Invisalign® Clear Aligners
Thanks to Invisalign, straightening your teeth and achieving that perfect smile is now easier than ever before. These clear aligners have revolutionized orthodontic treatment and provide a comfortable, discreet, and effective alternative to traditional metal braces.
Invisalign is a clear aligner system that uses removable trays to straighten your teeth. The trays are comfortable to wear and easy to remove to enjoy meals and brush and floss easily. Because Invisalign aligners are crystal clear, you can maintain your natural smile while also improving its appearance.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Using advanced scanning technology and treatment planning, Dr. Oriani determines how your teeth need to move to achieve proper alignment. Custom-fitted aligners are designed to work sequentially to gradually move your teeth into their ideal positions.
Treatment with Invisalign is easy and convenient. You’ll wear each set 22 hours a day for one to two weeks, then switch to the next set. As you progress through treatment, you’ll notice the subtle improvements in your smile’s alignment that tell you that Invisalign is working!
Invisalign Fits Your Lifestyle
One great benefit of Invisalign treatment is its minimal impact on your lifestyle. Since the aligners are virtually invisible, there’s no need to share your treatment with anyone else unless you choose to.
With removable aligners, there are no food restrictions as there are with metal braces. You can also brush and floss easily and maintain a healthy smile throughout treatment.
What Problems Does Invisalign Fix?
Invisalign is effective for correcting mild to moderate tooth crowding or spacing issues, including:
- Tooth crowding
- Crooked teeth
- Gaps and uneven spacing
- Overbites
- Underbites
- Crossbites
If you have more advanced orthodontic issues, such as severe bite problems or rotated teeth, Dr. O will work with a top orthodontist who expertly handles your needs.
What Steps Are Involved with Getting Invisalign?
The Invisalign process is broken down into several steps as follows:
Initial Invisalign Consultation
First, we will schedule an appointment for you with Dr. O at our Downtown DC dental office. She will perform a thorough evaluation and take digital x-rays and intraoral photos to determine if you're a good Invisalign candidate.
Orthodontic Treatment Planning
Next, we take comfortable digital impressions of your teeth to create your personalized treatment plan. This will include the appropriate number of aligners and how long you must wear each set to achieve the desired results.
An Invisalign lab uses Dr. O's plan to create all the clear aligners needed to complete treatment. Everyone has different needs, so the number of aligners and length of treatment depends on how much tooth movement is required. Some patients achieve desired results in as little as six months, while others can expect 12–18 months of treatment.
Wearing Your Aligners
Wear your aligners for 22 hours daily and remove them only for meals and oral hygiene. Dr. O will tell you how long you need to wear each set of aligners before you switch to the next set in the series.
During treatment, we will schedule periodic check-in appointments with Dr. O, so she can review your progress, answer your questions, and give you your next sets of aligners.
Completing Invisalign Treatment
You have completed Invisalign treatment when you have worn all the sets of aligner trays. Now you need to wear the retainer we provide to maintain the straight position of your teeth. Without a retainer, your teeth will relapse and undo the results you have worked hard to achieve.
Schedule with an Invisalign Dentist
Invisalign allows you to maintain a discreet appearance while getting the treatment needed to straighten your teeth and improve your oral health. If you want to see if Invisalign is the right solution, Dr. Oriani invites you to contact our Washington, DC, dental office to schedule an appointment.
