Invisalign – Houston, TX

What Is Invisalign?

Instead of using metal brackets and wires to move the teeth, Invisalign relies on a progressive series of clear plastic trays. They simply slide on and off, and the patient swaps them as time goes by until their teeth reach their final position. Invisalign has been used to help millions of patients across the globe, which is why it is the only household name when it comes to clear aligner treatment.

How Does Invisalign Work?

First, we use 3D computer imaging to design a comprehensive treatment plan. This allows you to preview the final positioning of your teeth before you start treatment. Yes, you will see your future smile before treatment begins!

Your treatment plan will be sent to an Invisalign lab that will use it to create your trays. You’ll wear different sets, changing every two weeks, until you’ve gone through the entire series. Depending on the starting position of your teeth, small attachments (that are virtually invisible) might be glued to some to achieve more dramatic tooth movement.

What Is It Like to Use Invisalign?

After your Invisalign series is created, you’ll need to wear each pair of aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours per day. The longer that you wear your aligners, the faster and more effective your treatment will be. Keep in mind that not wearing your aligners for long enough can disrupt your treatment, so it’s important to keep your aligners on you while you travel. It’s also important that you keep them in their protective case when not in use; while they are durable, they are not indestructible.

Benefits of Invisalign

Over the last two decades, more than 12 million patients have chosen Invisalign. Naturally, you might be wondering, “Why?” Below, you’ll find a few of the many benefits of clear aligner treatment. If you want to learn more on the topic, you’re more than welcome to reach out to our Houston dental team too!

Custom-Made Trays

Although effective, traditional braces have metal brackets and wires that are anything but comfortable. The good news is that’s not the case with Invisalign. Instead, custom-made aligners guide your teeth into their properly aligned positions. They are considerably more comfortable, and, if you do experience any irritation to your gums, lips, or tongue, you can use dental wax!

Metal-Free Aligners

Another perk is that Invisalign aligners are completely metal-free. They are crafted from high-quality, low-profile, and clear plastic, which ensures they don’t stand out when you put them on. In fact, even colleagues, friends, and family members you see on a regular basis will likely have a hard time telling when you’re wearing your trays and when you’re not!

Easy Oral Care

Have you heard of interproximal toothbrushes? This oral hygiene tool is very handy when you have metal brackets and wires since the bristles are small enough to fit in between them. It’s very common for patients with traditional braces to use special oral hygiene tools like this, but that’s not the case with Invisalign because the aligners are removable! So, you can brush and floss like normal.

Quick Follow-Up Visits

Instead of coming in every four weeks for adjustment appointments (which is necessary with traditional braces), patients with Invisalign come in every six or eight weeks for progress visits. At this time, new scans are taken to monitor the movement of your teeth, ensuring that you’re on-track with your treatment plan. Usually, patients are in and out of the chair in less than 20 minutes!

No Dietary Restrictions

Do you like eating apples, carrots, tortilla chips, or popcorn? Unfortunately, these are just a few of the foods that need to be avoided with traditional braces. There is some good news though: Invisalign doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions. As long as you eat a well-balanced diet that’s low in added sugar, you can eat whatever you’d like!

Shorter Average Treatment Timeline

Typically, patients wear braces for 2-3 years. Conversely, the average treatment timeline with Invisalign is only 12-18 months! When you come to our Houston dental office, we will conduct a comprehensive oral exam and create your custom treatment plan. Then, we can provide you with an estimate of the length of your teeth-straightening journey!

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

Invisalign treatment is largely comparable in cost to traditional braces. However, not wearing the aligners for long enough can influence the length of your treatment time. While adjustment appointments are not necessary, it is important that you come to our office every so often to confirm that the aligners are shifting your teeth as planned. If they aren’t, you’ll need to spend more time visiting our office, which could increase overall costs. Overall, Invisalign treatment will cost either less or relatively the same as traditional braces.

Invisalign FAQs

If you’re considering a metal-free alternative for realigning crooked teeth, you’ll find Invisalign to be a fantastic option! We understand if you have many questions about treatment, especially if it’s your first time hearing about them. Dr. Alani and her team are happy to provide detailed answers regarding this incredibly effective and convenient treatment. For your convenience, we’ve included a handful of the most common questions we hear. If your question is not listed, feel free to contact us directly.