Invisalign®
 Your smile plays a big role in the impressions you leave. When your teeth are misaligned, it not only affects the quality of your smile, it can also have a serious impact on your confidence. In addition to the aesthetic effects, misaligned teeth can also affect your oral health. With misaligned teeth, you are at greater risk for cavities, gum disease, bruxism, TMJ disorder, tooth damage, and more. In the past, the only way to correct your teeth was with metal braces. At North Hills Dental, we are proud to offer a modern alternative to traditional braces with Invisalign.
The Downsides to Traditional Braces
Traditional braces have been in use for decades to correct misaligned teeth and jaws, and are still a popular treatment today. This treatment uses brackets and wires to achieve this goal. The brackets are bonded to the fronts of each tooth. The wires are anchored to the very back teeth using metal bands and are attached to each bracket using an elastic O-ring. The wires are responsible for the movement of your teeth and stabilizing them in proper alignment.
While effective, traditional braces do have a few significant drawbacks. One of the biggest disadvantages of this particular treatment is that because they are metal, they stand out in your smile. This can be a big issue for many patients, particularly older teens and adults. For many, the thought of a metal smile can be more embarrassing than having crooked teeth. Braces can cause a fair amount of discomfort, whether due to the adjustments, which occur about once a month, or the brackets rubbing your soft oral tissues. Treatment with braces can also take several years to complete.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a treatment for correcting misaligned teeth that provides you with an aesthetic alternative to metal braces. This treatment uses clear thermoplastic aligners. The aligners are created specifically for you from digital impressions of your mouth. They are worn over the teeth, and essentially disappear when they are set in place. While they are removable, they should be worn for at least 20 to 22 hours every day. The only times they should be removed is to eat and to brush your teeth.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Treatment with Invisalign uses a series of aligners to achieve results. These aligners are designed and created using specialized software. Each set of aligners is meant to be worn for only two weeks at a time. The next set you move on to is slightly different from the previous one, which enables your teeth to be moved gradually. The plastic of the aligners is responsible for the movement of your teeth. Much like how the wires of traditional braces work, the plastic puts pressure on your teeth, which then puts pressure on your periodontal ligaments. The ligaments widen, loosening your teeth. The plastic then guides your teeth into proper alignment. Once the correct alignment is achieved, the aligners then hold your teeth in place to stabilize them. After your treatment is complete, you are provided with a retainer to help you maintain your beautiful new smile.
What Benefits Does Invisalign Offer?
There are several benefits associated with Invisalign treatment.
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No more metal mouth.
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No food restrictions.
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Easier oral care.
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Greater comfort.
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Fewer office visits during your treatment.
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Shorter treatment times. Invisalign treatment averages between 9 and 15 months, with most patients seeing results in less than a year. |
If you want to correct the alignment of your teeth, but do not want to deal with the metal mouth appearance of traditional braces, Invisalign may be able to help. Moreover, right now, we are offering this amazing treatment for only $6,145. For more information, and to find out if Invisalign is right for you, call North Hills Dental today at (503) 567-4121.
Click here to learn more about how Invisalign® works.
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