A beautiful, healthy smile with straight teeth is possible at any age. If you are excited at the prospect of straightening your teeth but don’t like the idea of a mouth full of metal brackets and wires, call Delaware Smile Center today and schedule an appointment with our talented orthodontist, Dr. Sophia Usmani, a certified Invisalign® provider.
Invisalign® is a customizable system of straightening teeth that doesn’t require brackets, wires, tightening, and constant office visits. This process uses clear, plastic aligners made specifically to treat you with a custom plan created by you and Dr. Usmani. Invisalign® aligners are almost invisible and are worn throughout the day to gently and comfortably move your teeth into their correct positions.
Because you remove your aligners to eat, your lifestyle is not affected in the same way it can be with regular braces. Most people with braces have dietary restrictions to prevent damage to the wires and brackets that crunchy or sticky foods can cause. With Invisalign®, you can eat all the foods you would normally enjoy.
Additionally, you remove your Invisalign® aligners to clean them, giving them another significant advantage over traditional braces. Attempting to brush and floss around traditional braces and wires is challenging. Unfortunately, failing to clean around braces properly can leave you with permanent damage to your enamel, which causes markings to remain on your teeth long after the braces come off. With Invisalign®, you clean the aligners according to the directions provided by Dr. Usmani and then brush and floss your teeth the same way you normally would. This keeps your mouth and your aligners fresh and clean and prevents the buildup of plaque and bacteria, which leads to cavities, decay, and gum disease.
Ideal candidates for Invisalign® treatment are typically those with mild-to-moderate tooth misalignment and good overall oral health. Invisalign® candidates should have all of their permanent teeth—also called secondary teeth or “adult teeth”—prior to seeking treatment. Patients should also be able to commit to following all of their orthodontist’s instructions and wearing their aligners for the recommended 20-22 hours a day. Dr. Sophia Usmani offers Invisalign® treatment for both adults and teens. She will consult with each patient about their individual goals and lifestyle habits in advance in order to determine whether Invisalign® Is the best option for them.
The Invisalign® system is designed to gently and progressively shift the teeth into a more desirable alignment using a series of custom-designed aligner trays. Before starting Invisalign® treatment, Dr. Usmani will take a 3D digital scan of your teeth. These will be used to create the aligners. Each set of the clear, plastic aligner trays will be worn for approximately 2 weeks, at which point you will swap to the next set in the series. Over time, the subtle differences in the aligners will guide the teeth into their new positions.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign® does not involve any brackets or wires that need to be tightened. This means patients have to make significantly less visits to the dentist’s office. On average, Invisalign® treatment typically takes 12-18 months. Once the initial treatment is complete, a retainer will be provided to help protect your newly straightened smile.
Invisalign® trays are designed to be removed while drinking, eating, and attending to your oral hygiene routine, which helps prevent the buildup of bacteria and food particles. The aligners should be rinsed with water any time you take them out in order to remove debris and saliva build-up. We also recommend placing the aligners in a protective case while eating or drinking in order to prevent them from being accidentally misplaced or damaged.
For more thorough cleaning, a soft-bristle toothbrush and warm water can be used to remove any buildup or residue from the aligner trays each night. There are also specialized soaking solutions that can be used to sanitize the aligners every few days. Dr. Usmani can provide further guidance and insight during your consultation and follow-up appointments.
Straight teeth are an important part of your overall dental health. When your teeth are crooked, it’s difficult to brush and floss them properly. Slightly turned or overlapping teeth can cause you to miss part of the surface and allow plaque and tartar to develop. When your teeth are crowded, flossing them properly becomes very challenging, and the result could be periodontal disease.
Invisalign® helps to treat all these problems. Even moderately to severely misaligned teeth can be treated with Invisalign®. When you meet with Dr. Usmani, she will examine your teeth and take x-rays to determine the best course of action. She will then plot out a treatment plan that will move your teeth into place step by step. Your aligners will be custom-made to treat your teeth according to the plan created by Dr. Usmani. Instead of constantly returning to the office to have wires tightened, you will simply switch to the next aligner.
The precise cost of Invisalign® can vary based on the complexity and duration of the treatment process. After a consultation with Dr. Usmani, our friendly and knowledgeable team can provide a personalized price quote that reflects the particulars of your treatment plan as well as any potential insurance benefits. We also offer dental financing options for qualified patients through CareCredit®, which can break the cost of Invisalign® treatment down into low- or no-interest monthly installments.
Invisalign® has developed a version of their popular orthodontic care system specifically for teenagers called Invisalign Teen®.
Teenagers are often self-conscious about their appearance, and Invisalign Teen® offers a way to straighten your teenager’s teeth almost invisibly with a series of clear, plastic aligners. Your teenager won’t have to go through the hassle of trying to brush and floss around brackets, and since the aligners are removed for eating, you can continue to encourage your teenager to eat all the fresh, healthy foods needed for a growing body, including apples and corn on the cob!
To find out more about Invisalign and see how it can help you have a beautiful smile with straight, correctly aligned teeth, call Delaware Smile Center at (302) 285-7645 or contact us onlinetoday to schedule your appointment with Dr. Sophia Usmani.