Invisalign®
Invisalign® is the virtually invisible way to straighten your teeth. These �clear braces� use a series of removable aligners custom made for you to gently and gradually shift your teeth into the desired position to produce a vibrant smile! The aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable plastic that you wear over your teeth, and there are no metal wires or brackets. Almost no one will know you are straightening your teeth!
During your Invisalign® treatment, you wear each set of clear aligners for about two weeks, removing them only while you eat and drink. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week - until they have straightened to the final position you and Dr. Shirey decide is best for you. Total treatment time averages 9 to 12 months with some people completing treatment in as little as 3 months!
We will start with a FREE consultation to determine if Invisalign® is the right treatment for you. Then we will take a series of photos, x-rays and custom molds of your teeth to create a computer generated 3D model. Within a couple of weeks, we will deliver your first three sets of aligners and begin treatment! To monitor your progress and ensure your treatment is progressing as planned, you will have checkups with Dr. Shirey approximately every six weeks. Each of these progress tracking visits usually only takes 15-20 minutes and can be scheduled at a time that is convenient for you.
Why do we love Invisalign®?
Patients love Invisalign® because the aligner trays are not only smooth and comfortable to wear, but they're also removable. That means you can continue doing all the things you normally would, from brushing and flossing, to eating whatever you like.
Special occasion coming up? No problem - just take your aligners out for that time and pop them back in when you're ready. Of course, even when you're wearing them, most people won't even know you're going through treatment, because they are virtually invisible!
Invisalign® is also ideal for your busy schedule, with fewer doctor visits required (approximately every six weeks).
Dr. Shirey loves Invisalign® because you can keep your teeth cleaner easier!! Oftentimes, with other devices, such as metal wires and brackets, we see an increased risk of gingivitis, and decay because brushing and flossing properly is very difficult. Patients with �metal braces� can spend up to 30 minutes, and have to use additional cleaning devices to get under wires or around brackets. With Invisalign®, you simply take out the aligners, brush and floss as normal, and then reinsert them� EASY! We have seen great improvement in gum health in patients wearing Invisalign®.
How does Invisalign® work?
Invisalign® aligners place slight pressure forces on particular portions of the teeth which cause them to respond and slowly move. Each set of aligners has minor adjustments in the positioning of each tooth from the previous set in order to continue movement toward the desired location. As you wear each set for approximately 2 weeks, this allows the surrounding tissues which support the teeth time to respond and make microscopic changes. There is usually very little discomfort noticed during treatment. Some patients say that when they place a new set of aligners in for the first time, there is some tightness initially that fades as they continue to wear them. A critical element of the success of Invisalign® is to wear the aligners day and night to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original position. Once treatment is completed, your bite will be stable, your teeth will be straight, and you can smile with confidence! In order to prevent shifting of your teeth, we may decide to add retainers to your treatment. Most people will wear these retainers at night or for a few hours each day.