Invisalign® Clear Aligners – Dublin, CA
Straighten Your Smile Without Drawing Attention to Your Treatment
Orthodontic treatment is a big commitment to most patients due to the amount of time it takes and how much treatment can alter your daily life and routine. Fortunately, there’s a less-impactful alternative to cumbersome traditional metal braces, called Invisalign aligners.
Invisalign is excellent for teens and adults alike, allowing patients to address misalignment and bite problems without having to commit to years of wearing brackets and wires. Call our office today to schedule a consultation and learn whether you’re a candidate.
Why Choose Waterford Dental Group for Invisalign® Clear Aligners?
- Certified Invisalign Provider On-Staff
- We Welcome Dental Insurance
- Great for Teens & Adults Alike
How Does Invisalign® Work?
Instead of using brackets and wires to place force on the teeth to gradually shift them into their ideal positions, Invisalign uses clear plastic trays. These are customized to fit your unique dental alignment consistently applying pressure to your teeth as you advance through the series of aligners. Each set of trays is worn for about two weeks, representing a small step in your overall treatment. After that, you’ll begin wearing your new series of trays, continuing to go through them until your final results are reached.
Every six to eight weeks, you’ll also come in for routine check-in visits with your dentist in Dublin. These visits only take about 15 minutes, allowing you to easily schedule them in between classes or on your lunch breaks.
Who Can Invisalign® Help?
Many patients are surprised to learn just how versatile Invisalign® clear aligners are. The reality is that they can help a variety of patients, including those who experience mild to moderate crowding, bite misalignment, gapped teeth, and more. To find out if you’re a candidate, schedule a consultation with our team at Waterford Dental Group. You’re also welcome to read on if you want to learn more!
Crowded Teeth
When teeth are crowded around each other, it can be hard to effectively brush and floss, creating countless crevices for plaque and bacteria to hide in. As a result, you may be at a higher risk of gum disease and decay. Invisalign® trays can help shift your teeth into their proper alignment, placing them side-by-side instead of overlapping each other.
Gaps Between Teeth
While having gaps between your teeth is predominantly a cosmetic concern, it can make it harder to brush and floss. Whether you’re struggling with one large gap between your two front teeth or several smaller spaces throughout your mouth, you might be wondering if Invisalign® can fix teeth gaps. The answer is “yes!” Invisalign can close the spaces and create a more symmetrical and even smile.
Overbite
Even mild cases of overbites can lead to a variety of secondary concerns, including trouble chewing properly and worn-down and cracked teeth. Fortunately, we have a solution: Invisalign®. When paired with elastics, the trays can help balance your bite, improve your oral health, and increase your self-esteem – all without any metal at all!
Underbite
Some patients are struggling with the opposite problem: their lower teeth sit in front of their upper ones. Although there are several issues that can arise, including trouble chewing and speaking properly, there is also a solution: braces! If you’re a good candidate for Invisalign®, then we can guide your teeth and bite into their ideal positions with clear, comfortable, and convenient braces.
Crossbite
Crossbites often aren’t as talked about, but that doesn’t make them any less serious. In fact, even mild cases can lead to premature wear and tear, chronic jaw pain, and TMJ dysfunction. So, if you haven’t already, schedule an Invisalign® consultation at our office! That way, we can learn more about your dental history, needs, and goals to determine if you’re a good candidate for clear aligners.
Open Bite
If there is a space between your upper and lower teeth that’s preventing you from biting down all the way, then you may have an open bite. Like the other bite problems on this list, Invisalign® is often a solution with the help of orthodontic accessories like rubber bands and buttons. So, if you think that metal braces are your only option, think again!
Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign continues to gain popularity as a clear alternative to traditional braces among people of all ages as more patients learn about the many advantages of choosing this treatment. The transparent trays are designed to fit snugly over your teeth to shift them, providing unique benefits over standard orthodontics.
Continue reading to learn more about some of the perks of choosing Invisalign to straighten your smile, and please don’t hesitate to contact us for additional information.
‘Invisible’ Aligners
One of the main reasons people pick this service over metallic brackets and wires is that the transparent trays are much more discreet. They allow your teeth to shine through, so you’re less likely to feel self-conscious or worry about being judged for how you look throughout your treatment.
Plus, you can start to see changes in your dental alignment within a couple of weeks, meaning you’ll be showing off your beautiful smile as it’s enhanced.
Boosted Confidence
If you’re overly concerned that others will criticize or mock you for your dental condition, you might avoid spending time with others, which can detract from your daily quality of life. Fortunately, repositioning your grin does more than increase your oral health.
