Many of our patients visit our office concerned about what they can do to straighten their teeth. As your trusted cosmetic dentist in Medford, NJ, we wanted to provide you with some basic information on Invisalign, how it works, and what it can do for your smile. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding Invisalign:
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a set of custom retainers given to patients who are interested in straightening their smiles. The retainers are made based off of dental impressions and are designed to slowly apply pressure and encourage your teeth to shift into a better position. The retainers are made from a clear, plastic material that allows patients to maintain their natural smile aesthetics while undergoing treatment. They do not require the use of metallic brackets and wires like traditional braces do.
What are the benefits of Invisalign?
Besides the ability to maintain their natural smile aesthetics throughout treatment, Invisalign offers patients a wide variety of other benefits. Invisalign retainers are removable, meaning you do not have to wear them while you eat, drink, or brush your teeth. This means no dietary restrictions or extra steps in your oral hygiene routines even while undergoing treatment. Additionally, you will not have to visit the dental office as frequently as you would with traditional braces. Instead, you’ll visit us about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
How often do I need to wear my Invisalign retainers?
You should wear your retainers as much as possible, and only remove them for eating, drinking, and oral hygiene purposes. However, if you are attending a special event, you can also remove them as well. This is particularly helpful for job interviews, first dates, or weddings. As long as you wear your aligners an average of 22 hours out of the day, your treatment plan will not be affected. Total treatment time can be 9 – 15 months and the average number of aligners during treatment is between 18 – 30, but both will vary from case to case.
Am I a good candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign is best utilized for patients looking to treat mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. More complex orthodontic issues may need to be treated with traditional braces. Dr. Poorva Parnaik is an Invisalign® dentist in Medford, New Jersey. She can provide you with a cosmetic dentistry consultation to determine if Invisalign will help with your dental concerns. The best way to find out if you are a good candidate for Invisalign is to schedule an appointment. During your consultation, Dr. Parnaik will evaluate your teeth, gums, and jawbone to ensure that they are healthy enough to undergo treatment.