Invisalign® provides an alternative to traditional metal braces, helping our Des Moines, IA, patients enjoy clear smile correction. Our patients often have questions about these clear aligners, so in today’s blog we would like to look at three of the most common inquiries. Find out how these aligners help correct crooked or crowded teeth, often in as little as a year.
How Do You Create The Aligners?
First, let’s look at what they’re made of. We create them using a BPA-free plastic acrylic material. This plastic material helps you avoid the gum and cheek irritation often experienced with braces, while the clear appearance means they will be barely visible. We create them after taking a series of detailed digital images of your smile, which will be used to create a 3D computer generated model. Using the model and the information gathered, we design a series of aligners to be worn over the course of a year to 18 months, correcting the alignment of your smile.
Do I Wear Them Every Day?
Yes! You will need to wear them daily for between 20 and 23 hours, depending your dentist’s recommendations. If worn correctly, you stay on schedule and continue to move on to the next set every two weeks or so. Wearing them daily as prescribed is essential for seeing optimal results in the original time frame discussed with your dentist. Remember, treating misalignment improves more than just your smile’s appearance, you also enjoy a reduced risk of gum disease, tooth decay, TMJ disorder, and bruxism.
Can I Ever Remove Them?
Yes! You can absolutely remove them occasionally, just as long as you wear for the amount of time the dentist prescribes. Often, people take them out for special occasions, such as dates, job interviews, or graduations. You may also take them out before you brush and floss, which makes caring for your smile easy protecting your teeth and gums for decay and periodontal disease throughout treatment. We recommend removing them before you eat, which means you don’t need to avoid the kinds of foods that would become stuck in metal braces, such as sticky or chewy items. You also don’t worry about the impact on your smile’s health, as you can easily remove food particles. If you have any questions about the Invisalign® process, or if you have an uneven smile in need of treatment, then please contact our team today.
GATEWAY DENTAL GROUP STRAIGHTENS UNEVEN SMILES
For those with misalignment, we have a clear and comfortable cosmetic solution. To learn more about our clear braces in Des Moines, IA, then please give us a call. To schedule an appointment, call our office today at (515) 244-9565.