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Align Technology, the creators of Invisalign, was founded in 1997 by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth in San Jose, California.
First, you’ll meet with your dentist for an Invisalign consultation. Your doctor will examine your teeth, discuss your goals, and determine if Invisalign is right for you. The team will take impressions or digital scans of your mouth and give you a sneak peek of your new smile.
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Once your first set of aligners arrives at our office, you’ll come in to pick them up and try them on. Your doctor will instruct you on how to wear your aligners to get the best results. Typically, you’ll wear them for at least 20 hours a day and switch out the aligners for the next set every two weeks.
You’ll come back to our Mauldin office every six weeks to pick up your newest sets of aligners and for quick check-ins to make sure your teeth are tracking properly. As long as you wear your aligners for 20-22 hours per day, your teeth will gradually shift to the corrected position.
After treatment is complete, you’ll maintain your beautiful new smile with a set of retainers. Your clear, plastic retainers will look similar to your Invisalign aligners, but the plastic is stronger to help keep your teeth straight for years to come.
Sometimes your upper front teeth overlap with your lower front teeth. This is called an overbite, and this occurs in most people. It becomes a problem when the overbite is too large. If you have too deep a bite, your teeth may wear down or you could suffer from jaw pain. Invisalign can fix an overbite or deep bite, and get your teeth in a healthier position.
An underbite is when your lower front teeth are in front of your upper front teeth. The problem often lies in the position of the jaw; the lower jaw being too far forward. This misplacement can make it hard to chew and speak properly, and may cause wear and tear to the teeth. Invisalign can fix some cases of underbites, but severe underbites may require Invisalign treatment as well as oral surgery.
Normally, the upper front teeth sit in front of the lower front teeth. Crossbites are when a few of your upper teeth sit behind your lower teeth. This can cause your teeth to wear down or chip, and may also cause gum recession, which can lead to painful gum problems or even bone loss. Invisalign can fix some crossbites, but it’s best to have a consultation with your doctor to see which options are right for you.
Gaps between teeth are fairly common, but these extra spaces can create pockets between the teeth and gums where food can get trapped. These spaces can harbor bacteria which can make your gums tender and sore and even lead to gum disease. Invisalign can fix gaps between teeth and give you a straighter, more seamless smile.
Usually the upper and lower front teeth touch when the mouth is closed. When they don’t, it’s called an open bite. This can make it difficult to chew properly or bite into certain foods effectively. Invisalign can adjust the bite, so all teeth sit straight and as they naturally should.
Crowding happens when there’s not enough room in the jaw for your teeth to sit straight. As a result, they bunch up, overlap and twist, sometimes getting pushed in front of or behind others. Crowded teeth can make oral care routines, like brushing and flossing difficult. When teeth aren’t cleaned properly, it’s easier for plaque, tartar, and harmful bacteria to build up. Over time, this can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. Plus, crowding can get worse as the teeth naturally shift inward. Invisalign can fix most cases of crowded teeth. You’ll just need to speak with your dentist to determine if it’s the best option for you.
Over 8 million smiles have been transformed with Invisalign.
The aligners are designed from molds and built in layers with photo-sensitive liquid resin. When exposed to a laser, the resin cures into a hard, yet flexible, thermoplastic. This plastic is called SmartTrack®, and it was created exclusively for Invisalign treatment. It’s FDA-approved and contains no BPA, BPS, latex or gluten.
The simplest way to keep them clean is to brush them with a toothbrush and toothpaste as often as you brush your teeth. If you don’t have access to your toothbrush, you should rinse them with lukewarm water. Never use hot water as you may warp the plastic. You can also purchase an Invisalign Cleaning System for a more thorough clean.
Invisalign aligners are made from clear plastic, which makes them virtually invisible. Many people may not notice that you’re wearing them. All sets of aligners are custom-made to fit snuggly to your teeth, and are trimmed to fit to your gum line for a more seamless wear. There are no metal brackets or wires, or restrictions that come with braces, so you can feel confident in your smile throughout treatment.
Invisalign treatment is usually similar in cost to that of braces. But pricing fluctuates depending on your case. A consultation with your doctor will determine your needs and help establish the cost of your treatment.
Your insurance may also cover orthodontic treatment, so be sure to check with your insurance provider to better understand your coverage and options.
The answer is “it depends.” Invisalign is certainly a great choice if you have minor-to-moderate orthodontic issues. It has a lot of great benefits compared to braces, like its subtle appearance, enhanced convenience, better overall comfort, and a shorter overall treatment time for most patients.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that Invisalign is always better than braces. There are some situations where Invisalign will not be the right choice. For example, if you have very crooked or crowded teeth, or you have a serious problem with your bite, Invisalign may not be the right choice.
This is because, compared to braces, Invisalign is not quite as powerful or versatile. It’s usually easier to correct complex orthodontic issues using braces alongside other surgeries and orthodontic appliances.
To learn more and see if Invisalign may be the right choice for you, we highly recommend contacting Indigo Dental for a consultation with Dr. Meagan or Dr. Michael Crosland. They can examine your mouth and help you understand if Invisalign will be the best choice for your unique situation.
This depends on the specifics of your situation. Most patients will require somewhere between 20 and 24 sets of aligners to treat their orthodontic issues, and each set of aligners are usually worn for about 2 weeks.
That means that most patients can treat their orthodontic issues with Invisalign in about a year. However, this is very patient-specific. Some people may have minor orthodontic issues and can be treated in 6 months, while others may need to wear Invisalign for 12-18 months.
If you want to speed up your treatment, the best thing you can do is be consistent about wearing your Invisalign aligners. Take them out only when you eat and drink, and when you brush and floss.
Wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours per day will ensure that your treatment continues as planned by Dr. Michael or Dr. Meagan Crosland, and will reduce the risk of delays and complications.
No. You should not eat or drink anything while wearing your clear aligners, unless you are drinking clear, pure tap water or bottled water. There are a few reasons for this.
First, drinking or eating pigmented foods can cause stains to build up your aligners, which can negatively affect your appearance and make your aligners obvious to others. This is particularly true of hot drinks like tea and coffee, which may also warp your aligners since Invisalign aligners are very sensitive to heat.
Eating and drinking while wearing aligners can also lead to cavities. Sugar and other food particles may get stuck between the aligners and your teeth, sitting on your enamel and contributing to tooth decay.
Chewing while wearing your aligners also may warp, bend, and damage them, interfering with your Invisalign treatment. It’s also quite uncomfortable to chew while wearing your aligners, which is yet another reason you shouldn’t try to eat while wearing them.
For all of these reasons, you should always remove your aligners when you eat and drink. Take them out, rinse them off, and put them in their carrying case. Then, rinse or brush when you’re done with your meal or beverage, and put your aligners back into your mouth.
Average treatment times for Invisalign are just 1 year.
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