What is Invisalign?
Invisalign works a lot like braces, except without any of the brackets, wires and other contraptions often used to straighten and enhance your smile. We will start off with an impression of your teeth. From there, a series of "aligners" will be fashioned (usually anywhere from 20 to 30 trays), each designed to gradually make subtle changes in the position of your teeth. Every couple weeks, you will switch out your old trays for the next set of new aligners. As time goes by, the position of your teeth will slowly move closer to their intended goal, just like regular braces.
Design
As your teeth move and shift during the stages of alignment, you'll continue to come back to our office to essentially monitor the progress of your treatment. Though Dr. Getz will have already charted out the course of your teeth, your checkups will essentially allow the Doctor to gauge your progress and make any adjustments needed to the next set of aligners you'll use to shift your teeth. This form of treatment is completely customized for your mouth. It isn't a cookie-cutter mode of care, and the devices cannot be used by anyone other than you.
Invisalign Vs. Braces
The first benefit is that the aligners are totally removable, making it easier to brush, floss and even eat without having to deal with those bracket and wires used in traditional braces. It can really make dental care a lot less complicated, allowing you to use a simple toothbrush, standard floss and maintain your normal diet (not having to eliminate harder food products that tend to break off the brackets of traditional braces). The second benefit is the comfort factor. While you may experience some soreness or tenderness within your teeth or jaw as the aligners shift the position of your teeth, you won't experience any of the irritation inside the mouth that frequently takes place with traditional braces.