Invisalign® promotes beautifully balanced smiles, a healthy mouth, and a comfortable treatment experience
Overlapped or gapped teeth in your smile are hard to miss. Fortunately, the Modern Smile Dental team in Gaithersburg, Maryland, can restore your confident and healthy smile with Invisalign®.
Is Invisalign® an alternative to braces?
Yes. Invisalign® is considered an alternative to braces. It is based on the same principles as braces, but it uses clear (not dark or silver-colored) removable aligners to straighten the teeth instead of metal brackets, wires, and bands that can only be removed by your dentist or orthodontist.
How do Invisalign® and braces reposition the teeth?
Both Invisalign® and braces place constant force on the teeth. It is this pressure that gradually repositions the teeth. The difference between the two methods is in the components or parts used to place pressure on the teeth and effectively correct misalignment and bite imbalances.
So, Invisalign® doesn’t just correct crowding and gaps?
Yes. It is appropriate for more modest cases of crowded, overlapped, or otherwise unevenly spaced teeth, as well as for more extensive bite problems. These issues include overbites, whereby the upper teeth may protrude severely over the lower teeth, and underbites, in which the lower teeth may jut out too much. Of course, our dentist, Dr. Michelle Janbakhsh, will need to evaluate your teeth first to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign® or another treatment.
How do I wear the aligners?
Very easily! You simply slip the aligner that corresponds with your current step in treatment over your teeth. The aligner should fit snugly yet comfortably. Wear each of these aligners for around two weeks , as directed by Dr. Janbakhsh. Then, you will move on to the next aligner that coincides with your treatment plan. You should wear each aligner at all times. They should only be removed before eating meals, drinking anything but water and brushing and flossing your teeth.
What happens if I don’t wear the aligners long enough each day?
Patient compliance is super important. If you do not wear the aligners long enough or do not follow the instructions provided by our team, it can delay your results and otherwise disrupt treatment. The good news is that Invisalign® is very easy to wear and easy to care for, too.
How do I care for my aligners?
We can provide you with or suggest products that are appropriate for the thermoplastic. By regularly cleaning your aligners, the overgrowth of harmful bacteria is inhibited. Your mouth stays healthy and fresh. The treatment process also remains discreet because we prevent the build-up of stains on your aligner trays with good and consistent oral care.
When will I see results?
That depends on many factors, from your adherence to wear time to the extent of the misalignment that we are correcting. However, on average, patients achieve their smile goals in around 12 to 18 months; however, the time varies with the complexity of the case. We welcome your additional questions and look forward to meeting you! Call Modern Smile Dental in Gaithersburg, MD, at (301) 850-0376 to schedule your Invisalign® consultation.
