Invisalign® Clear Ortho Aligners
The Importance of a Straight Smile
While straight teeth certainly boost one’s self-esteem and confidence, there are health benefits to having straight, healthily aligned teeth. When teeth are spaced properly, they are far easier to clean. Overlapped and crooked teeth are difficult to floss and brush – especially in hard-to-reach crevices between teeth and at the back of the mouth. By making teeth easier to clean, patients can greatly reduce their risk for periodontal disease and dental caries. Periodontal disease has been proven to significantly increase the risk of heart attached and stroke.
Moreover, properly aligned teeth are less likely to become worn down because they are positioned for optimal oral function that evenly distributes the pressure and force associated with biting and chewing food. Correctly aligned teeth can also alleviate the issues that can be caused by an improper bite, speech or chewing difficulties, and jaw problems. Invisalign effectively addresses all of these orthodontic issues, so you’ll have the confidence of a great smile and increase the likelihood of improved oral health.
How Invisalign Treatment Works?
Your Invisalign® clear aligners are custom-made for you. The aligners are virtually invisible and fit snugly over your teeth. Each aligner shifts your teeth slightly, moving them horizontally and vertically and even rotating them when needed. Your aligners are engineered to use the right amount of force in the right place at the right time.
When you change to the next set of aligners (typically every two weeks) your teeth gradually move into position, following a custom treatment plan mapped out by your doctor. Only Invisalign clear aligners are made of a proprietary, multilayer SmartTrack® material to gently shift your teeth into place.
What are Invisalign Braces?
Hefton Dentistry is a go-to for Dallas residents looking for Invisalign. Additionally, we maintain a great relationship with the company that develops and produces these industry-leading invisible braces. Invisalign braces are paid for by the same insurance programs that would normally cover metal braces, and they are just as effective as metal braces without requiring large metal brackets and wires. Instead of using traditional braces to gradually straighten teeth, Invisalign treatments use synthetic molded devices to guide your teeth into place. Since the synthetic devices are made individually for each patient, they are clear and they don’t detract from your appearance like regular braces would.
Not every Dallas dentist can handle Invisalign treatments, but your dentists here at Hefton Dentistry have the extensive experience with invisible braces. Our patients include Dallas residents of all ages, and from all different professions. Invisalign braces are ideal for people that have customer-facing jobs or high profile positions where a perfect smile would help their careers but they can’t deal with years in metal braces.
Benefits of Invisalign
The virtually invisible aligners, which are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the Invisalign treatment plan, look similar to teeth-whitening trays. Clear in appearance, Invisalign is inconspicuous and often goes undetected around others. On top of offering a discreet alternative to metal and wire braces, Invisalign aligners are removed during meals and when one is brushing or flossing. This makes eating and cleaning teeth much easier. The plastic construction of Invisalign is also comfortable and will not scrape against or irritate the linings of cheeks, lips and other soft oral structures as compared to traditional braces.
Invisalign allows you to view your virtual results and treatment plan before you start so you can see how your straightened teeth will look when your treatment is complete. Instead of imagining how much better it can be, you’ll be able to see it for yourself.
Many patients with orthodontic issues can benefit from Invisalign treatment. The best way to determine if this treatment option is right for your needs is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hefton. At your appointment, our team will evaluate the health of your teeth and their alignment to recommend the most appropriate treatment for your unique situation.
Invisalign is an alternative to traditional metal wire braces. This orthodontic system utilizes the same underlying principles of conventional braces to move teeth to healthier positions but with different materials. Instead of metal brackets and archwires, which are fixed in the mouth, Invisalign uses a series of custom-made computer-generated plastic aligners to straighten your smile. Like braces, Invisalign works by applying pressure to teeth consistently and gently. This pressure will gradually shift teeth over time to the proper position. Invisalign can correct spacing issues such as gaps and crooked or overlapped teeth. By improving the spacing and positioning of teeth, Invisalign can also assist with correcting the occlusion (bite).
Over the course of treatment, you will be supplied with a series of aligners. Each aligner will make slight adjustments to tooth position, a process that is mapped out in advance. When the aligners are placed on the teeth, they cause the teeth to gradually shift from their current position. After approximately two weeks, you will begin using the next set of aligners, which will continue the teeth straightening process.
Through the use of its patented thermoplastic design, Invisalign aligners move your teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force. The Invisalign process not only controls the force, but also the timing of the force application. During each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move.
Invisalign is ideal for patients who are teenagers and adults that are desiring a comfortable and discreet alternative to conventional orthodontics. The only way to be certain if Invisalign is the right orthodontic treatment for you is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Hefton. At your consultation, we will perform a comprehensive examination to evaluate the placement of your teeth to develop a treatment plan that fits your unique needs.
Because medical benefits differ significantly from policy to policy, you should review your personal coverage plan. However, in general, if a patient has orthodontic coverage, Invisalign should be covered to the same extent as conventional braces.
The major difference between Invisalign and traditional braces is the materials used to straighten teeth. Braces feature fixed appliances that are bonded to teeth and connected by archwires to gradually apply pressure. Invisalign involves the use of plastic, custom fitted retainer-like appliances that fit snuggly over teeth to generate gentle force. Every two weeks, the patient will wear a new set of aligners and over time, teeth will become straighter. Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign is removable. This allows patients to eat and conduct oral hygiene without difficulty or obstruction. Patients can remove their aligners for special occasions; however, even when you are wearing them, they will go unnoticed.
Invisalign treatment is comparable to the cost of traditional braces. The cost of Invisalign varies depending on the patient’s treatment goals, duration of treatment, and difficulty of the case. Dr. Hefton and her staff can help determine the cost, based on your specific needs. We recommend speaking with our financial coordinator regarding questions about cost, insurance coverage, or payment options.
Schedule an Appointment
Contact us today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Hefton. Whether you need a regular checkup or a more specialize service, we’re happy to help.