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What You Need to Know About Invisalign Treatment

male orthodontic patient holding up Invisalign aligners

Achieving your perfect smile often involves straightening your teeth. Advancements in Orthodontics have allowed dentists to provide patients with an alternative to the dreaded metal braces.

Over the years, Invisalign has become an effective and affordable alternative for anyone seeking orthodontic treatment. Here is our guide to everything you need to know about Invisalign treatment.

The Benefits of Invisalign Treatment in Richmond

Although there are several benefits to Invisalign treatment, here are a few of the main ones:

Limited Impact on Appearance

teenage orthodontic patient holding a model mouth with braces in one hand and Invisalign in the other hand

One of the main benefits of Invisalign treatment that draws people in is the limited impact on your appearance. These almost invisible braces offer you a discreet appearance so you don’t have to worry about aesthetics.

Traditional braces use brackets and wires that result in a bulky look and feel. The Invisalign trays are clear and fit snugly around your teeth, leaving you with virtually no added weight on your teeth.

More Comfortable Process

Traditional wire braces require tightening every 1-2 months. This applies pressure on your teeth and leaves you feeling uncomfortable.

Invisalign aligners fit snugly over your teeth and lightly nudge them into place. Since you change to a new set of trays every 2 weeks, the pressure is more evenly distributed across all teeth. This results in an overall experience that is much more comfortable.

No Food Restrictions

Invisalign braces are completely removable, which means you won’t have to adhere to any food restrictions throughout your treatment.

With traditional braces, foods such as popcorn, caramel candies, hard or very crunchy snacks should be avoided. Luckily, you’re supposed to remove your Invisalign trays when eating anyway, so you can enjoy all the chewy and crunchy snacks your heart desires – just don’t forget to floss and brush!

female orthodontic patient putting on her Invisalign aligners

Who is Invisalign Treatment For?

Invisalign treatment is right for children, teens, and adults who do not like the look or feel of traditional braces. They are the perfect alternative for teeth alignment cases that are light to mild.

Unfortunately, if your orthodontic case is more severe or complex, Invisalign treatment will not be effective for you!

How the Invisalign Process Works

To begin the Invisalign process, we will do a thorough examination and review of your oral history. We will then take impressions and x-rays of your mouth. These will be sent to Invisalign who will use computer imaging software to map out the results of your entire treatment. This will be sent back to us for approval.

Once we review and approve the treatment plan, your set of custom aligners will be created and sent to us. We’ll have you try your first set of aligners to ensure they fit as they should. The Invisalign treatment consists of multiple clear trays that are worn at 2-week increments. After two weeks, you move on to the next set of aligners in your treatment plan. As you move through each set, your teeth will slowly move into their desired positions.

You’ll have to wear your trays 24/7, only removing them when you are eating, flossing, or brushing. Every 6-weeks, you’ll visit us in-office so that we can check your progress.

Invisalign treatment plans can vary from person to person, however, on average they take about 9-15 months to complete.

Invisalign Treatment With Dentistry @ Richmond

Invisalign aligners placed on their case

If you’re looking for a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing alternative to traditional braces, our Invisalign treatment may be right for you. They are designed to be comfortable and easy to use for anyone to achieve a perfect smile.

Our team at Dentistry @ Richmond will assess your situation to determine whether Invisalign treatment is right for you. Book an appointment with our team today to get started with our Invisalign treatment process in Richmond.