Invisalign® Treatment Harrisonburg, VA
When you hear the word “orthodontics,” what comes to mind? Probably a young teenager whose teeth are covered by a latticework of metal. There are indeed many orthodontic patients who fit that description. However, there now exists an increasingly popular alternative to traditional metal braces: Invisalign® clear aligners in Harrisonburg, VA.
Invisalign
Invisalign First
Invisalign First is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment designed specifically for children, addressing a wide range of early orthodontic issues. We're proud to offer Invisalign First as a discreet and comfortable option for our young patients. These clear aligners gently guide developing teeth into their proper positions, helping to create space for permanent teeth and addressing issues such as crowding, spacing, and narrow dental arches. With Invisalign First, kids can enjoy the benefits of orthodontic treatment without the need for traditional braces, allowing them to smile confidently as they grow and develop.
Invisalign For Teens
We understand the importance of confidence during the teen years, which is why we're excited to offer Invisalign for Teens. These clear aligners provide a discreet and comfortable way for teenagers to achieve a straighter smile without the hassle of traditional braces. With Invisalign, teens can maintain their active lifestyles, remove the aligners for eating and brushing, and feel confident in their appearance throughout the treatment process. Our team is dedicated to helping teens achieve their smile goals with Invisalign, empowering them to smile brightly and embrace their unique personalities.
Invisalign For Adults
We understand that adults lead busy lives and want a discreet orthodontic solution that fits seamlessly into their lifestyle. That's why we're proud to offer Invisalign for Adults. These clear aligners provide a convenient and virtually invisible way for adults to achieve the straight, beautiful smile they've always wanted. With Invisalign, adults can straighten their teeth without the need for metal brackets or wires, allowing them to feel confident in both personal and professional settings. Our team is dedicated to helping adults achieve their smile goals comfortably and discreetly with Invisalign, because it's never too late to love your smile.
The goal of Phase 1 orthodontic treatment is to help develop smiles by ensuring there is adequate room for all of the permanent teeth. Dr. Weiler uses the proven Invisalign technology to guide the growth of the jaw and arches to ensure a beautiful smile and ideally functioning bite.
Phase 1 Invisalign® Treatment Harrisonburg, VA
Harrisonburg Invisalign First aligners can help your child’s growing smile, all while being comfortable, removable, and barely noticeable. Invisalign First:
- Makes it easy to still care for your child’s teeth because it is removed before brushing and flossing.
- Is comfortable because there are no brackets or wires to rub the inside of your child’s mouth.
- Is designed to treat a wide range of issues, including even complex ones.
Harrisonburg Invisalign First provides predictable results, all while addressing your child’s unique issues. It has been specially designed with the smallest of smiles in mind and can address problems such as crowding, spacing, protrusions, and arch development.
If your child is around the age of seven and hasn’t yet had an orthodontic consultation, now is the time to begin. Seven is the ideal time for this because it allows Dr. Weiler the chance to monitor their smile and begin treatment when it can have the most positive impact. Early treatment can make the second phase of treatment more efficient and effective.
Invisalign First can be used on orthodontic patients as young as seven. Harrisonburg Early treatment can prevent issues from worsening while providing a healthy space for permanent teeth to erupt.
Caring for Your Teeth
As mentioned above, one of the main advantages of the Invisalign system is that the trays can be removed for easy cleaning. So please don’t neglect to do this! You’ll need to brush your teeth after every meal or snack so that food and plaque do not get trapped in the aligners, which could promote tooth decay and gum disease. Your aligners, too, will have to be cleaned regularly; you can do this by brushing them and then rinsing them with lukewarm water.
Also, please keep in mind that while wearing clear aligners is very different from wearing braces, the importance of retaining your post-treatment results is exactly the same. You’ll want to be sure to wear your retainer(s) exactly as prescribed after your treatment is completed to protect your investment in a beautiful new smile.
Invisalign® Treatment For Teens Harrisonburg, VA
Are clear aligners right for you? It all depends on what kind of orthodontic treatment you need. Traditional metal braces still work best in some situations — and you might be surprised to find that they’re still a popular option for many teenagers! But now that aligners are being designed specifically for teens, more are choosing them every day.
