Nov
For many people, orthodontics means wearing metal braces on their teeth. But traditional braces aren’t your only option. Today, there’s also Invisalign! Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners to straighten your smile with greater comfort and ease. At Newport Smiles, you work with a skilled Invisalign dentist for this treatment. No doubt you have questions about clear aligner therapy. Dr. Aarti Puri has the answers you need to decide if Invisalign is right for you.
Invisalign is a unique orthodontic system that relies on removable, plastic aligners to straighten your teeth. The aligners are clear, making them inconspicuous. When worn, they exert gentle pressure on your teeth to slowly shift them into alignment.
Our team uses 3D digital imaging to plan your procedure and map out the movements of your teeth from start to finish, so you can see the change in your smile by the end of the procedure. Next, we’ll have aligners custom-made to fit your teeth. You’ll wear the aligners full-time, removing them mainly to eat and brush your teeth. Gradually, your teeth will start to shift into a straighter position. You’ll switch to a new set of aligners every two weeks until your smile is as straight as you want it to be.
Like braces, Invisalign is designed to correct various orthodontic issues to improve your smile’s function and appearance. These issues include overbites, underbites, crossbites, crooked and overlapping teeth, gaps between teeth and overcrowding. A thorough evaluation by our team will determine if this treatment is a good fit for you.
Treatment times vary depending on the problems that need to be addressed. Your diligence in wearing the aligners as instructed will also affect the length of your treatment. On average, treatments last 12 – 18 months. Dr. Puri will provide a tentative timeframe for completion during your consultation.
Clear aligners are much more comfortable than metal braces, but they can cause some discomfort in the beginning, as you’re not used to having pressure placed on your teeth. It may take a few days to adapt to the aligners for the discomfort to cease.
Invisalign won’t affect your appearance, as the clear aligners are practically invisible on your teeth. Having removable aligners allows you to maintain much of your normal routine. You don’t have to change your eating or oral hygiene habits or activities you enjoy, as the aligners can be removed for these occasions. Even follow-up appointments are easier as they’re less frequent and only entail a checkup to monitor your progress.
We’ve got you covered at Newport Smiles in Newport Beach, CA. You can schedule an Invisalign consultation by calling Dr. Aarti Puri at (949) 353-5622.