Why Invisalign® Might Be Right for You

If you’ve ever wished you had gotten braces before, it’s never too late. You may think that the only way to straighten your teeth is with traditional metal braces, but there’s an alternative that comes without the drawbacks: Invisalign®.

Invisalign is an extremely popular method of straightening your teeth, in large part because it’s clear and doesn’t require you to adapt your diet. Among the respondents at RealSelf, a cosmetic procedure site, 94 percent said Invisalign was “worth it.” If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Invisalign, Dr. Joseph Z. Yousefian of Yousefian Orthodontics for Children, Teens and Adults in Bellevue, Washington, offers this helpful guide.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a system of custom clear aligners that gradually shifts your teeth into the proper position. 

Dr. Yousefian makes a mold of your teeth and creates the custom-designed aligner trays that you’ll wear. You’ll swap out your aligner tray for a new one every two weeks or so.

You need to wear the Invisalign trays for 20-22 hours a day to achieve the desired results. Most people wear Invisalign for 6-18 months, depending on the amount of correction they need.

What Invisalign can treat

Invisalign is effective in treating more than just crooked teeth. Some of the dental problems that we can correct with Invisalign include:

• Crooked or misaligned teeth
• Overcrowding
• Underbite
• Overbite
• Crossbite
• Gaps between teeth

The advantages of Invisalign compared with traditional braces

If you’re trying to decide between traditional metal braces and Invisalign, it’s important to know their major differences. While Invisalign is admittedly more expensive and isn’t appropriate for certain dental problems, it also has certain advantages, including:

Freedom to eat anything

When you wear traditional metal braces, certain foods are off-limits for the duration of the time you wear them. These include popcorn, nuts, and sticky candy like fudge and toffee. These foods can damage the wires holding your braces together.

In comparison, Invisalign allows you to eat anything that you want because you take out your aligner trays before eating. However, it’s important to brush your teeth before putting your Invisalign trays back in your mouth.

Comfort 

Invisalign aligners are more comfortable to wear than metal braces. They feel more like your natural teeth. In addition, metal braces often rub against your cheeks, which can make them less comfortable to wear.

Natural-looking

Invisalign looks more natural than metal braces. Because they are clear, Invisalign trays are almost completely unnoticeable unless someone is looking closely at you.

Fewer orthodontic visits

Dr. Yousefian always loves to see you, but frequent orthodontist visits might not fit into your schedule. When you get Invisalign, it requires fewer visits than traditional braces do. Traditional braces require that you get your wires tightened about every six weeks. But with Invisalign, you only have to come in for occasional checkups.

Exceptions to the rule

If you aren’t a good candidate for Invisalign and need traditional braces instead, Dr. Yousefian will let you know.

In general, the more severe your dental problems, the more likely it is that you’ll need traditional braces. However, Invisalign is effective in fixing a number of dental problems, even difficult ones.

If you would like to find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, contact Dr. Joseph Z. Yousefian at Yousefian Orthodontics for Children, Teens and Adults today for a consultation or request an appointment online.