What is a Clear Aligner?
Basically, it’s a thin plastic covering or “tray” that fits over your top and/or bottom teeth. You’ll wear a series of aligners that will gradually move your teeth into better positions. Here’s how they work: Each aligner is custom-made with the help of a computer program that takes into account exactly where your teeth are now, and how they need to be moved. You’ll wear each tray for two weeks or so, to shift your teeth slightly, and then you’ll go on to the next, which is slightly different. Over time, all of the small movements will add up to a big change!
A Clear Distinction
Your aligner is designed to be worn 22 hours a day, allowing you to take it off for meals or important social occasions. Yet even when you’re wearing it, it’s pretty hard for anyone else to tell it’s there — a big difference from metal braces! Plus, it offers other advantages that aren’t so easy to see.
One benefit of aligners over traditional braces is that they make your teeth easier to clean. Because they’re removable, there’s nothing to keep you from brushing and flossing everywhere in your mouth, just as you would without appliances. But brushing and flossing can be much harder to do around the brackets and wires of braces — and oral hygiene often suffers.
Some people also suffer irritation to the cheeks and gums from the metal parts of braces. Fortunately, the plastic of an aligner rarely causes that kind of problem. Plus, you won’t have to rush into the dental office to quickly fix a protruding wire or reattach a broken bracket. You won’t have to watch what you eat, either, because you’ll simply remove the aligner at mealtimes.
An Aligner Just for Teens
Clear aligners for adults have been available for over a decade, but until recently they weren’t recommended for teens in most cases. Why not? Chiefly, for two reasons: It was thought that teens wouldn’t always wear them for the recommended 22 hours per day; also, since many teens have some permanent teeth still erupting (emerging from below the gums), the precisely planned movement of the teeth might be disturbed.
Luckily, technology has come to the rescue. The first problem is addressed by “compliance indicators” located on the aligners themselves. These colored dots fade over time as the aligners are worn in the mouth, showing whether or not you’ve followed the plan. To solve the second problem, aligners made especially for teens come with “eruption tabs” built in; they are designed to hold space for teeth that have not yet fully erupted.
Today, more people than ever both adults and teens are finding that clear aligners suit their needs best. Are you one of them? Why not come into our office and ask whether clear aligners could work for you?
Invisalign and the Invisalign logo, among others, are trademarks of Align Technology, Inc., and are registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Invisalign Clear Aligners Harrisonburg, VA
As the name implies, Invisalign clear aligners are made of almost invisible polyurethane plastic. Rather than being cemented or bonded to the teeth as metal or clear braces are, clear aligners are completely removable — for important social occasions, for eating, and, most importantly, for tooth-brushing and flossing. This advantage can also be a disadvantage: It means you must resist the temptation to take your aligners out more than is advised.
Here are some other advantages of the Invisalign system:
Improved Oral Hygiene
With a Harrisonburg orthodontic appliance that is removable, you will be able to clean your teeth much more easily than if you were wearing metal braces.
A Discreet Look
If you consider your orthodontic treatment to be a private matter, or simply feel that metal braces don't fit with your self-image, a practically invisible form of orthodontic treatment might suit you.
More Dietary Choices
To protect metal wires and braces, some diet modifications are necessary. With clear aligners, you can still bite into an apple or a crispy pizza crust.
Comfort
The soft, flexible material of which Invisalign aligners are made will not irritate the soft tissues of the mouth, as metal wires and braces can.
Teeth-Grinding Protection
If you have a teeth-grinding or clenching habit, clear aligners can function as thin nightguards that will protect your teeth from excessive wear.
Harrisonburg Clear aligner technology has been improving over the years and can correct many malocclusions that once would have been too complicated for this form of treatment. Yet there are still some situations for which traditional braces would still be best. We would be happy to discuss this in detail with you.
How Invisalign Treatment Works
Harrisonburg Invisalign clear aligners work the same way traditional braces do: by applying carefully controlled forces to teeth to move them into a better position. But they are not made of metal; instead, they are made of clear, flexible plastic.
