How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult’s Teeth?

Many people think of braces as an adolescent rite of passage. However, there is no need for adults to live with a smile that doesn't make them proud! Invisalign offers the perfect solution: effective orthodontia with no metal or visible brackets.

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a completely different way to get the straight teeth you desire. Instead of metal, wires, and brackets, Invisalign gently straightens your teeth with clear aligners. Your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth and scan it into a special computer program. They will then make a treatment plan with a desired end result. This computer program will create a series of molds that will gradually guide your teeth into a straight and attractive position.

How does Invisalign straighten an adult’s teeth? The Invisalign treatment process is meant to gently and painlessly guide your teeth to a more desirable position. It is not bad for your teeth at all. Teeth are constantly moving and shifting. In most cases, they shift even further out of the alignment as we get older. Fredericksburg Invisalign trays move your teeth to the desired position.

Aren't I Too Old for Braces?

Many people associate braces with children and teens, assuming that an adult with crooked teeth merely has to live with them. However, orthodontia for adults is becoming increasingly common. You may have missed the boat when other teens were getting braces in junior high, but this does not mean you have to live with a smile that is unattractive or unhealthy.

Many adults do not want braces because they don't want visible brackets or wires in their smile. However, Invisalign has none of these. As the name suggests, Invisalign is virtually invisible.

Will Invisalign Hurt?

Another major concern of adults looking into the Invisalign treatment process is the pain. Traditional braces are associated with a great deal of discomfort. However, Invisalign is actually completely painless. Because the treatment is very gradual, there is no discomfort involved. You can go to your Fredericksburg Invisalign appointments with confidence that your visit will be pleasant and painless.

Can I Wear Invisalign While I Eat?

While people who have traditional braces must avoid certain foods, this is not true for Invisalign. This is due to the design: rather than having brackets and wires attached to teeth, which provides many places for food to get caught, Invisalign is both smooth and removable. It only needs to be worn 22 hours a day, so people can remove it to eat, or even for occasional special events.

Because Invisalign can be removed to eat, you can continue to eat your favorite foods. You will only need to brush and floss your teeth before putting your Invisalign tray back into place.

Why Straighten My Teeth?

Many adults consider contacting an Invisalign Fredericksburg orthodontist and wonder if getting orthodontic treatment is necessary. After all, braces and Invisalign both require time and money. Gaining a beautiful and confident smile is definitely a good reason to use Invisalign; there are also other reasons to consider orthodontic work.

Misaligned teeth will likely become worse with time. In addition, they are more likely to get cavities or even fall out because it is harder to thoroughly brush and floss them. In addition, misaligned teeth can cause pain in the jaw and even make it difficult to chew your food thoroughly. While your misaligned teeth may seem like a purely cosmetic issue, they may shift further and cause problems in the future.

Beecroft Orthodontics - Invisalign - 1st Impressions

What to Expect From Invisalign

How does Invisalign straighten an adult’s teeth? In many ways, the process of getting Invisalign is similar to getting other types of orthodontic work such as braces. You will be examined by the orthodontist, who will decide if Invisalign is the right choice for you. If so, the orthodontist will make molds of your teeth and develop a treatment plan. The computer will generate models of the molds you need for your teeth.

After this, you will receive your trays. You should wear them as much as possible, up to 24 hours a day. Every two weeks, you will switch to a new tray. Gradually and painlessly, your teeth will become straighter. You will periodically visit your orthodontist to make sure your teeth are healthy and that they are progressing as expected.

What to Expect After Invisalign

As with all orthodontic work, there will be some aftercare and maintenance after you have straightened your teeth with Invisalign. Whether you choose braces or Invisalign, you will need to wear a retainer as often as possible. A retainer is a small plastic piece that fits against the inner side of your teeth, gently exerting enough pressure to keep them in their straightened position. This will prevent your teeth from shifting back into the misaligned position.

Is Invisalign Right for Me?

There are a few things to consider when deciding whether Invisalign is the right decision for you. First, Invisalign will only work for some types of orthodontic problems. Your orthodontist will be able to let you know if you are a good candidate.

Second, you should evaluate whether you are ready for the commitment involved in Invisalign. You will need to wear your tray whenever you are not eating, performing dental care, or cleaning the trays. Last, you will need to decide if you are willing to pay for Invisalign. Invisalign costs slightly more than traditional braces because of the new technology involved. However, many orthodontists offer payment plans and other options for defraying the cost.

Choosing an Orthodontist

It's important to choose the right orthodontist. You will be visiting them on a regular basis, so you will need to feel comfortable and able to talk with them. It is also important to select an orthodontist who has experience both with Invisalign technology and with adult orthodontics. If you are interested in an Invisalign Fredericksburg orthodontist, you are in luck. Beecroft Orthodontics is experienced both with Invisalign and with treating adults. Not only are we experienced, adult Invisalign is our specialty. We know how to work with you to get you the perfect, healthy smile that you deserve.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult’s Teeth?

