Invisalign Aligners Straighten The Smile
Patients looking for a comfortable alternative to traditional braces benefit from Invisalign, clear aligners that straighten crooked teeth. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligners to straighten misaligned teeth gently and comfortably. Dr. Walter Mazzella provides Invisalign treatment for Ellicott City, MD patients to help them get straighter, healthier smiles. His office in Woodstock, MD, is convenient to patients in Ellicott City who require Invisalign treatment.
How Straightening Teeth Can Keep Your Teeth Healthy
If you have crooked or misaligned teeth, you may find it difficult to clean your teeth properly. Harmful bacteria can build up in hard-to-reach areas between your crooked teeth, leading to problems like gum disease or tooth decay. Crooked teeth can also increase pressure on certain teeth more than others, creating an imbalanced bite. Patients with crooked teeth are more prone to developing TMJ disorders because of their bite imbalance. Many patients can easily brush and floss their teeth after receiving a straighter smile.
Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces
Compared to traditional dental braces, Invisalign aligners are:
- Discreet: Invisalign aligners are clear and less noticeable than metal braces. Metal braces use metal wires, brackets, and colorful elastics.
- Comfortable: The aligners are contoured to ensure the plastic does not irritate the gum tissue. After patients receive new wires for their braces, they can poke and irritate the gums, leading to discomfort and bleeding.
- Simple to Care For: Because Invisalign aligners are removable, patients do not need to try to clean around their orthodontic treatments. Patients wearing metal braces must floss and brush around their brackets and wires.
- Efficient: Invisalign treatment often takes less time than treatment with metal braces. This is partly due to the extent of the orthodontic problems patients treat using Invisalign instead of metal braces.
Invisalign is a great alternative to braces for patients with mild to moderate orthodontic needs. We often recommend metal braces over Invisalign if patients have extensive orthodontic problems.
How Does Invisalign Treatment in Ellicott City, MD, Work?
To begin Invisalign treatment, we will take digital scans of your smile to create 3-D images of the teeth. The iTero digital scanner is connected to a computer, which allows us to view the teeth at any angle. This three-dimensional image also helps the dental laboratory create the Invisalign aligners.
Once the first aligners are complete, we will ensure they conform to the teeth. We will also provide you with an Invisalign case. You need to switch out your aligners every two weeks for a new pair. The aligners apply pressure to the teeth, ensuring they shift into a straighter position. Wearing the aligners for twenty to twenty-two hours a day helps this process. Wearing the aligners consistently will ensure that you complete your treatment on time.
Caring for Invisalign Aligners
Properly caring for Invisalign aligners will ensure that you complete treatment on time. You cannot eat or drink with your aligners on your teeth. Eating with your aligners on can lead to buildup on your aligners. This transfers bacteria to the aligners, affecting your natural teeth and Invisalign trays. We will provide you with cases to protect your Invisalign aligners, so you don’t need to keep them stored on a napkin or paper towel, where you can potentially drop or lose them.
Preventing Orthodontic Relapse After Invisalign
Orthodontic relapse occurs when the teeth shift out of their straight position and revert back to their previous positions. Patients can experience orthodontic relapse if they stop wearing their retainers following their Invisalign treatment. Wearing retainers after orthodontic treatment keeps the teeth in place. Directly after completing Invisalign, you will wear your retainers constantly. After several months, you can begin to wear your retainers nightly. If you stop wearing your retainers, you can experience orthodontic relapse and may require orthodontic treatment again.
Book Your Consultation for Invisalign Treatment in Ellicott City Today
Do you want a straighter and more balanced smile? Contact Dr. Mazzella for Invisalign treatment today at (410) 559-9951. You can also request a dental consultation with Dr. Mazzella online.