Our orthodontist understands that investing in your smile through Invisalign can come with many questions. Read on for 5-star answers that will help you become more familiar with Invisalign treatment. Our Greenwood Village orthodontic office invites you to schedule an orthodontic consultation if you’d like to find out if your smile qualifies as a candidate for Invisalign!
Invisalign Q&A with Our Orthodontist
Q: What is Invisalign?
A: Invisalign is a virtually invisible alternative to braces. Thermoplastic aligners are designed to fit the specifications of your smile. Your orthodontist will take impressions of your bite, and these measurements will be used to make your Invisalign trays. These clear trays will gradually move your teeth into the desired position. Your trays will typically change every two weeks.
Q: How does Invisalign work?
A: The consistent pressure that Invisalign trays provide promote sustained movement of your teeth. Sometimes, enamel-colored ceramic “buttons” are glued to a few teeth to allow the aligners to properly grip and move your teeth. These buttons, like the aligners, are very subtle.
Our Orthodontist Explains Invisalign Treatment
Q: How long does Invisalign take?
A: Treatment length will vary based on the needs of your unique smile. Our top-rated orthodontist will provide an estimate as to how long your specific treatment will take. To ensure that your smile stays on track with the projected time, our orthodontist recommends wearing your aligners at least 22 hours a day.
Q: Can you take Invisalign out?
A: Yes! A great perk of Invisalign is your ability to take the trays out when you eat or for any other occasional reason you may need to do so. Brush and rinse both your teeth and the Invisalign trays after each meal. Reapply the clean aligners, and your treatment resumes!
Q: Do you still wear rubber bands with Invisalign?
A: Since Invisalign treatment uses clear plastic aligners to straighten your teeth, no rubbers bands are needed! In rare cases, however, your orthodontist may recommend that you wear rubber bands in addition to wearing Invisalign.
Orthodontic rubber bands are designed to fix your bite rather than the alignment of your teeth. Small fixtures for the rubber bands to cling to can be glued to your teeth when wearing Invisalign. The bite-fixing phase of orthodontic treatment can take the longest. If you are prescribed rubber bands, our 5-star orthodontist recommends wearing them as faithfully as possible. This will help to ensure you do not have to wear them longer than anticipated.
The information provided in this article is not meant to be medical advice and is for educational purposes only. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to orthodontics, feel free to contact 303 Smiles, with a convenient orthodontic office location in Greenwood Village, CO, by calling 303.758.3414.