Smile by Design Dental Group
Michael Choi, DMD
Prosthodontic, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry located in Irvine, CA
Invisalign® makes your smile look its best after 12-18 months of wearing comfortable, removable custom aligners. Talented cosmetic dentist Michael Choi, DMD, takes 3D scans and X-rays to map out your treatment progress and design aligners that fulfill your goals for better alignment in your smile. To set up a consultation at Smile by Design Dental Group in Irvine, California, and learn more about the benefits of Invisalign, book online or over the phone today.
Invisalign Q&A
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a treatment alternative to braces and other more traditional orthodontic options. It improves the cosmetic appeal of your smile by adjusting the position of your teeth.
This can have a major impact on your facial shape, the appearance of your smile, and the comfort of your bite when you speak or chew.
Invisalign doesn’t just improve your smile’s appearance after it’s finished. Unlike having braces, your smile remains visible and appealing throughout the whole process. This is thanks to Invisalign’s unique system of custom plastic covers for your teeth, called aligners.
During your time using Invisalign, you’ll progress through a series of custom aligners made to fit your teeth perfectly at each stage. Each aligner places gentle pressure on various teeth to move them slowly over time into their ideal placement.
How does Invisalign compare to traditional braces?
When comparing the Invisalign system to traditional metal and wire braces, you’ll notice a number of advantages. Invisalign is more advanced and aesthetically pleasing. Other benefits include:
- Removable devices
- No dietary restrictions
- Easy device cleaning and teeth brushing
- Aligners that are nearly invisible from even a short distance
- Soft plastic that doesn’t cause irritation or injury like metal and wires
- Less frequent visits to the dentist
- Highly predictable results
Invisalign can treat most mild to moderate cases of overbite, underbite, crowding, and other common forms of malocclusion. The team at Smile by Design Dental Group tells you if you’re a candidate after a brief consultation, which might include X-rays and scans.
What should I expect during my time using Invisalign?
Living life with Invisalign is an easy adjustment since you don’t need to make modifications to your diet. You simply have to remember to wear your aligners for most of the day and take them out only to eat, brush your teeth, and drink anything other than water.
You’ll wear your aligners in order, using each aligner for 1-2 weeks. Every day, you should have your aligners on your teeth for at least 22 out of 24 hours, including while you sleep.
Before putting them back in after removing them, you should make sure you don’t have food stuck between your teeth since this can affect the process and cause cavities.
As you use Invisalign, you should try not to chew on the aligners’ soft plastic. Doing so can alter their shape and disrupt the process. You can expect to wear your aligners for 12-18 months according to the Smile by Design Dental Group team’s instructions, and you can view your progress along the way.
To explore the long list of benefits and find out what your smile would look like after the Invisalign treatment process, call Smile by Design Dental Group or schedule a consultation online today.
