Are you interested in obtaining a straighter smile? At Southern Dental Fort Smith, we’re proud to provide our patients with Invisalign® clear aligner therapy. Continue reading this blog post to learn more about what Invisalign is, how it works at our dental office in Fort Smith, AR, and how to know if it’s right for you.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a straightening method that is different from traditional braces. The main difference is that while traditional braces use wires and metal brackets to straighten your teeth, Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners that are nearly invisible. The aligners are also removable so you take them out when you brush and floss your teeth, when you’re eating and drinking anything other than water, and for special occasions where you want to feel your most confident (like a wedding or job interview). This way, you can discreetly straighten your teeth without feeling embarrassed by a mouth full of metal braces.
How Does Invisalign Work?
The aligners are custom-made to fit snugly over your teeth so they can gently apply pressure to the places that need to be moved. For best results, you must wear your Invisalign aligners at least 20 and 22 hours each day, and you will swap out your aligners every few weeks for a new set. By swapping out the aligners, you are making sure that your teeth are constantly moving into the right position.
When Is Invisalign a Good Option?
Invisalign is a good option for people with mild to moderate alignment issues. This treatment can correct a variety of problems, such as crooked teeth, overbites, underbites, teeth that overlap with each other, and small gaps in your teeth. Invisalign can also fix an open bite (which is when the upper and lower teeth don’t close correctly) and a underbite (which is when the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth).
There are a few straightening issues that Invisalign can’t fix. Invisalign may not be a good fit for you if you need to raise or lower the position of your teeth, a crooked tooth needs to be significantly rotated, or large gaps between your teeth need to be fixed. Additionally, Invisalign cannot correct a midline discrepancy that is bigger than 2mm. If you have any of these issues, then you may need to turn to traditional braces to straighten your smile.
Invisalign Clear Aligner Therapy in Fort Smith, AR
At your consultation, we’ll determine if your smile goals could be achieved with Invisalign, or if your misalignment would be more efficiently tackled with traditional braces. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We look forward to helping you achieve your dream smile.
