One of the first changes is to experience a particular degree of discomfort, aching included, since the teeth will be forced into a new position. The discomfort should cease after some days after every aligner change.

In addition, people wearing Invisalign at times feel increased tooth sensitivity. This should, too, go away after a brief period, but toothpaste made particularly for tooth sensitivity will assist in mitigating this minor nuisance.

You might also experience a slight change in your speech in the initial few days of putting on your aligners. The change arises because the aligners occupy some space in the mouth; thus, the space in which the tongue moved before is limited. Speech changes should go away after a few weeks.

Cleaning Invisalign Braces

You should clean your aligners thoroughly in the morning and at night, after or before brushing your teeth. Cleaning helps eliminate bacteria that would have accumulated during the night or day. Without adequate cleaning, the aligners may start to smell. Clean the Invisalign braces using a toothbrush. However, do not use toothpaste.

Also, rinse the trays whenever you remove them in the day to freshen them and prevent smells by eliminating bacteria or buildups. Clean the aligners after each meal to stop discoloration. For ideal practice, soak Invisalign aligners in a teeth-cleaning solution when you are not using them.

Cost of Invisalign

Invisalign treatment cost generally ranges between $3500 and $8000. This is only a rough estimate since several critical factors influence the treatment process. For example, the number of aligners required will change the final charges. Certain insurance plans with policies that cover orthodontic treatments can cover Invisalign treatment. Your dentist can assist you in reviewing your insurance coverage.

Advantages of Undergoing Invisalign Treatment

Invisalign has a wide range of benefits over other dental treatment options. These advantages include the following:

They Are Invisible

Invisibility is the most apparent characteristic of Invisalign. These dental appliances are virtually undetectable when you wear them on your teeth and cancel the need for metal wires and brackets. Studies have shown that children and teenagers spend a lot of time trying to fit in with their peers. Although, most teenagers wearing metal braces claim this bars them from fitting in entirely. This may result in problems like anxiety, low self-confidence, and depression.

Teenagers who put on Invisalign are more likely to have higher self-esteem and are willing to smile more often while wearing the appliances than teens wearing metal braces. For grown-ups, if your job requires much interaction and physical contact with people, wearing a smile plays a significant role since it shows you are friendly, trustworthy, and approachable. Invisalign’s invisibility will make you confident enough to want to smile on the job.

Invisalign Allows for Better Oral Hygiene

Invisalign aligners are removable, meaning you can take them out when you want to eat. Apart from removing the aligners whenever you want to eat, you can remove them when you want to clean your teeth, gums, and other dental parts. This will enable you to thoroughly clean, unlike traditional metal braces.

With braces, food bites and plaque may stick inside and around brackets, making proper cleaning challenging. If the metal brackets are not properly cleaned, tooth decay and gum may arise. But with Invisalign, you can brush and floss without requiring special equipment.

You can also clean Invisalign aligners separately without maneuvering your toothbrush around delicate brackets and wires. Cleaning Invisalign aligners entails cleaning and brushing the inside to ensure no bacteria or food accumulates. Whenever you take out your Invisalign aligners to clean your teeth, drink, or eat, it is also advisable to do routine cleaning of the inside of the aligner container so no bacteria accumulate.

More Comfortable

Invisalign aligners are more comfortable compared to traditional braces. Metal brackets have sharp edges that cut and dig into your cheeks and lips. They may leave sores that would not easily heal. You may apply wax to the outside of the brackets, although the wax usually falls off faster. Invisalign aligners are custom-made for your teeth. They have smooth edges created with high-quality resin, so you will not have metal digging into your mouth and making you uncomfortable.

Since they are custom-made to fit, Invisalign aligners also have more definite control over teeth straightening. At your treatment, the dentist will fit you with aligners that will slowly adjust your teeth rotationally, vertically, and horizontally until every tooth is in its right place.

Shorter Treatment Time

Invisalign aligners may lower the treatment period by half compared to treatment with metal braces. Most treatments with metal braces take between sixteen and eighteen months. Some may take a maximum of two or more years. For Invisalign, it will only take a maximum of twelve months to treat your dental problem.

Find an Experienced Orthodontist Near Me

We, South Coast Dentistry, are among the most trusted dental clinics offering services to patients in Aliso Viejo. As dental health providers for several clients seeking services in the area, we know how essential dental and oral health is for everyone. We, therefore, ensure to offer comprehensive dental care for all of our patients, thanks to our highly experienced dental professionals. Additionally, we offer competitive prices to ensure we serve as many patients as possible.

Whereas only the patient can weigh the benefits or drawbacks of Invisalign, Invisalign treatment is an ideal option for many people. To know whether Invisalign is a suitable option for you, what the treatment cost is, or if you have any questions concerning the Invisalign treatment process, contact us at 949-274-9086 for help.  When you trust us with your dental health, be guaranteed that we will meet your needs.