TRANSFORM YOUR SMILE WITH INVISALIGN®
If teeth misalignment or related orthodontic issues have long made you self-conscious about exposing your teeth, transform your smile with an alternative to traditional metal or ceramic braces. Launched in the U.S. in 1999, this innovative FDA-approved orthodontic device called Invisalign® enjoys a 96% satisfaction rate from the 18 million patients who have undergone the treatment. Little wonder, given the numerous benefits Invisalign® holds over braces, including ease of fitting, greater comfort, enhanced dental hygiene, and a discrete appearance that makes them far less noticeable than braces.
You can transform your smile with Invisalign® in Southwest Florida with Island Tower Dentistry. As trained Invisalign® providers in Marco Island, Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Ryan Whelen have successfully helped 100s of area patients correct their teeth alignment problems. Let’s take a closer look at how Invisalign® effectively straightens teeth and gives patients a reason to smile without the limitations of braces.
WHAT IS INVISALIGN®?
Initially developed in the late 1990s by two Stanford University graduates, Invisalign® is considered the most advanced form of clear teeth alignment in orthodontics. Like metal or ceramic braces, Invisalign® aligners help correct teeth misalignment by exerting targeted pressure on the teeth to slowly move them into a better position. While braces use a combination of brackets, wires, and elastic ligature bands to exert the positioning pressure on teeth, Invisalign® relies on custom-made, clear aligners that fit tightly on the teeth to exert positioning pressure guided by initial 3-D modeling of the patient’s mouth and jaw. This 3-D modeling dictates ongoing treatment, which involves replacing the flexible thermoplastic aligner every week or two with a new one that has adjusted pressure points to guide the alignment properly.
Invisalign® aligners are constructed with state-of-the-art 3D printing technology, and a digital 3D scanner provides your dentist with quick, high-resolution, interactive images of the teeth to track alignment progress with every appointment. Overall, Invisalign® has generated 450 patents for dental industry technologies.
Along with mild to moderate alignment issues, Invisalign® effectively treats:
- Gaps between teeth
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
- Crowded teeth
The severity of misalignment issues generally dictates the duration of Invisalign® treatment and some malocclusion problems may require traditional braces for an effective correction.
ADVANTAGES OF INVISALIGN® OVER BRACES
Invisalign® has numerous advantages over traditional braces, not the least of which is their unobtrusive appearance. If you’ve been reluctant to correct your misaligned smile due to concerns about braces giving you a “metal mouth” appearance, you should investigate the look of Invisalign®. While the transparent thermoplastic is not invisible, no one will really notice your Invisalign® aligner unless they see your teeth close up.
The Invisalign® aligners are also much more comfortable than traditional braces. Invisalign® patients typically say the custom-fit aligners exert noticeable pressure against the teeth and gums, but usually without pain. However, they do take getting used to, and patients tend to experience excessive salivation and are prone to lisp during the first couple of days of wearing them.
Because Invisalign® aligners are removable, patients don’t have to avoid sticky or hard food items that those with braces cannot eat. They also have a far easier time maintaining oral hygiene through regular brushing and flossing. In fact, studies indicate that patients wearing braces experience more tooth decay, cavities, and gum problems than those who wear Invisalign® aligners.
Invisalign® also corrects misalignment issues faster than braces. While patients may need to wear braces for one to three years depending on the severity of misalignment, Invisalign® treatment generally resolves misalignment issues within a year and, for some patients, even faster.
LEARN MORE ABOUT INVISALIGN® WITH ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY
If you would like to learn more about Invisalign® in Marco Island and how the treatment can straighten your teeth to beautify your smile, Dr. Van Dyke or Dr. Whelen will be glad to consult with you. Through a smile analysis they can determine whether Invisalign® is the right option for correcting your misaligned teeth and recommend other functional and cosmetic dentistry options as needed. To schedule your appointment, contact us today at 239-394-1004 for a consultation.