It also improves your self-esteem, which can in turn contribute to better professional and educational achievements, a busier social life, and more meaningful relationships.
Enhanced Comfort
Another common complaint among patients with metal orthodontics is that the sharp corners of the brackets and clipped ends of wires jab the tender tissues inside their mouth, forming cuts and blisters that can become infected.
Meanwhile, the smooth trays of Invisalign won’t poke or prod your sensitive gums, lips, or cheeks, making this option much more comfortable. Plus, the removable aligners don’t require that an archwire be adjusted or tightened at each follow-up appointment, which is known to cause aches.
Improved Oral Hygiene
Brushing and flossing twice daily is usually a simple and effective way to remove plaque and bacteria to avoid cavities and gum disease. Unfortunately, the metal brackets and wires of braces get in the way and are notoriously difficult to clean, even with the help of special accessories, like interproximal brushes.
Thankfully, Invisalign is removable, so you can brush and floss twice daily like usual to avoid oral issues. You should also remove your trays morning and night to gently scrub them with a soft-bristled brush and clear dish soap that won’t abrade the material.
Quicker Follow-Up Visits
Every six to eight weeks or so, you’ll be required to have a follow-up appointment so our team can monitor your progress and make any adjustments as needed. However, there’s no need to make changes to wire tensions or fix damaged, destabilized, or dislodged brackets, so these visits usually don’t last as long for patients with Invisialign.
Our team will ensure you’re on track with your treatment timeline and provide the next aligners you’ll be required to wear to account for the ongoing movement of your teeth. This might take as few as 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your circumstances.
Non-Invasive Method
Although you must wear Invisalign for 20 to 22 hours daily to keep your teeth from reverting to their previous places, the trays are removable and so they’re considered less invasive than standard braces. Plus, they don’t interfere with your daily tasks, like eating or completing your dental hygiene routine, because they are intended to be removed for them. That means you can enjoy all your favorite foods and maintain a happy, healthy smile much more easily!
How Much Does Invisalign® Cost?
Every Invisalign treatment that we plan at Waterford Dental Group is custom-tailored to fit each of our patient’s unique needs. Because of this, the cost can vary. In order to determine the cost of Invisalign in Dublin, we consider the number of aligners you will need to achieve the desired results. Other factors that can affect the price include whether you need replacement trays and how compliant you are with your treatment plan. Before you commit to moving forward, we’ll provide you with a detailed cost estimate for you to review.
Invisalign FAQs
How Do I Take Off Invisalign Trays?
Patients are often surprised that there is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to taking the Invisalign aligners off. Don’t worry – this will get easier and easier with time. In the meantime, make sure your hands are dry before using your finger to gently remove the aligner, starting from the back of your mouth. If you’re having trouble, or you simply have long nails that you don’t want to break, you can always buy a PulTool or OrthoKey. These orthodontic accessories have a small hook on the end, which makes removing your aligners significantly easier.
Will I Need Invisalign Attachments?
Patients often think of clear aligners when they think of Invisalign. However, it’s possible for other orthodontic accessories, like attachments, to be added to your treatment plan. These small pieces of tooth-colored resin give the aligners something to grip, helping them guide even more stubborn teeth into position. Whether or not you need attachments will be something that your Dublin dentist determines during your initial consultation. If the answer is “yes,” you can have peace of mind knowing that they are considerably more comfortable and discreet than metal brackets and wires.
Can Invisalign Fix an Overbite?
Good news: Invisalign can fix several common orthodontic problems, including overbites. So, if your upper teeth jut out beyond your lower ones, there’s a good chance that we can move your bite into proper alignment without any metal at all! To find out for certain if you’re a candidate, schedule a consultation with us so we can learn about your dental history, the complexity of your case, and your aesthetic goals.
Can You Eat with Invisalign Trays In?
No, because doing so dramatically increases the chances of them breaking. Not to mention that exposure to dark-colored foods and drinks can lead to considerable stains, which draws unwanted attention to your aligners. So, make sure that you take off your aligners, rinse them with clean, cool water, and put them in their designated case before enjoying your meal or snack.
Can You Drink Coffee with Invisalign Trays In?
There is a common misconception that you can drink iced coffee with your aligners in. That’s not the case! Doing so will definitely stain your aligners, but it also increases your risk of tooth decay dramatically. For these reasons, it’s crucial that you remove them before indulging in this caffeinated beverage.
Note: You only have a few hours of aligner-free time each day. So, consider enjoying your cup of coffee with your breakfast or lunch instead of separately. This is a small change to your routine that will have a big influence on whether or not you stay on-track with your treatment plan.