What is Invisalign®?

One of the most common complaints we hear from both teen and adult patients that want a more attractive smile is they do not want to wait more than a year for results, or obscure their smile with metal braces. Others are concerned about the pain of orthodontic treatment.

The good news is that there is a cosmetic dentistry solution that can help you get the smile you have dreamed of without costly or painful procedures!

Invisalign® is a proven method for straightening the teeth without braces. You wear a set of aligner trays for most of the day and night to slowly shift your teeth into their correct positions. The trays can be removed at any time and you should start to see results within a few weeks — not months.

How Does Invisalign® Work?

Rather than outfitting your teeth with tight metal wiring, Invisalign® uses a series of custom-made, transparent aligners to gradually guide teeth into the proper positioning. Designed to fit comfortably over your dental arches, Invisalign® aligners exert gentle pressure on the teeth and encourage them into the correct arrangement, as determined by your cosmetic dentist. Each Invisalign® aligner provides a small degree of movement, progressively straightening your smile and improving your bite until the desired results are achieved. They are also easily removable, canceling the challenges that exist when eating, brushing, and flossing with metal braces.

Key Benefits of Invisalign®

One of the great things about Invisalign® is it’s designed to be virtually invisible. This is why so many people choose Invisalign® over conventional braces. Other benefits of Invisalign® include:

• Relatively painless process
• Discreetly straighten your teeth at work, at social events and at home
• Fast results
• Keep your teeth clean with your usual brushing and flossing routine
• No food and drink limitations

Furthermore, there is little to no maintenance required to keep Invisalign® aligners in good condition. Since patients don’t have to worry about emergency trips to the dentist due to broken wires and brackets, Invisalign® typically involves fewer office visits when compared to traditional orthodontic treatment.

What Issues Can Invisalign® Address?

Invisalign® can correct mild to complex cases of misalignment and malocclusion (poor bite) in teeth. Our dentists often utilize the Invisalign® system to address:

• Gaps and spacing issues between teeth
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Open bite
• Overly crowded teeth
• Cross bite

In a consultation, Dr. Nicholas Rallis or Dr. Chris Chondrogiannis can evaluate your oral structures and help you determine whether Invisalign® is the best orthodontic treatment for your needs. If you are a candidate for Invisalign®, one of our dentists will develop a treatment plan based on digital scans taken of your teeth and bite.

How Long Does Invisalign® Treatment Take?

The Invisalign® system has been known to achieve the desired final outcome in less time than is typically required with metal braces; however, the exact duration of your treatment will depend on the extent of your concerns and how often you wear your aligners. Dr. Rallis or Dr. Chondrogiannis will let you know the timeline of your unique orthodontic plan in person, but on average, Invisalign® treatment is completed within 12 to 18 months.

How Long Should Each Invisalign® Aligner Be Worn?

It is recommended to keep aligners in place for 20 to 22 hours per day, or for the length of time prescribed by your dentist. In general, you should strive to wear your aligners as much as possible and they should only be removed when eating or cleaning the teeth for optimal treatment. You will likely progress to your new set of aligners every one or two weeks.

Teeth Straightening Treatment From a Trusted Expert

Dr. Rallis not only provides Invisalign® at his practice but is also a speaker for Invisalign®. He is a former Invisalign® instructor, teaching other dentists how to get the best results with this teeth straightening system. He has worked with many patients with an underbite or crossbite, gaps between the teeth and other issues that are relatively easy to fix with Invisalign®.

Ready to transform your smile? Schedule your Invisalign® consultation with Dr. Rallis today!