Your Invisalign User Guide

It sure would be nice if everyone were lucky enough to have a naturally flawless smile. No crooked teeth, no gaps, and no alignment problems. But that’s just not realistic.

Traditional metal braces have had the orthodontics market cornered for years and years, and with good reason. Braces are a highly effective solution for correcting overbites, underbites, and gapped or crooked teeth. Usually, you undergo this treatment around the middle or high school, and after a couple of years of monthly maintenance visits to your orthodontist, you have a beautiful, straight smile.

But wearing metal braces isn’t a walk in the park. Here are some common disadvantages to traditional braces:

• Appearance – Having a mouth full of metal brackets and wires isn’t something you can hide. The only comfort wearers have is that most often, they’re not alone because so many of their classmates are going through the same thing. Still, it can be embarrassing.
• Discomfort – Although you do get used to traditional braces after a while, the monthly appointments to have them tightened can leave you with a sore mouth for a few days. You also have to deal with occasional sharp edges poking at the soft tissues inside your lips and cheeks.
• Time – It can take two or more years to complete your orthodontic treatment with traditional braces. That’s quite a commitment for a person of any age, especially adults who can’t afford to miss work for multiple maintenance appointments.
• Lifestyle – You have to modify your diet with metal braces because it can be painful to chew certain foods when your mouth is sore. Food gets easily stuck in your braces after a meal. You’re advised to avoid chewing gum while wearing braces. And you have to deal with the challenge of brushing and flossing around them.

Although traditional braces are the best solution for some people because of bite alignment problems, there is another option for those who just want to straighten crooked teeth or close gaps in their smile. That option is Invisalign, and you can find it at Matthew J. Cavendish, DDS!

The Invisalign Advantage

With Invisalign, you’re getting a straight smile using clear plastic aligners rather than with metal brackets and wires. The positioning of your teeth into their proper place happens with a gentler pressure than you get with traditional braces, making Invisalign more comfortable.

As the name suggests, Invisalign is also nearly invisible because the aligners are clear. Most people wouldn’t even be able to tell you were wearing them unless you pointed it out to them. You can also remove them to eat and to clean your teeth, making it a more convenient option.

Another advantage of Invisalign is that you change your aligners about every two weeks instead of having to go to the dentist monthly to get your braces tightened. Again, this makes Invisalign more convenient, especially for adults.

So not only are they less noticeable, more comfortable, and more convenient, but Invisalign also takes less time overall than metal braces. You can complete your treatment usually in about a year!

Will Invisalign Work For You?

If you don’t have significant problems with your bite or alignment overall and just want to straighten crooked teeth and close gaps, Invisalign might be just what you need. Something else to consider is whether you’ll be able to commit to wearing the aligners according to the instructions.

Being able to remove Invisalign to eat and to brush and floss means that you have to be disciplined enough to keep them in for the rest of the day and night. Otherwise, your progress will be greatly affected.

The only way to know for sure if Invisalign is the best orthodontic solution for your smile issues is by visiting Dr. Cavendish in our Phoenix, AZ dental office. Dr. Cavendish can give you a thorough exam to determine if that’s the case.

Once you’re approved for Invisalign, then we custom create your plastic aligners and you begin treatment for the straight, beautiful smile you’ve always wanted!

Call Matthew J. Cavendish, DDS at 602-835-1304 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment. Find out if Invisalign is right for you!