Invisalign is a great option for orthodontic treatment if you want to straighten your teeth without metal braces. Instead, it uses clear plastic aligners to move your teeth into place. These aligners are not just nearly invisible, they are removable, so you can continue to eat all your favorite foods and will not have to learn to clean around brackets and wires.
If you are considering Invisalign in Nashville, TN, please call (615) 383-6787 for an appointment with Dr. Forbes at the Center for Advanced Dentistry.
Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign is growing rapidly in popularity because it offers many benefits over traditional orthodontic braces. Invisalign:
- Is nearly invisible
- Has no irritating wires or brackets
- Is fully removable
- Comes with no diet restrictions
- Requires no special cleaning techniques
- Takes about the same time as traditional braces
People disagree about what is best about Invisalign. Some people like that it is subtle–it might be that nobody notices when you’re wearing your aligners. Other people like the comfort of the smooth plastic aligners, compared to the sometimes sharp and irritating wires and brackets of traditional braces.
Other people like that they can eat all the foods they enjoy. The list of foods to avoid eating while wearing braces is long and disheartening. But perhaps not as disheartening as the cleaning routine for braces, which can be very time-consuming.
How Invisalign Works
All true orthodontic procedures (as opposed to “instant orthodontics” with porcelain veneers) work the same way. By applying constant force to your teeth in a controlled pattern, they stimulate your body to rebuild bone around your teeth. Bone is removed from one side of each tooth being moved and built up on the other side, allowing the tooth to move.
It does not matter how this force is applied. As your mouth naturally develops, the force is provided by your tongue pushing outward and your cheeks pushing inward, creating a balance that determines the size of your jaw and the position of your teeth. With traditional braces, this force is applied with wires that pull your teeth into the desired position. With Invisalign, the force is applied with clear plastic aligners.
At the start of the Invisalign process, we will take impressions of your teeth. Then we will talk about your goals for orthodontic treatment and make a plan. The impressions and the plan are sent to a lab, where a computer will design a sequence of tooth movements necessary to achieve your goals. These movements will then be translated to a series of clear aligners, which might remind you of teeth whitening trays or sports mouthguards.
These aligners fit snugly over your teeth and push them in the direction they need to go. You will need to wear each aligner for about two weeks to accomplish the necessary movements. By the time you finish the sequence of aligners, your teeth will be where you want them.
If you would like to learn how Dr. Forbes can help you get the best orthodontic treatment, please call (615) 383-6787 for an appointment at the Center for Advanced Dentistry in Nashville, TN.