Here’s how it works:
Specialized computer software helps us design a plan for moving your teeth from their current positions into the best possible alignment. This movement will be broken down into perhaps several dozen stages. For each stage, the Invisalign company will manufacture two plastic mouths “trays” or “aligners,” one to fit over your top teeth and one for the bottom. You will wear this first set of trays for two weeks, for a minimum of 20 hours per day. You will then move on to the next set of aligners in your series to accomplish the next stage of gradual movement. You will keep doing this until your teeth are correctly aligned.
In the past several years, two features have been added to make Invisalign a more appropriate Harrisonburg orthodontic treatment method for teenagers. Special “eruption tabs” hold the appropriate amount of space open for molars that have not fully grown in. Invisalign for teens also comes with “compliance indicators” built into the aligner material, which fade with wear. This allows parents, dentists, and the teens themselves, to make sure the trays are being worn as prescribed. Harrisonburg Invisalign Treatment can only be successful if this is the case.
Thank you for visiting our website! We hope you find it helpful and informative. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments you may have. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Invisalign clear aligners are one of the many alternatives available to patients who wish to realign their teeth but fear how they might look with traditional metal braces. These BPA-free plastic aligners help gradually push your teeth until they reach the ideal alignment. Make sure you consult with your orthodontist about your eligibility for Invisalign clear aligners as an alternative to conventional metal braces.
We have to start with a detailed scan of your mouth to create a digital model that will work as the basis of the aligner design you’ll be using for your treatment. These aligners are premade BPA-free plastic trays that we cannot adjust as we would traditional braces, so what we do is use aligners to push your teeth by stages and give you several aligners that you’ll progress through until you reach the ideal alignment.
Invisalign is a bit more expensive than conventional metal braces, but the added comfort and potentially faster treatment time are well worth it for many patients. You’ll have to consult directly with your orthodontist to get a better estimate, as there are many factors that can modify your treatment cost.
There’s no straightforward answer here because everyone’s treatment will be different. Clear aligners can potentially deliver results much faster, but we’ll need to go from that initial consultation before we can share any estimates regarding your treatment length. You’ll also want to pay close attention to the instructions your orthodontist gives to avoid orthodontic emergencies or accidents that could result in unwanted delays.
The main disadvantage of Invisalign clear aligners is that they’re not able to fix the more complex orthodontic issues faced by some patients. However, considering that these cases are few and far between, chances are you’ll get to enjoy the many advantages of clear aligners without worrying about their efficiency. Another problem with removable orthodontic appliances is that some patients could misplace or lose them when they take them off. Please remember to carry their protective case at all times to store them safely.
The best way to keep your Invisalign clear aligners clean is to use a soft-bristled toothbrush and liquid soap. Rinse them under cold water to remove any leftover food pieces or saliva before either storing or putting them back in your mouth to save yourself the trouble of having to deal with bad breath during your orthodontic treatment.
Since you’ll be using removable orthodontic appliances, you won’t have much trouble sticking to your already great oral hygiene routine. Just take off the trays and continue to brush your teeth after every meal, including snacks. Also, use dental floss at least once a day because you won’t have to maneuver around any metal brackets or wires.
Frequently Asked Questions
You must wear your aligners for up to 22 hours daily. You may remove them for eating, drinking and regular oral hygiene.
No. Unlike braces, you may eat whatever you like as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Prior to placing the aligners back on, it is important to brush your teeth and the aligners after you eat.
Like any orthodontic treatment, there is a short adjustment period. The more you speak with the aligners on, the quicker you will adjust.
There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.
It is recommended that you remove your aligners prior to chewing gum as the gum will stick to the aligners.
We discourage smoking with aligners as the cigarette smoke will tend to discolor them.
Brushing them with toothpaste will keep them fresh and clean.
Regular office visits are every five to six weeks. This will ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
All orthodontic patients are instructed to wear their retainers at night indefinitely. Sleeping with your retainers in at night will ensure a healthy bite and maintain the new position of your teeth.
Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the misaligned teeth. Treatment time can be shorter than traditional braces, between six and 18 months.
Yes, if their teeth, including second molars, have grown in completely.
Invisalign®, the Invisalign logo, and iTero®, among others, are trademarks and/ or service marks of Align Technology, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries or affiliated companies and may be registered in the U.S. and/or other countries.