Benefits of Invisalign Clear Aligners
Patients have been straightening their teeth with traditional braces for years. Luckily, Invisalign clear aligners are the next best thing. Now, patients are able to repair crooked teeth with removable aligner trays. This modern dental technology provides patients with a more efficient, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing treatment. Below, Dr. Kim, a cosmetic dentist in Lexington, KY, shares the benefits of Invisalign aligners.
Why Invisalign?
For a lot of people trying to repair their crooked smile with traditional braces puts a big burden on their social life. Luckily, Invisalign aligners treat many dental problems such as crooked teeth, overbites, and crowded teeth. Misaligned teeth can lead to major dental problems if left untreated. That’s why dentists in Lexington, KY, suggest starting your orthodontic treatment before it’s too late.
Straight teeth decrease the risk of periodontal disease, a gum disease that may become serious enough to break down bone jaw tissue. This risk is minimized as straight teeth are easier to clean, removing harmful bacteria. Dr. Ben Kacos, an emergency dentist in Shreveport, LA, says that straight teeth help you to chew properly and prevent uneven grinding on your teeth. Straight teeth also match the mouth, which decreases pain and discomfort. Having straight teeth can also help clear airways and help people with sleep apnea.
Clear Aligners
There are so many benefits to Invisalign. Before we get into these benefits, let’s discuss how Invisalign is used. With new scanning technologies, your Lexington, KY dentist will use a dental scanner to scan your teeth and build custom clear aligners. Created with a medical-grade polyurethane resin, Invisalgin is virtually invisable. Every aligner is a custom fit designed for your teeth to slowly bring them to their position.
Invisible aligners must be worn for a minimum of 22 hours per day. Although they’re removable, they can’t straighten teeth unless you’re wearing them. It may be an adjustment at first, but they should be taken out during meals, and at any time you eat or drink something other than cold water. If correctly worn, most treatments last between 12 – 18 months. Luckily, in the first three months, you will begin to see changes in your teeth.
Benefits of Invisalign in Lexington, KY
Better Comfort
Removable clear aligners are way more comfortable than traditional braces. How? Patients often complain that their traditional metal brackets cut into their lips and cheeks. They can leave sores that are hard to heal. Your Lexington, KY dentist may recommend adding wax to the outside brackets. If you want to avoid this, try Invisalign instead.
Invisible aligners often have more direct control over straightening the teeth due to their custom fit. During your treatment, Dr. Kim will provide you with a series of aligners. Over time, these aligners will move your teeth and correct your smile.
Better Dental Hygiene
One of the best advantages of Invisalign is that it helps you to take better care of your teeth. After all, a happy smile is a healthy smile. Our goal is to enhance your smile while keeping tooth decay and gum disease at bay. With traditional metal braces, pieces of food and plaque are stuck around and inside brackets that are difficult to clean properly. If you are more susceptible to dental decay, consider Invisalign over traditional braces. With Invisalign, you can remove the aligners and continue with your daily dental routine. Flossing and brushing can all be carried out normally.
Boosts Self-Confidence
The most common reason for someone to straighten their teeth is the aesthetic appeal. Your smile are one of the first things you look at when you wake up, and your smile is the first thing that other people remember. If you don’t feel good about your teeth and smile, you won’t feel confident about yourself. Significant evidence suggests that straightening your teeth can improve self-esteem, particularly for teenagers.
Another advantage of invisible aligners is that they are made of translucent resin to match the teeth perfectly. This means that they’re virtually invisible because many people don’t even know that you’re straightening your teeth, unlike traditional braces. Teenagers may feel more self-conscious about their smile if they choose traditional braces.
Fewer Dental Visits
With conventional braces, you also need to see an orthodontic surgeon make sure the braces are fitted correctly. These visits can involve removing and replacing the bracket, adjusting the size of the wire, tightening specific brackets, and even wiring specific brackets together with extra wire. You could end up spending hours of your time waiting in your dental chair for your appointment.
With Invisalign, you won’t have to see your cosmetic dentist in Lexington, KY, as much. The appointments are quicker and less invasive than traditional braces. You’ll need to return every four to six weeks, but between now, you’re going to have a set of aligners to turn in every two weeks. Since aligners are already planned and built, you won’t need any additional dental work to fix your teeth.
Eat & Drink What You Want
With traditional braces, you are limited to foods that you can eat or drink, but with Invisalign, all foods and beverages are allowed. Our friends at Green Dental Care, a dental office in Parker, CO, agree that you shouldn’t eat sticky, hard, or crunchy food. This excludes caramel, gum, nuts, popcorn, ice, corn-on-the-cob, and apples. Luckily, with removable aligners, you don’t have to think about what you’re consuming.
The only food or drink that you can eat with your aligners is cold water. Otherwise, food particles can get stuck inside the aligners, causing bacteria and plaque build-up. When removed, they should be securely stored in their travel container to prevent contamination or loss. After you’ve done eating, you can try brushing your teeth or rinsing with water before putting your aligners back in so that you can stop any food particles from sticking between your teeth and the aligner.
As you can see, there are many benefits to Invisalign aligners. If you want to straighten your smile in a discrete way, Invisalign is the way to go. It’s not only comfortable but also more efficient than traditional braces. Although Invisalign corrects most dental problems, it’s not for everyone. Visit our dental office in Lexington, KY, to schedule an Invisalign consultation with Dr. Jin Young Kim. Contact Park Hills Family Dentistry today.