Invisalign Clear Aligners – Arlington, TX

Crowded Teeth

Crowded teeth can hide food debris and plaque in nooks and crannies that are hard to reach with your toothbrush, increasing your chances of developing oral health problems. Straightening your teeth with aligners can make your oral hygiene routine more effective.

Gaps Between Teeth

While some people may feel confident and comfortable with gaps between their teeth, if you aren’t, clear aligners can help close those spaces and boost your self-esteem.

Bite Alignment

Overbite, underbite, and crossbite can all place undue amounts of pressure on your jaw joints, leading to future problems like TMJ dysfunction and bruxism. By addressing the underlying orthodontic cause, you can maintain the health of your jaw and smile.

The Aligners Are More Comfortable Than Brackets and Wires

Traditional metal braces aren’t known for being comfortable. In fact, many patients end up carrying dental wax with them so they can quickly cover a protruding bracket or wire that’s causing irritation. Fortunately, that’s not something you’ll have to worry about with Invisalign. Since the aligners are custom-made just for you from clear, smooth plastic, you’ll hardly notice them.

You Don’t Need to Change Your Diet

Another perk: no dietary restrictions! While patients with traditional braces need to make changes to their meals and snacks, patients with Invisalign do not. That’s because the aligners are removable, so you don’t have to worry about them breaking if you eat something that’s crunchier in consistency. Basically, all we ask is that you limit your intake of added sugar in an effort to prevent tooth decay.

The Average Treatment Timeline Is Shorter

Typically, patients wear traditional braces for 2-3 years. Invisalign, on the other hand, has a shorter average treatment timeline: 12-18 months. Of course, there are several factors that play a role in the length of your teeth-straightening journey, including the complexity of your case. How well you follow the treatment guidelines also matters, so make sure that you follow the ones we give you to a tee!

It’s Easy to Brush and Floss Your Teeth

Brushing and flossing around metal brackets and wires can be difficult and time-consuming. That’s why many patients end up buying special products, like interproximal toothbrushes. With Invisalign, there’s no hassle because the aligners are removable! So, all you have to do is take them off, store them in their designated case, and complete your dental care regimen like usual.

No Unwanted Attention Will Be Drawn to Your Smile

Whether you’re in high school or you have your dream job, the last thing you want is for the people around you to be staring at your braces when you talk. That’s one of the many reasons patients of all ages love Invisalign: the aligners are basically invisible! So, you don’t have to worry – no unwanted attention will be drawn to your smile during your orthodontic treatment.

The Progress Visits Are Short and To-The-Point

Last, but most certainly not least, there usually aren’t monthly check-in visits with Invisalign. Instead, they are every six or eight weeks, so you’ll spend considerably less time at our office. Not only that, but, if your teeth are moving as anticipated, there’s a good chance you’ll be in and out of the treatment chair in 20 minutes or less.

Wearing Your Trays

Although Invisalign aligners are removable, you shouldn’t get in the habit of taking them out when it isn’t necessary. After all, you need to keep them on for 20+ hours a day in order to stay on-track with your treatment plan! So, only take them out when you’re eating, drinking something other than water, or completing your oral hygiene regimen.

Important note: You can remove your aligners on special occasions, like before a big presentation at work. Just make sure you put them back on ASAP, and that you make up for the lost time the following day.

Cleaning Your Aligners

Good news: cleaning your aligners doesn’t require a lot of time or any special products. Simply use a damp, soft-bristled toothbrush and some clear, mild dishwashing liquid to remove saliva, plaque, and other debris from the surface. It’s also a good idea to commit to other habits that will help keep your trays stain and odor-free, like rinsing them with clean, cool water when you take them off and soaking them each morning or evening in a dentist-recommended cleaner.

Eating & Drinking

Unlike traditional braces, which require patients to abide by certain dietary restrictions, you can eat anything you want with Invisalign! In fact, the only rule when it comes to eating and drinking is that you need to remove your aligners first (with the exception of water). Outside of that, just watch your intake of added sugar to avoid tooth decay and exercise caution with extremely hard foods to prevent a chipped tooth or broken attachment.

Losing or Damaging a Tray

Losing or damaging a tray warrants an immediate call to our Arlington dental office. After all, your risk of treatment plan delays increase with each passing minute! Once we learn more about your situation and have a chance to take a look at where you are in the teeth-straightening process, we can determine what the next best steps are. Sometimes, it’s moving onto the next set of aligners in the series. Other times, it’s wearing the previous pair until replacements arrive.

Routine Check-Ins

Throughout your teeth-straightening journey, you’ll meet with Dr. Atluri. That way, she can take new scans of your teeth, see if you’re on-track with your treatment plan, and provide you with your next batch of aligners. The good news is that these progress appointments are usually every 6-8 weeks instead of every 4, and they are often less than 20 minutes too!