Clear Aligners

Treating malocclusion has gained a lot of prominence over the last few years. The advancements in the field of dentistry have given rise to several treatment procedures that are so much more advantageous to patients. One such notable improvement is Invisalign, the nearly invisible dental aligner that is gaining a lot of popularity lately. Currently, it is known to be one of the best orthodontic aligners.

What is Invisalign?

Made from a transparent plastic material, Invisalign is an orthodontic aligner that looks quite similar to a mouthguard. The patient would have to wear the aligner and its walls would move the teeth to their orthodontically right positions by gently applying pressure on them. The best part about Invisalign is that when you put them on, they would stay in disguise rather than being too apparent, such as dental braces.

Treatment

Invisalign treatment involves the use of several sets of aligners to bring the teeth to their right alignment. During the initial visit, we would conduct a thorough diagnosis of the oral cavity to understand the severity of the malocclusion. We also use the data to formulate the perfect treatment plan to get rid of your condition.

A hand-held scanning tool is used to map out the positions of the teeth. The data obtained from the scan will be input to a computer where a 3D digital model of the teeth will be created. The advanced technology used in Invisalign treatment allows the dentist to simulate the movement of the teeth. Even before the treatment starts, you would have an idea of how your teeth would look post completing the treatment period. This will be used to fabricate the aligners from a dental-grade transparent plastic material.

How to use Invisalign

When you start the treatment, the dentist would give you your first set of aligners and take you through their usage. The aligners will have to be worn for at least 22 hours every day. You can only take them off while eating or brushing your teeth, meaning, they will have to be on even while you sleep. Once every two weeks, the dentist will provide you with a new set of aligners. Every time you get a new set of aligners, they may feel a little weird against your teeth and gums. But, with regular usage, you will get accustomed to them.

Before putting them on, make sure you do not have any food debris on your teeth as it could affect the treatment. Based on the severity of malocclusion and the treatment plan formulated, it may last between a few months to a couple of years.

Schedule an online appointment or call us at (614) 459-3229 to have a consultation with Dr. Peng and we’ll be able to guide you further.