Maybe you wore braces when you were younger and now, years later as an adult, your teeth have slowly shifted away from their once perfect position. Does that mean you have to endure a mouth full of metal yet again? Absolutely not! Fortunately, the field of orthodontics has evolved, and today you can get straight teeth with the Invisalign® clear aligning system.
Invisalign aligners are a clear and convenient alternative to traditional metal braces, and we offer them to our teenage and adult patients at Skyview Dentistry in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Invisalign system uses clear plastic aligners that fit snugly over your top and bottom teeth, making this treatment option an ideal way to get straight teeth at any age — even if you never wore braces as a kid.
Flaws Invisalign can correct
Numerous benefits come with the Invisalign orthodontic system. Invisalign makes it possible to resolve both cosmetic and functional problems without the use of metal brackets or wires. Invisalign clear, plastic aligners can correct these common dental problems, and they do so with a nearly invisible profile and unsurpassed comfort:
- Crowded, or crooked teeth
- Gaps between your teeth, or unevenly spaced teeth
- An overbite, when your top teeth extend too far out over your bottom teeth
- An underbite, when your bottom teeth protrude past your top teeth
- A crossbite, when some of your top teeth are inside your bottom teeth
- An open bite, when your upper and lower teeth don’t come together when you close your mouth
If you’re considering braces for any of these common orthodontic issues, but metal wires and brackets are unappealing, the skilled team at Skyview Dentistry evaluate your teeth to determine how you can benefit from a custom-designed Invisalign treatment plan.
The Invisalign system is ideal for teens and adults
Certainly, appearance is one of the main reasons teens and adults choose the Invisalign system. Research indicates that people judge others based on first impressions. When you’re a busy adult with a social and professional life in which your smile is an important asset, you can’t afford to fill your mouth with metal for the next two years while you straighten your teeth.
Appearance and aesthetics
Invisalign is practically invisible, so you don’t have to greet business associates or enjoy a night out with friends feeling self-conscious about obtrusive braces. You can even remove your clear aligners for a few hours during special occasions. With traditional braces, you don’t have that luxury.
Additionally, traditional braces can cause another aesthetic issue — they can discolor your teeth. Plaque builds up more easily when you wear metal braces because you simply can’t reach every part of your teeth with a toothbrush and dental floss. Plaque can damage your tooth enamel and leave visible spots after your braces are removed.
Since you take the Invisalign trays out of your mouth to brush and floss your teeth, maintaining good oral hygiene while you straighten your teeth isn’t a problem.
Unsurpassed comfort
Metal braces are uncomfortable and can be painful for days, especially after you have them tightened at an orthodontist appointment. Invisalign aligners don’t contain any wires or brackets that can snap and break, so they won’t irritate the inside of your mouth. Your custom Invisalign trays fit snugly around your teeth, but there is minimal discomfort, especially when compared to traditional braces.
Enjoy favorite foods without worry
If you enjoy eating popcorn, nuts, corn on the cob, and sticky candy like caramels, they’re all on the forbidden list while you have traditional braces. These foods can get stuck between your teeth, and food like popcorn with its sharp kernels can easily get lodged between metal wires and brackets.
On the other hand, Invisalign aligners don’t come with a list of forbidden foods. You take the aligners out to eat and drink, and pop them into a convenient carrying case. While you still need to brush your teeth after eating sticky foods to ensure you don’t get tooth decay, it’s much easier to brush your teeth than to try to clean around attached wires and brackets.
Invisalign allows you to maintain your best oral hygiene
Metal braces can contribute to tooth decay, because cleaning your teeth is much more difficult while wearing braces. Food particles can get trapped easily and remain on your teeth even after you brush them, and create excess plaque buildup.
With Invisalign, you remove the aligners, brush and floss as you normally would, and then pop your aligners back into your mouth. You’ll be much less susceptible to decay and gum problems with the Invisalign system than you are with metal braces.
Want to learn more about the ease of Invisalign for straighter teeth at any age? At Skyview Dentistry, the skilled cosmetic and general dentists have perfected countless smiles for both adults and teens with the Invisalign orthodontic treatment system. Find out if you’re a candidate, by calling our friendly staff or booking an appointment online today.