Invisalign Portland

Who Can Invisalign Help?

If you are interested in straightening your teeth with clear, comfortable, and convenient aligners, then you’ll be happy to hear that Invisalign is quite versatile. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’re a candidate for this orthodontic treatment if you have mild to moderate cases of the following dental issues:

Crowded Teeth

Unfortunately, even relatively mild cases of overcrowding can have a negative impact on a patient’s self-esteem, chewing patterns, and oral health. The good news is that traditional braces are no longer the only solution! If we determine that you’re a good candidate for Invisalign during your consultation, then we can create a custom series of aligners to gently and gradually straighten your teeth.

Gaps Between Teeth

Is there a large gap between your two front teeth? Maybe there are several smaller spaces throughout your mouth. Either way, Invisalign may be the solution you’ve been looking for. After all, the clear aligners have proven to be effective at correcting mild to moderate cases. Plus, there aren’t any metal components, so no unwanted attention will be drawn to your smile during the teeth-straightening process.

Overbite

An overbite is where the upper front teeth extensively overlap the lower teeth. If you’re struggling with this orthodontic problem, then you know first-hand that it can make everything from smiling confidently to enunciating clearly difficult. You might also have an important question on your mind: Can Invisalign fix overbites? Fortunately, the answer is often “yes!” So, don’t just assume that your path to your dream smile involves metal.

Underbite

An underbite is the opposite problem: when the lower teeth are forward of the upper teeth. If that’s the case for you, then schedule a consultation with us. During your visit, your dentist will conduct an exam, review your dental history, and discuss your smile goals to decide whether Invisalign is right for you. If that’s the case, then a treatment plan will be developed to move your teeth and bite into their ideal places.

Crossbite

A crossbite happens when a few of the upper teeth sit behind the lower ones when biting down. The problem is that, even in relatively mild cases, there is an increased risk of dental damage. That’s why it’s so important to schedule a consultation sooner rather than later! If we determine that you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, then we will begin working on both your treatment plan and your custom series of aligners.  

Open Bite

Open bites often aren’t as talked about. In short, this is when there is a space between the upper and lower teeth when biting down. Like the other orthodontic problems listed here, it can negatively impact your chewing and speaking patterns as well as your oral health. So, it’s important that you come to our office to explore your treatment options, like Invisalign.

How Does Invisalign Work?

At Belmont Family Dentistry, we offer Invisalign to straighten your teeth with custom-made aligner trays. These aligners are made out of clear plastic and fit comfortably over your teeth. Dr. Tinkle or Dr. Yoon will plan out how long the process will take for you and give you your first set of aligners. Then, every 1 or 2 weeks, you’ll trade out your old aligner trays for new ones. With each new set of aligners, your teeth will gradually shift until they are straight and the treatment ends.

Benefits of Invisalign

While doing your research, you may have read that more than 17 million patients have chosen to straighten their teeth with Invisalign. That’s true! This innovative orthodontic treatment continues to be so popular year after year because of the countless benefits that come with clear aligners, including:

Basically Invisible Braces

Let’s begin with one of the most obvious benefits of Invisalign: the aligners are clear, making them virtually undetectable. The key to keeping yours under the radar is proper care, like rinsing them with clean, cool water when you take them off. With healthy habits like this in place, no unwanted attention will be drawn to your braces (or your smile) throughout your orthodontic treatment.

Improved Comfort

Although effective, traditional braces aren’t the most comfortable. If you had metal brackets and wires as a kid, you may remember this all too well! The good news is that Invisalign aligners are crafted from smooth plastic. Not only that, but they are custom-made for each patient to prevent soft tissue irritation. So, if you’re a good candidate, your journey to a straighter smile will be much smoother.

Hassle-Free Dental Care

Unlike Invisalign aligners, traditional braces are not removable. As a result, patients need to adopt a cumbersome oral hygiene regimen and purchase special dental care products to clean around the brackets and wires. With Invisalign, that’s not necessary. After you take the aligners off, rinse them with water, and store them properly, you can proceed with your usual dental hygiene routine.

No Dietary Restrictions

In an effort to prevent common orthodontic emergencies, like loose wires, patients with traditional braces are asked to eliminate certain foods from their diets (i.e., popcorn, tortilla chips, raw cashews). Don’t worry – Invisalign doesn’t come with strict dietary restrictions. In fact, you can continue to enjoy all of your favorite foods as long as you take your aligners off beforehand.

Less Time in the Treatment Chair

Whether you’re about to start college, you’re a busy parent, or your work schedule is unpredictable, you may not be able to commit to monthly, hour-long adjustment appointments. That’s okay – the progress visits with Invisalign are usually every 6-8 weeks instead. Plus, they are often less than 30 minutes each time, so you’ll spend less time in the treatment chair overall.

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

Is your wedding coming up next year or the year after? Maybe you have another important event on the horizon, like a family or class reunion. Whatever the case may be, you’ll be happy to hear that the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is shorter than traditional braces. In fact, many patients achieve the results they desire in just 12-18 months!