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

To Straighten or Not to Straighten

The choice has been made! You've committed to get braces for yourself or your child. You've either chosen to do it for cosmetic purposes or you've been referred to an orthodontist by a dentist.

Making the choice to get your teeth straightened is not an easy one. It's a big financial and time commitment, but the boost in self-confidence is worth it. You'll feel it when you see that beautiful smile in the mirror or in your child's face!

Why Invisalign?

The next step is choosing Invisalign. Invisalign is a great choice for business professionals, not wanting to detract from their first impression and the absolute best choice for teens. Being a teenager is hard enough without having to worry about what you can or cannot eat or getting food stuck in your metal braces. With Invisalign Teen Stafford, no one will even notice you're having your teeth straightened. But how long is this commitment?

How Long Should Someone Wear a Retainer After Their Braces Are Removed?

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

The answer is not simple. Treatment time for Invisalign can take between nine and eighteen months, with some extreme cases taking longer and simpler cases taking as little as a few months. Just like traditional braces, the treatment time for Invisalign depends on the patient. At Beecroft Orthodontics in Stafford, the experienced orthodontics team will monitor your Invisalign treatment every step of the way to make sure everything is going smoothly and the results are exactly as expected.

The top notch team at Beecroft Orthodontics will be able to tell you approximately how long your treatment will take from the very beginning.

Invisalign aligners are ordered at the beginning of treatment and changed every two weeks. As a patient, you will be visiting the office every four to eight weeks in order for the orthodontics team to track your progress. If there are any changes to the timeline, our medical team at Beecroft will let you know immediately.

Will My Treatment Take Longer If I'm a Teen?

Chances are you found our office through a referral, or maybe you just typed in “pediatric dentists near me” or “Invisalign Teen Stafford” and ours was one of the first orthodontics offices that popped up from your favorite search engine.

No matter how you found us, you lucked out. Beecroft Orthodontics has some of the most comprehensive and up to date knowledge when it comes to treating teens with Invisalign.

Teenagers sometimes do require longer treatments. That is because treatments are designed to work with teens who are still growing and developing bones and jaws. This process cannot be rushed, but often offers more stunning and long lasting results.

The team at Beecroft should be able to answer all of the questions you have about your particular case.

Can I Speed Up My Treatment?

There are definitely things a patient can do to ensure Invisalign is working as it should. Aligners need to be worn between twenty and twenty-two hours every day. The aligner should only be removed for cleaning and eating. Wearing the aligner for less than the allotted amount of time can significantly slow down progress.

If the aligner is not worn enough during the two weeks, the patient might not be able to move on to the next aligner. Every time this happens, a patient is only extending the amount of time for his or her treatment.

Patients need to take the time to follow the weekly instructions. More than most treatments, Invisalign is a partnership between the Doctor and the patient!

It’s also possible to use something called Invisalign AcceleDent to try to speed up this process. This is a machine that causes the aligner tray to vibrate, which helps quicken bone realignment. Some patients claim this cut their Invisalign treatment time in half. Only your orthodontist can tell you if this is an option for you.

How do I Know if Invisalign is Working?

Patients often feel much less discomfort with Invisalign than with traditional braces. This discomfort usually occurs when the patient first changes aligners. After the first few days of tightness, the discomfort dissipates, leaving the patient wondering if the treatment is really working.

Invisalign is a multi-step process that moves the teeth and then holds them steady in order to move on to the next aligner. Invisalign is definitely working if the aligner started out tight and now seems to fit better, even if you don't see a difference. The process works by moving teeth just a few millimeters at a time.

Will I Have to Wear a Retainer Forever?

Without a retainer, straightened teeth tend to shift around over time. A retainer helps prevent that from happening. You won't have to wear a retainer all of the time, or even as often as you wore your aligners. The orthodontist will order you a retainer at the end of your treatment to ensure that it will hold your teeth in the optimum position.

Make Sure All your Questions are Answered

Beecroft Orthodontics prides itself on being transparent and supportive. We want to make sure all of our patients are comfortable with all aspects of treatment. You should not hesitate to come in for a consultation with as many questions as you can think of.

It helps to write your questions about the amount of time treatment will take down, so that you don't get sidetracked with other information. It's also a good practice to take notes on what the orthodontist tells you so that you can consider it later and come back with follow-up questions.

Here are a few frequently asked questions about the length of Invisalign treatment:

• How long does Invisalign take?

• Are there any specific problems you foresee that might lengthen the amount of time my treatment takes?

• Is AcceleDent an option for me at this time?

• Are there any additional things I should know about my treatment?

The Beecroft Orthodontics team is absolutely committed to providing the best orthodontic care for your situation. Make a decision that is sure to make you smile; come in for your consultation today!

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

How Long Does Invisalign Take?

How is Invisalign Different from Traditional Braces?

