Invisalign®

What is Invisalign®?

Invisalign is an FDA-approved alternative to traditional braces. It straightens your teeth using custom-made clear plastic aligners. Over time, the aligners straighten out your teeth and correct any imperfection, including:

• Crowded teeth
• Gaps
• Rotated teeth
• Relapse after braces

Dr. Welch recommends that you wear your aligners for at least 20 hours every day. Thankfully, you can easily remove them to eat, brush your teeth, and clean them out.

Invisalign is effective for mild to moderate orthodontic needs. If you require a complex orthodontic intervention, Dr. Welch might recommend a different course of action.

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

There are clear benefits of Invisalign that traditional braces don’t have:

Visibility

Traditional braces use either metallic or porcelain brackets that are directly glued onto the surface of your teeth. That means that anyone can see them every time you open your mouth.

Invisalign aligners are clear and invisible. So if you’re a working professional or in school, you can keep a low dental profile while meeting your orthodontic goals.

Comfort

Invisalign aligners are plastic-based and rounded. In other words, they should feel smooth inside your mouth. The brackets used for traditional braces are sharp and square, so you can easily run the risk of cutting yourself every time you speak, yawn, eat, or laugh.

With Invisalign, you never have to worry about injuries of this nature.

Usage flexibility

Since traditional braces are glued onto the surface of your teeth, you won’t be able to remove them either to eat prohibited foods or to clean them thoroughly. With Invisalign, you can remove your aligners every time you brush your teeth, or eat something hard or chewy.

Timing

In most cases, traditional braces treatments take over a year and a half to complete. Invisalign treatment can last up to 18 months. In most cases, it takes less time than that. 

How does Invisalign work?

During your initial consultation with Dr. Welch, he discusses your dental goals and thoroughly examines your teeth. To do so effectively, he digitally scans your teeth to create 3D images of them. From there, he can craft an individualized treatment plan and create images of your projected progress every step of the way.

Once you’ve approved the projected result, Dr. Welch orders customized aligners from Invisalign. You should expect to replace these aligners every other week to make sure they continue to fit perfectly as your treatment progresses.

Book an appointment with Dr. Welch today by phone or online to learn more.