Straighten Your Teeth Without Anyone Knowing
Do you want to straighten your teeth, but you’re not a fan of metal braces? If you’re looking to straighten your teeth without anyone knowing, read on. We’ve got the solution for you.
As an adult, you may feel self-conscious about sporting the metal braces people associate with awkward teen and preteen years. There’s nothing wrong with metal braces; they’re a great way to straighten misaligned teeth, and are sometimes the best choice for complex orthodontic issues. But if given the option, many adults want a less noticeable method for straightening their smile.
Invisalign® provides adults with an opportunity to straighten teeth using less conspicuous means. If you want a straighter smile without the look of traditional metal braces, Invisalign may be the right choice for you.
The Invisalign system uses custom-made, clear plastic mouthpieces, called “aligners” to straighten your teeth. Dr. Vilderman obtains advanced 3-D images of your current teeth. Then a series of clear aligners is created that work to coax your teeth towards your final goal of a straight, brilliant smile. Each new aligner moves your teeth progressively closer to your desired results.
Invisalign aligners are custom-built with SmartTrack® material -- clear, medical grade, BPA-free thermoplastic used to construct close-fitting molds of your teeth. These aligners provide gentle, but consistent, pressure on your teeth in order to straighten them.
Generally, patients switch out a new set of aligners every two weeks. As a result, you’ll see obvious changes in only a few months, with most patients reaching their end goal in 6-12 months.
Your Invisalign aligners are more than just a discrete option for straightening teeth -- they have other advantages over traditional metal braces. For many adults, Invisalign is a game-changing alternative to metal braces for a variety of reasons, ranging from convenience to comfort.
Traditional braces are permanently bonded to your teeth, which can make caring for your teeth difficult at times. Invisalign aligners are removable, so if you want to eat or brush your teeth, you can simply remove them and replace them once you’re done.
Your aligners should be worn 22 hours a day, but that still grants you some time and control over where and when to remove them. The ability to remove the aligners for brushing and flossing means that there’s less risk of your orthodontic treatment interfering with your oral hygiene. And if you need to pop them out for a job interview or other special circumstance, you can do that.
Traditional braces can leave white spots on teeth after they’re removed. These spots are calcium deposits, and although harmless, they’re permanent without cosmetic treatments. Since Invisalign doesn’t require the bonding that traditional braces require, there’s no risk of calcium deposits or demineralization, which can weaken teeth.
Invisalign is significantly more comfortable than traditional braces. The SmartTrack material is smooth, comfortable, and fits easily over your teeth. With traditional braces, the wires, brackets, and anchors can irritate not only your gums but the inside of your mouth as well. With Invisalign, you may even forget you’re wearing your aligners.
If you’re an adult who’s dismissed the idea that you’ll ever have a movie-star smile because straightening your teeth is too time consuming, too inconvenient, or too visible, then perhaps it’s time to reconsider your options. Invisalign could provide you with a virtually undetectable way of straightening your teeth.
If you live or work in the Park Merced, West Portal, or Outer Sunset areas of San Francisco, call our office or use the online scheduler to book an appointment with Dr. Vilderman and let her help you achieve your best smile.