Moms, have you made the decision to get you or your son or daughter’s teeth straightened? Have you typed “Dentists Near Me” into your favorite search engine, attended an appointment and gotten a recommendation for orthodontics? Have you erased that “Dentists Near Me” search and entered “Orthodontists Near Me,” and found Invisalign Teen Stafford or Invisalign King George? If so, you probably have many questions about what to expect from your consultation. Undoubtedly, two of those questions in the back of your mind are these: should I get Invisalign aligners, and how is Invisalign different from traditional braces?

What Are Traditional Braces?

• Regular braces are made of metal (usually silver) brackets and wires. They are glued directly onto the patient’s teeth and tightened using wires and small rubber bands.

• The default color of the wires is silver, but enamel color is available at an additional cost.

• Once the braces are installed they can only be removed by an orthodontist, and only at the end of the treatment.

• Treatment time is an average of two to three years, depending on a number of factors determined by the orthodontist.

• Daily maintenance is required. The brackets and wires that make up traditional braces can be brushed along with your teeth, but additional tools like floss and a water pick are helpful to dislodge stray food particles from the metal.

• Follow-up visits are required monthly. Every four to five weeks you will have to go back to the orthodontist for cleaning, inspection, and to have the brackets adjusted.

• Follow-up: Individuals who use traditional braces have to continue to use a removable retainer, but hopefully only at night or on an as needed basis.

What are Invisalign Aligners?

• The Invisalign system uses advanced 3D computer imagining technology and X-rays to identify the ideal position of the aligner in the patient’s mouth. Each aligner is built custom made for your teeth!

• Invisalign aligners are not semi-permanently attached to the teeth. They are made of smooth, comfortable, BPA-free clear plastic that will not irritate the patient’s tongue, cheeks, or gums. The person wearing them can remove them at any time!

• The treatment time period is less. Some patients only need to use them for twenty-two to twenty-four hours a day for six months, while others require closer to eighteen months.

• Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are completely transparent. As the name implies, they are invisible!

• Maintenance is simple. The aligners come with the Invisalign Cleaning system and can also be cleaned using brushing and rinsing trays with lukewarm water.

• Follow-ups with your orthodontist are on a similar time schedule with traditional braces: every four to six weeks. In addition, aligner trays must be changed every two weeks.

• After the treatment is complete, a positioner or retainer will likely be required. The patient may only be required to wear one while they are asleep.

FAQ: An Orthodontic Specialist | Beecroft Orthodontics | An Orthodontist in Fredericksburg, VA

How is Invisalign Different from Traditional Braces?

Both traditional braces and Invisalign aligners achieve the same goals: bite issues are resolved, and teeth are straightened and aligned to ideal positions for both proper use and the best look. They differ in their means – in how they achieve that goal. The patient’s task is to determine if the advantages of Invisalign outweigh the disadvantages of traditional braces. Invisalign differs from traditional braces in the following ways:

The Pros

• Aligners are not permanent! They can be removed as needed by the patient. This is an important benefit because it means that the patient is not restricted by their orthodontics. Brushing their teeth is as easy as ever. Teenagers playing contact sports do not have to worry about forgetting their mouth guard and causing damage, or about eating incorrect food. Prom and yearbook photos are not ruined by metal wires. You can eat anything you want when you remove the Invisalign aligners, including licorice, popcorn, ice, caramel, gum, nuts, carrots, apples, and corn on the cob.

• Invisalign is invisible! Invisalign is superior over traditional braces for the anxious teenager and the self-conscious adult. You are smiling before and after the treatment, so you should get to smile at it as well!

• Invisalign is comfortable! Traditional braces can sometimes cause sores on the insides of the cheeks and, in extreme cases, even a small abrasion to the tongue or inside of the lips. The teeth are sore, especially after the orthodontist tightens the brackets that move them. Although saltwater, pain relievers, and wax over any sharp parts can help, with Invisalign the mouth is not irritated by the metal or adhesives, and speech is not impaired.

The Cons

• Braces are better for more complex issues. Adjusting someone’s bridgework, back teeth, rotating canines or bite is more difficult with Invisalign.

• Self-discipline is critical! When braces are glued to the teeth there is no chance that they will be lost. You or your child may forget to put them back in after eating or brushing.

• Insurance issues. Most dental plans cover orthodontic treatment, but because Invisalign is new compared to traditional braces, it is possible that your insurance may not cover it yet.

• Additional maintenance. If you have traditional braces you can brush your teeth twice a day as normal. Invisalign users must clean their teeth after every meal to avoid staining.

• Traditional braces are still cheaper then Invisalign aligners.

Are you ready to get the smile you or your teenager have always wanted without having to hide the one you have now? Join the other one million patients who have enjoyed Invisalign since 2000. The Beecroft Orthodontics teams of Invisalign Teen Stafford and Invisalign King George will give you the best Invisalign treatment around! Call for a consultation today!

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

How is Invisalign Different from Traditional Braces?