Invisalign: Clear, Convenient, Custom
Do you struggle with the appearance of your smile due to misaligned teeth? At Western Dental Care, our Albany dentist, Dr. Santhosh Thomas, offers Invisalign to help you achieve a beautifully straight smile.
While clear aligners have been around for about 25 years, Invisalign is truly customized to your mouth. Unlike braces, Invisalign clear aligners are removable, allowing you to eat and brush your teeth without restrictions while positioning your teeth into perfect alignment.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a clear and comfortable custom aligner. Because Invisalign is almost invisible, there’s no unwanted attention to your mouth. By using a series of clear, removable aligners, Invisalign straightens your teeth with results you’ll notice sooner than you think. Invisalign moves your teeth into alignment in phases until each tooth is in its ideal position. The aligners are comfortable to wear and easy to remove when you eat, brush, and floss. Made with a special soft plastic, they’re specifically designed not to rub against your cheeks.
Each Invisalign tray is made using 3-D imaging of your teeth, making it a highly effective treatment for mild to moderate orthodontic cases. Best of all, you can achieve your new smile in as little as 12 months.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Starting with a consultation at our Albany dental office, Dr. Thomas will examine your teeth to determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. This will also be your opportunity to ask any questions about your treatment or bring up any other concerns you may have.
To ensure Invisalign is customized to your smile, we’ll take X-rays, pictures, and impressions of your teeth to create a 3-D image. These images ensure your aligners are perfectly fitted to your teeth and mouth. When aligners have an exact fit, it reduces rubbing on the cheeks and gums, allowing for optimal comfort.
Every two weeks, you’ll receive new aligners. You’ll wear your aligners throughout the day and night, removing them only to eat or brush and floss your teeth. With each set of aligners, your teeth will gradually shift into their proper place. Because they’re virtually invisible, most people won’t even notice you’re correcting your smile’s alignment.
How Does Invisalign Compare to Braces?
For many years, braces have been used to straighten crooked smiles and space out crowded teeth. But braces aren’t a removable treatment option, as the wires and brackets are fixed to your teeth. Invisalign is removable and meant to be taken out when eating. Without the metal, there’s no rubbing on the cheeks to cause discomfort, either.
Invisalign is easy to care for, comfortable, and faster than traditional braces. While traditional braces typically take at least two years to complete, Invisalign treatment takes around 12 to 18 months, depending on your dental needs.
If you’re looking for a convenient solution for aligning your smile, call our Albany office at (518) 456-8040 to schedule a consultation.
Can Invisalign Help You?
As an Invisalign provider in Albany, NY, Dr. Thomas will help you determine if Invisalign is the perfect treatment for you. Invisalign may be the solution you’re looking for if you struggle with the following conditions:
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Open bite
- Teeth crowding
- Gaps between teeth
Frequently Asked Questions
Caring for your clear aligners is easy. We recommend the following:
- Swap out your aligners for a new set every two weeks
- Rinse your aligners every time you remove them
- Soak the aligners in a cleaning solution recommended by your dentist
- Clean your teeth regularly and thoroughly to help reduce the risk of cavities and stop the spread of bacteria to your aligners
- Brush your aligners every time you take them out
- Remove your aligners whenever you eat or drink (water is the only exception)
Aside from having a straight, stunning smile you can be proud of, you’ll need to wear a retainer at night when your Invisalign treatment is complete. Every case is different and our team will assess your situation after you finish with your last set of aligners. We’ll continue to work with you after your Invisalign treatment to ensure your teeth maintain their new alignment and your oral health remains in excellent condition.
Invisalign causes minimal to no pain during treatment. It’s common to feel some discomfort with each new set of aligners before you’re used to them. The discomfort will often go away as your teeth become used to each set of aligners. However, if you experience severe pain or long-time discomfort, please don’t hesitate to call our Albany, NY office at (518) 456-8040 or feel free to send us an email.