Do you have crooked teeth or gaps in your smile? Misaligned pearly whites can put a damper on your confidence, but that isn’t the extent of the harm you can do. It can be difficult to keep your mouth clean if your teeth aren’t in their proper places, a quandary that may lead to tooth decay. Many people have benefited from Invisalign. What exactly is Invisalign in Lincoln, and how does it work to give you the straight smile you’ve always wanted?
How Invisalign Works
Traditional metal braces apply gentle force over a long period of time to reposition teeth into their proper places. This is possible because teeth are attached to the jaw via tiny little ligaments, which allow your pearly whites to move slightly.
Invisalign works in the same manner as traditional braces in that it uses gentle pressure to urge teeth to where they need to be. However, instead of employing brackets and wires, Invisalign involves the use of thermoplastic aligners. As you wear the clear braces for between 20 and 22 hours each day, they will gradually reposition your teeth.
When you visit your Invisalign provider to talk about getting clear braces, your dentist in Lincoln will make a digital impression of your teeth and then design a series of aligners. You’ll switch to a new aligner every two weeks or so. On average, Invisalign takes about a year to produce your brand new smile. However, you’ll probably start to see results in as little as two or three months.
Is Invisalign Better Than Traditional Metal Braces?
Can’t decide if Invisalign is right for you? Many people prefer clear braces over their traditional metal counterparts for a number of reasons:
- Invisalign is difficult to spot. No one has to know you’re wearing them!
- It’s easy to remove the aligners, which means you’ll be able to eat, drink, and care for your teeth according to your normal routine.
- Invisalign is faster than metal braces, which take an average of two years to produce results.
- There are no metal brackets or wires to irritate your mouth.
- You’ll have to visit your dental care provider less often than you would if you had metal braces.
- If you have a teenager who is using Invisalign, you can monitor their compliance via a blue dot on the aligners.
- Invisalign aligners are easy to keep clean.
However, Invisalign isn’t for everyone. It may not be able to treat very complex cases, and it takes self-discipline to make sure you wear the aligners for the recommended amount of time each day. Your dentist will be able to discuss all of the pros and cons of clear braces with you.
Are you ready to claim the straight, healthy smile you’ve always wanted? Invisalign might be the solution you need.
About the Author
Dr. Louis Olberding is proud to serve the Lincoln, Nebraska community. His decades of experience enable him to treat a range of oral health concerns, including misaligned teeth. If you have questions about Invisalign, feel free to contact Olberding Dental at 402-488-2325.