Every teen wants a great smile. But if they have teeth that are crooked, have gaps, or are crowded, they might find it difficult to be confident about their smile. For years, the answer to crooked teeth was metal braces, which sometimes made teens even more self-conscious.
However, if your teen needs orthodontic work, they may not need to get braces. Invisalign® is a revolutionary technology that straightens teeth by using clear, plastic aligners.
At Skyview Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina, Seti Byrd, DMD, Jennifer D’Silva, DDS, David Bunn, DDS, provide a full spectrum of quality dental services. In this blog, they explain what Invisalign is and how this system may be able to give your teen a gorgeous smile.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a high-tech system that uses a series of custom-made, clear, plastic aligners that gently shift teeth into their correct positions. The Invisalign system is more comfortable and discreet and, in certain cases, may have quicker treatment times.
Furthermore, the aligners are removable, so your teen can take them out to eat, for special occasions, and to clean their teeth. The system can be used to fix a number of problems, including:
- Gaps between teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Underbite
- Overbite
- Crossbite
After fully examining your teen’s teeth and discussing their dental goals, your teen’s provider will discuss if Invisalign can help them.
How does Invisalign work?
To start the Invisalign process, your provider will scan your teen’s teeth with a 3-D scanner. Then your provider will plot the movements of your teen’s teeth. Your provider will then send this information to Invisalign’s lab, where they’ll make your teen’s aligners.
Most patients get 20-30 aligners sets. Each set will have slight adjustments to gradually move your teen’s teeth into their correct positions. Your teen will wear a set for about two weeks before switching to the next set in the series. By the time they take out their last set, they’ll have the smile they’ve been waiting for.
They’ll need to wear their aligners 20-22 hours a day to stay on schedule. Your teen won’t need to come to the office often, just occasionally so your provider can check their progress. The average treatment time is 1-2 years.
If your teen needs orthodontic work, Invisalign may be just what they need. To learn more, book an appointment online or over the phone with Skyview Dentistry today.