Do you have crooked teeth but don’t want braces? Try Invisalign, a modern alternative to metal braces that uses clear aligners to straighten teeth over time. Invisalign is a cosmetic dental treatment that can create more even, balanced smiles.
Orthodontic treatments like Invisalign can also prevent bite problems, discomfort eating, and even tooth decay or gum disease. Dr. Anthony Yaldo provides Invisalign for patients with misaligned and crooked teeth in our Keego Harbor, MI, dental office.
Invisalign in Keego Harbor, MI
Before Invisalign treatment, Dr. Yaldo will take dental X-rays to evaluate the bite and tooth position. He will also ensure that patients do not have any other dental problems like cavities or gum disease that will affect treatment. Then, we will take images of the smile to send to a dental laboratory, where a custom set of aligners will be made for your unique treatment needs.
Once the aligners are complete, we will place the first set and discuss how to change and care for them during treatment. The aligners work by applying pressure on the teeth over time. Each pair of aligners is different and will gradually shift the teeth into a straighter position. Invisalign only requires office visits every once in a while for our team to keep track of treatment progress.
Caring for Invisalign Aligners and Maintaining Results
We recommend patients wear their Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily. Remember to keep your aligners and aligner case with you at all times to ensure that you wear the aligners for enough hours a day. Not wearing the aligners for hours or days can lead to longer treatment times. The aligners are meant to be switched out for a new pair every couple of weeks; not wearing them long enough can potentially slow down treatment.
It’s important to clean Invisalign aligners every day. You will remove your aligners to eat and drink and can clean your teeth and aligners before placing them back in your mouth. Mouthguard soaks, Invisalign crystals, liquid soap, and water effectively clean the aligners. After removing them for eating and daily oral hygiene, you can place your Invisalign aligners in their case. Keeping the aligners in their case will ensure you don’t drop, lose, or damage them.
After completing the Invisalign treatment, you must wear a retainer. At first, you will wear the retainer constantly. After three to six months, you only wear your retainer at night. Retainers prevent problems like orthodontic relapse, which occurs when the teeth begin to shift back to their original positions. Like Invisalign aligners, you can clean your retainers with mouthguard soaks.
Straighten Your Smile Today
Are you interested in Invisalign treatment and want to know more? Call our Keego Harbor office for an Invisalign consultation or (248) 780-7062 or request a dental appointment with Dr. Yaldo on our website. If you have questions about Invisalign treatment, please let us know; we will gladly help.