You don’t have to let wires, brackets, and irritation get in the way of having a straight, functional smile. At Georgetown Advanced Dentistry in Washington, DC, Sinclair Davis, DDS, Diana Diaz, RDH, and the team offer Invisalign® as an alternative orthodontic treatment to braces. To find out if your malocclusion is treatable with Invisalign, book a consultation by phone or online at Georgetown Advanced Dentistry today.
request an appointmentWhat is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that allows you to straighten your smile subtly. A custom-made series of transparent plastic aligners fit over your teeth and place pressure on them to move them gradually. Each aligner in your series gets you a little closer to your ideal smile.
Before your Invisalign treatment, the team at Georgetown Advanced Dentistry evaluates your bite. They check for the following issues, which Invisalign can treat:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Overjet
- Crowding
- Wide gaps
Next, the team scans your teeth to create highly precise digital impressions. They use the impressions to plan your treatment and make aligners that fit seamlessly over your teeth at each step. You wear each aligner in the series 20-22 hours each day for one to two weeks before discarding it and switching to the next.
How does Invisalign compare to braces?
Invisalign’s popularity is largely due to the system’s advantages over traditional braces. Traditional braces involve a wire and bracket system that your dentist must regularly tighten to make your teeth move. Unlike Invisalign aligners, braces are not removable and require more complex maintenance and upkeep.
With Invisalign, you make regular visits to Georgetown Advanced Dentistry so the team can track your treatment progress. However, you won’t have to attend as many appointments as you would with braces. Other advantages include:
- No dietary restrictions
- Less mouth irritation
- Less pressure and discomfort
- Easier teeth cleaning
- Invisibility
With Invisalign, most people won’t be able to tell you’re wearing anything on your teeth. You can look back at photos of your time during treatment and see a white smile.
How long does treatment with Invisalign take?
During the planning stage of your treatment, the team can predict how long it will take your teeth to move to their new positions with Invisalign. To achieve a straighter smile in the time they estimate, you must be diligent about wearing your aligners. Generally, treatment takes between 12 and 18 months.
Keeping your aligners out for too long can extend your treatment time. If you lose an aligner, simply call Georgetown Advanced Dentistry for the next steps. They might tell you to use the previous aligner or move on to the next aligner in your series.
To learn more about Invisalign and find out if you’re a good candidate for this orthodontic option, call Georgetown Advanced Dentistry, or book an appointment online today.