Invisalign™

One of the newest appliances available to orthodontists is Invisalign™. In short, it's a method of moving teeth without using braces.

The treatment consists of a series of clear plastic trays that the patient wears. Each tray is worn for 2-3 weeks and they gradually move the teeth from their starting position to the final, corrected position. Needless to say, they are VERY popular.

Let's Make it Clear

The Invisalign System straightens your teeth without traditional wires and brackets. Instead, using a series of customized, clear plastic aligners, your teeth will be moved gently from start to finish. The aligners are practically invisible which means few people, if any, will know you're wearing them.

Comfort Zone

Beyond the esthetic advantages, an additional benefit of the Invisalign system is patient comfort. Unlike brackets and wires, the aligners are as smooth as your teeth are; lip and cheek irritation are practically nonexistent. Furthermore, the ability to remove the trays to eat and clean your teeth allows invisalign patients to eat a normal diet without fear of breaking appliances and clean teeth without interference from wires and braces. Finally, the aligners cover only the teeth. There is no coverage of the roof of the mouth or bulky plastic to displace your tongue. Speech is minimally impacted if at all. These factors contribute to the high percentage of patients who report that they regularly forget they're wearing aligners at all.

Combining High Tech and Old Science

The Invisalign System is a melding of a century of orthodontic knowledge and advanced computer technology. The core of the Invisalign technology is hyper accurate 3D computer modelling of your teeth and jaws. These models are then used to create a custom set of precision aligners for you. However, the trays by themselves are not enough; their design and the overall course of treatment need to be planned very carefully for a successful finish. For this reason it is important to seek an orthodontist trained and certified to use the Invisalign System. The initial visit will determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. If so, detailed impressions and measurements are taken and sent to Invisalign. This information, along with a careful diagnosis and treatment plan sent by your orthodontist, will allow Invisalign to create the 3D models, a step by step course of action and the aligners to carry that plan to completion. There can be as many as 40 or as few as 10 aligners required to correct a bite. Each aligner is worn for 2-3 weeks steadily moving you gradually closer to your goal. The final aligner is will bring you to your desired result and your new smile will be complete.

To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, call us at (818) 886-1414 for a free consultation.