Getting Invisalign Treatment in San Antonio

Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign Treatment

In a society that highly values straight, white teeth, you may feel very self-conscious about your set of pearly whites, especially if there are some imperfections. Traditionally, to fix crooked teeth, you would get metal braces, which can be very conspicuous and can make you feel even more self-conscious. Villa Dental offers an outstanding option for straightening your teeth:  Invisalign. Invisalign is a modern alternative to traditional metal braces that is less conspicuous than metal braces. With our help, you can straighten your teeth without drawing too much attention to them in the process. Before you commit to visiting our office in person, we want you to feel at ease with your treatment and overall experience. Our dental team created this helpful guide to answer the most common questions and explain the process. Now, when you schedule an appointment at Villa Dental, you’ll already know what to expect, so you can feel more confident. Once you visit us, we’ll be able to ask more specific questions about your medical history and perform a detailed examination. Thanks to Invisalign technology, we can even show you molds of what you might wear and how your smile will look once the process is complete!

What is Invisalign?

Traditional metal braces use their structure to pull your teeth into alignment over time. Invisalign uses modern technology and does the same exact thing, except in a discreet manner. When you start your Invisalign treatment, you receive a set of clear aligners from our dentist to wear for a set amount of time in order to straighten your teeth.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Over a period of about nine to 15 months, you will receive anywhere between 18 to 30 aligners from Villa Dental to wear and correct your teeth’s position. On your initial visit, we will either take physical impressions or use 3D computer imaging to get an accurate representation of your teeth and create aligners based on that image. These aligners will then move your teeth little by little, eventually moving your teeth to the final desired positions. In order to get the desired results, you must wear your aligners for the majority of the day, around 22 hours.

Who is a candidate for Invisalign?

While most patients think of traditional braces as a rite of passage for young adults and teens, Invisalign makes straightening your teeth easy and subtle for adults and most teenagers. Our patients come from all ages and backgrounds, because the aligners are easy to wear at work or school without impacting your self-esteem around peers. Invisalign is also noninvasive and removable, so it’s a safe procedure for nearly anyone who would like straighter teeth. The most important requirements are that you are dedicated to wearing your aligners as much as possible to achieve the progress you want to see. It’s also important to have healthy teeth and gums prior to and during treatment. If you have gum disease or cavities, our dental team will address these issues first before creating Invisalign aligners. In rare cases, TMJ, dental implants, or bridges could get in the way of Invisalign, but our dentists will be able to confirm if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign.

How does Invisalign move teeth?

Using a progressive set of aligners, or plastic trays, Invisalign slowly pushes teeth into the correct position. The first set of aligners will look similar to your existing teeth and fit with just a bit of tension. Each aligner thereafter will still fit over your teeth, but with an incremental adjustment until the final set of aligners is smooth and even! Invisalign can move teeth, but not your jaw. That makes it less effective on serious overbites or underbites that need more invasive orthodontic procedures.

How to care for your teeth during Invisalign treatment?

The best part of Invisalign is that you can quickly remove the aligners to brush and floss normally. It’s critical to follow good dental hygiene by brushing and flossing two to three times per day so your teeth stay strong and healthy while under the pressure from the aligners. You should also wash the aligners daily with warm water and mild soap to prevent bacteria from collecting.

What are the advantages of Invisalign?

Invisalign has a number of advantages when you compare to traditional braces. After you see how convenient and easy it is to wear Invisalign aligners, you won’t even want to consider traditional metal braces.

Inconspicuousness

As their name implies, Invisalign aligners are basically invisible, which means people won’t be able to tell that you have them on. If you’re already feeling very shy about the state of your teeth, you won’t have to worry about drawing additional attention to them with obvious metal braces.

More Comfort

Because you switch out different aligners and they move your teeth slowly, there is less pain associated with Invisalign. There are also no wires to poke into your cheeks, which can be very painful. Additionally, wires often require more dental visits in order to ensure the wires are short enough not to damage your cheeks. Invisalign is seamless, only requiring one fitting per visit.

Removability

The one thing that bothers people most about metal braces is the fact that they’re stuck with it for the entire duration of the treatment. With Invisalign, you are free to remove your aligners at any time, making it easier for you to eat, brush, and floss.

No restrictions

With metal braces, there are certain foods or drinks you have to avoid or make special adjustments in order to eat or drink them. Not with Invisalign! You don’t have to change your lifestyle at all. Simply remove your aligners whenever you want to eat or drink and replace them when you are done.

Why choose Villa Dental for Invisalign treatments?

Villa Dental has years of experience helping teens and adults correct their smiles with Invisalign, so we’re ready to answer your questions, create your customized set of aligners, and be your go-to partner throughout the process. As a full-care family dentist, we’ll also be able to keep tabs on your overall oral health, professional teeth cleaning schedule, and regular X-rays all in one place, so going to the dentist is simple. Schedule an Invisalign consultation at Villa Dental today by calling 210-920-8481 to learn more about Invisalign treatment in San Antonio and if it is right for you.