Invisalign® Clear Aligners in St. Albert
If you’ve always wanted the straight smile provided by braces but didn’t want to wear braces to get it, Invisalign® therapy might be right for you!
Invisalign® therapy is the first orthodontic alignment system designed to align your teeth without the esthetic of traditional metal braces! Professionals rejoice – this alignment therapy is practically invisible and can be removed easily for special occasions or important meetings!
Invisalign® is a system of custom-made transparent aligners that fit snugly over your teeth and gently coax your teeth into their ideal position over time.
How Does Invisalign® Work?
Invisalign® aligners make use of our body’s ability to move our teeth into new positions and keep them held safely in their new position. This is the result of a complicated system involving pressure, and special cells called osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Our teeth are always communicating with the bony structure that surrounds our teeth’s root system. As we chew our food throughout the day, the pressure from the force of our chewing action is distributed across our dental arches as well as into the bone tissue. The repetitive nature of our chewing mechanism communicates to our jaw bone that we require the bone to continue to be reinforced to maintain the tooth’s stability in the socket. Without this pressure, the jaw demineralizes the area and bone resorption (deterioration) can occur.
Braces and Invisalign® both utilize this mechanism to produce a straighter smile. First, pressure is exerted on one side of the tooth. With time, the tooth begins to naturally move away from the pressure. As this occurs, osteoclasts help remove bone tissue to allow for the root shift to be accommodated, and cells called osteoblasts help to regenerate or remineralize the area which the tooth no longer occupies. The result is a straighter smile.
Invisalign® or Braces?
While Invisalign® therapy is capable of correcting mild to moderate cases of crooked teeth, or malocclusion, severe cases will still require the use of traditional braces to correct. In order to determine which is right for you, it’s necessary to come in and speak to your dentist about your interest in improving the alignment of your teeth. Your dentist will take 3-D digital X-rays of your teeth and jaw, and will be able to review the structure of your teeth with you and the results that may be possible with Invisalign®. Invisalign® requires excellent oral hygiene and care to prevent the aligners being lost, and as a result Invisalign® is not recommended for use in children or young adolescents.
Once you’ve determined that you are a candidate for Invisalign®, your digital X-rays will be sent off to a certified Invisalign® lab where your custom aligners will be fabricated. That was easy!
Wearing Invisalign® Aligners
When your aligners arrive, they will come with between 20 and 30 pairs, depending upon the amount of correction required. Your aligners will be ready to insert, and your dentist will show you which ones to start with, and how long to wear them for. After the recommended period, typically two weeks, you will move to the next set of aligners – be sure to wear aligners in succession. Each aligner will move your teeth a little more in the direction of the desired position, so it is important not to skip aligners.
Caring for Invisalign® and Your Teeth
Your aligners need to be worn 22 hours a day for best results. That means removing the aligners for eating and cleaning only. Your oral health may improve as a result of wearing Invisalign®, since the aligners must only be exposed to saliva and still water. In order to achieve this, teeth must be cleaned of plaque and debris after each meal and before replacing the aligners.
Failing to remove aligners while eating can not only result in staining the aligners, but hot foods and beverages can warp them and food becomes trapped under the aligners. Trapped food and plaque significantly increase the likelihood of gingivitis and decay and must be avoided. Even soda water is too acidic for your aligners, and must be avoided while the aligners are in. Taking excellent care of your oral health and ensuring that you get regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist is critical to ensure that your teeth and gums remain healthy and strong throughout the treatment period.
Learn more about NUVO Dental and our dedicated team here! All services performed by a general dentist.
Consult With Your Dentist About All Your Options
Your dentist may recommend complimentary treatments to ensure the success of your Invisalign® therapy, including tooth reshaping or bonding to perfect the fit and appearance of each tooth along your arch. Once your smile is straight and your treatment period has ended, your dentist will recommend that you wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from moving out of ideal placement. It is important to protect your investment in Invisalign® by following your dentist’s recommendations.
For more information about this or other services provided by our general dentists, call our clinic today. We look forward to seeing you!
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