INVISALIGN®
Invisalign is the virtually invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces, using a series of clear, removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. You wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Dennis has prescribed. You’ll visit Dr. Dennis about once every six weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.
How does Invisalign work?
Dr. Dennis will utilize 3D computer imaging technology to demonstrate the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position. This imaging technology is then used to design an individualized series of custom-made aligners. The patient wears the aligner for about two weeks while the teeth move incrementally. After two weeks, the current aligner is replaced with the next one until the final position is achieved
What do aligners look like?
Aligners are clear and nearly invisible. If you’ve ever seen clear tooth-whitening trays, that should give you a good idea of what the aligners look like. Invisalign aligners are custom-made to fit and move your teeth.
Will the treatment be painful?
Each time you change to a new aligner, there may be some temporary discomfort while your teeth adjust to their new position. This is completely normal, and is a good sign that the treatment is working.
Will wearing Invisalign aligners affect my speech?
Some people are affected more than others, but most adjust in a short period of time to the feeling of the aligners and do not have permanent changes in their speech.
How often will I have to wear my aligners?
Invisalign only works while you’re wearing the aligners. It’s recommended that you wear your aligners full-time, day and night, except to eat, brush, and floss your teeth.
INVISALIGN TEEN®
If you’re a teen with crooked teeth, you know just how self-conscious that can make you feel. This is a bit of a catch-22, however, since getting braces can leave you feeling self-conscious as well. It’s for this reason that many teens and parents of teens ask us about Invisalign®. At our Charlottesville practice, we offer teenage patients Invisalign Teen®, which is a way to get a straight and great-looking smile without the brackets and wires of traditional braces.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF INVISALIGN TEEN®?
One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign Teen® is that the aligners are virtually invisible. This means that teens don’t have to feel self-conscious about their appearance. This is especially important for class photos, formals, and prom, where you want to look your best. Since the Invisalign® aligners are removable; they can be taken out as needed.
Invisalign® lets you eat the foods that you love, which is something that can’t be said about traditional braces. You can still eat popcorn and candy when undergoing Invisalign® treatment, but just make sure that you aren’t wearing the aligners while eating. Cleaning your teeth is simple and convenient with Invisalign® as well.
Because accidents can happen, parents will be glad to know that we will provide six free replacement aligners to Invisalign Teen® patients. This is just in case an aligner is misplaced or lost.
WHO IS A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR INVISALIGN TEEN®?
Good candidates for Invisalign Teen® at our Charlottesville practice are young men and women with crooked teeth who have generally good dental health and realistic expectations about what Invisalign® treatment can achieve. Invisalign® will not be able to address overbites, underbites, or extremely misaligned teeth, so patients with those issues will need different sorts of orthodontic treatment. It’s also important to note that older teenagers are better suited for Invisalign® than young adolescents.
The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for Invisalign Teen® is to visit Dr. Suzanne M. Dennis in Charlottesville for a comprehensive consultation.
SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION FOR INVISALIGN TEEN® IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
Invisalign Teen® may be right for you. We encourage teens and parents of teenagers to speak with us about how this option can bee helpful. For more information about Invisalign Teen®, schedule an Invisalign® consultation at our Charlottesville orthodontics office. We look forward to meeting you in person
INVISALIGN EXPRESS®
Perhaps your teeth are slightly crowded or you are in need of only slight orthodontic treatment, but you are not sure it’s worth the money to invest in Invisalign ® clear braces. You may be wondering whether your only option is to use (and pay for) the entire Invisalign system, even though your teeth need only minor movement.
Now, there is a more economical and effective treatment option for people with minor alignment issues: the Invisalign Express 5 system. Invisalign Express 5 is a less costly way to correct slight misalignments and create a perfect smile.
Invisalign Express 5: A New System for Straighter Teeth
Invisalign Express 5 is a new treatment used to treat minor issues of crowding or spacing. It is ideal for people whose teeth need some minor correction but do not need the full Invisalign system.
This system is designed for patients whose treatments require 5 or fewer stages of Invisalign aligners. Rather than paying for the entire Invisalign system, the patient can use Invisalign Express 5 and pay for only the aligners they need to correct their smiles.
Why Invisalign Express 5?
Many people have trouble justifying paying for Invisalign if their teeth need only minor correction. This often prevents them from getting the treatment they need to perfect their smiles. Because the Invisalign Express 5 system involves less treatment than the original system, the patient pays less for the treatment.
Invisalign Express 5 can also be a great option for someone who has had braces or other orthodontic devices in the past and has since experienced shifting. This system can push the teeth back to where they were the day the braces were removed.
The Invisalign Express 5 aligners are removable and do not interfere with your daily life. You can take them out when you are eating or when you are at a social event.
The aligners are not noticeable to others – in fact, they are virtually invisible.