Invisalign®
Invisalign in Humble, Texas
Invisalign® clear aligners are an increasingly popular alternative to traditional braces.
As the name implies, Invisalign clear aligners are made of almost invisible polyurethane plastic. The soft, flexible material of which Invisalign aligners are made will not irritate the mouth’s soft tissue, as metal wires and braces can.
Clear aligner technology has improved over the years and can correct many malocclusions (bad bites) that once would have been too complicated for this orthodontic treatment. There are some situations where traditional braces would still be best, which we can review during your free consultation.
Removable
Rather than being bonded to the teeth as metal braces or clear braces are, clear aligners are completely removable — making eating, brushing and flossing much easier than with braces. Invisalign must be worn at least 22 hours a day, and you’ll need to resist taking your aligners out more than necessary.
Discreet
If you want to keep your orthodontic treatment private or don’t want to wear metal braces, Invisalign is a virtually invisible braces alternative that might suit you.
More dietary choices
Avoiding certain foods is necessary to protect the wires and brackets in traditional braces. With Invisalign, you can eat whatever you want since you’ll remove the aligners before eating.
Teeth-grinding protection
If you have a teeth-grinding or clenching habit, Invisalign clear aligners can work as thin nightguards to protect your teeth from excessive wear.
How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign clear aligners work the same way traditional braces do – applying carefully controlled force to teeth to move them into a better position. But they are not made of metal; instead, they are made of clear, flexible plastic.
At your free consultation, we will take a digital 3D impression of your teeth. Using this, specialized computer software helps us design a plan for moving your teeth from their current positions into the best possible alignment. This movement will be broken down into perhaps several dozen stages. For each stage, Invisalign will manufacture two plastic mouth “trays” or “aligners,” one to fit over your top teeth and one for the bottom. You will wear this first set of trays for at least 20 hours daily for two weeks. You will then move on to the next set of aligners in your series to accomplish the next stage of gradual movement. You will keep doing this until your teeth are correctly aligned.
Invisalign® Teen in Humble, Texas
In the past several years, two features have been added to make Invisalign a more appropriate orthodontic treatment for teenagers.
Special “eruption tabs” keep the appropriate space for molars that have not yet fully come in. Invisalign for teens also comes with “compliance indicators” built into the aligner material, which fade with wear. This allows parents, dentists, and teens, to ensure the trays are worn as prescribed. Treatment with Invisalign® Teen can only be successful if this is the case.
How to clean Invisalign
As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of the Invisalign system is that the trays can be removed for easy cleaning. So please don’t neglect to do this! You’ll need to brush your teeth after every meal or snack so food and plaque do not get trapped in the aligners, which could promote tooth decay and gum disease. Your aligners must also be cleaned regularly; you can do this by brushing them and rinsing them with lukewarm water.
Also, please remember that while wearing clear aligners is very different from wearing braces, the importance of retaining your post-treatment results is the same. You’ll want to wear your retainer(s) exactly as prescribed by Dr. Quentel after your Invisalign treatment in Humble, Texas, is completed to protect your investment in a beautiful new smile.