Having a beautiful smile can be a huge boost to your self-esteem, but most people aren’t born with the perfect teeth you can peek in toothpaste commercials. Fortunately, the days of having to wear metal brackets and wires in your mouth to straighten your teeth are over. At Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, we know that Invisalign can correct your alignment in half the time as traditional braces.
In general, most people will be able to complete this clear aligner system within as little as 12 to 18 months, even for the most pronounced alignment difficulties. Compared to traditional braces, which sometimes have to be worn for as long as three years, Invisalign can produce much faster results. Of course, the speed you can expect to see your full results may vary depending on how much alignment correction needs to be done.
Many patients will be able to see the initial results for this treatment as soon as two to three months into treatment. Because clear aligners gradually straighten teeth and require several different aligner trays that are switched every few weeks, you will be able to watch your progress as it develops.
The results for this treatment may be quicker under certain circumstances, such as you only have mild alignment concerns, which may mean you can complete your treatment in under 12 months.
But even for those who need drastic correction, you may be able to see faster results if you commit to wearing your clear aligners most of the time every day. In general, the first 48 hours after you get a new aligner, you should be wearing your aligner constantly; after that, it’s recommended that you wear your aligner for at least 22 hours a day to see the fastest results.
The first step of your treatment will be a digital 3D scan of your teeth, which will be used to build your treatment plan. The digital software will map your teeth and predict the shifting pattern of your teeth to correct misalignment with a series of clear aligners, each of which is slightly different and more straight than the last.
This digital scan will also create a projection of how your smile will look once the treatment is over, which can be shared through your email so you can be motivated throughout the entire treatment process.
The key to the success of this treatment is the unique material used to create the SmartTrack clear aligners. These aligners are made with medical-grade plastic that is strong enough to shift teeth and is crafted with precision. These aligners are comfortable to wear for most of the day – and because they are removable, you can eat what you want during mealtimes, brush your teeth, and replace the aligners.
Your treatment process will feature several clear aligner sets, which will be replaced every two or so weeks depending on how quickly your teeth are shifting. Each clear aligner set can shift your teeth up to .33mm at a time, so the subtle transition will be both comfortable and efficient. During each of your visits with your dental provider, you will be given a batch of aligners that will last you for about six to eight weeks.
However, if you have particularly severe misalignment, you may be required to visit your orthodontist for every new aligner to closely track your progress. After you are done using an aligner, you can simply discard the tray and start using the next set.
For those who have severe crookedness, your dental expert may recommend that your Invisalign treatment include SmartForce attachments. SmartForce attachments are essentially the installation of tooth-colored “handles” on the tooth that will help the clear aligners exert more force to move teeth into straighter positions. Once your teeth are straight, the handles come off and you can enjoy your flawless smile.
To be sure, clear aligners are a functional replacement for traditional braces. Not only are they easier on the mouth and more comfortable to use, but the faster results also make them preferable – especially since clear aligners can correct many severe cases of crookedness and crowding.
About 65% of adults in America have some type of misalignment in the teeth, from crookedness to an irregular bite. Many of these adults have worn braces but discontinued wearing retainers, which caused teeth to shift back into crooked placements. But even if you haven’t had braces, clear aligners can still help you correct issues such as:
Crowded teeth are characterized by teeth being crowded together, usually at the front of the mouth, and usually, because the jaw is too narrow for the size of the teeth or the teeth are too large for the gum line. Crowding is a simpler fix for clear aligners, which can correct mild to moderate crowding within as little as six months.
Gapped teeth are actually very common, and while having a gap between the front teeth can be charming for some people, it’s also understandable to want to correct a gapped smile. This condition is typically caused by teeth that are small compared to the width of the jawbone, which allows teeth to grow with more spaces between them.
Gaps in teeth can be very small or very wide, and people can even have multiple gaps. Fixing gapped teeth may take as long as eight to 12 months depending on how much space is between teeth.
Having misaligned teeth can be a problem, especially when it comes to eating or chewing food. Misalignment can come in the form of a crossbite, overbite, or underbite.
Having misaligned teeth can make it more difficult to comfortably close your mouth and has even been linked to weakening teeth over time. Correcting minor misalignment can be done in six months, while severe misalignment can be corrected in 18 months.
While most alignment concerns can be corrected in 18 to 24 months – or even faster in the right circumstances – some factors can affect your treatment time. Your dental expert will be able to give you a better idea of whether or not these factors will apply to your specific tooth concerns. The main factors include:
Age is a huge factor in how quickly teeth can be moved. In fact, this is why braces are generally recommended to children and younger teens since adult teeth are easier to move before they have “anchored” in the mouth.
Even with the potential shifting caused by wisdom teeth, earlier treatment generally means faster results. Teens who use clear aligners can correct misalignment in about six months, while adults may take a year or more.
Your genes are also a factor that will determine how quickly you will see your results. This is because your genes dictate how quickly your teeth can shift, which isn’t something you will be able to notice until you start your treatment. If your treatment is going more quickly than you or your provider predicted, then it’s likely you have genetics on your side.
Finally, sticking to your treatment schedule and continually wearing your aligners is the best way to get faster results. Even with age and genetics as factors, you may be able to overcome these roadblocks by wearing your aligners for at least 22 hours a day. If you remain consistent with how often you wear your aligners and you practice good dental hygiene, then you will be able to see results more quickly.
Modern society places a lot of social benefits on having white, healthy, and straight teeth. In fact, for many people who have misaligned teeth, an imperfect smile can be a difficult obstacle to overcome for social interactions and it can even negatively impact your self-image. Luckily, Brace Invisalign can comfortably and quickly correct your dental concerns. If you want to benefit from this speedy process, contact Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL to schedule your consultation today.
At Implant & Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, we are driven to help each…
We all want that perfect smile; however, our teeth don't always cooperate with our wishes.…
Maxillary surgery, often referred to as upper jaw surgery, is a significant yet highly effective…
Having clean, white teeth is important not only for a confident and aesthetically pleasing smile…
At Implant and Comprehensive Dentistry in Champions Gate, FL, we are passionate about helping our…
The world of dental health offers many treatments and procedures, all designed to give you…