Having straight teeth is important not only for children but for adults as well. As we grow older, our teeth tend to grow inward, creating crowding - a common problem for many teens and adults. As a result, it may be difficult to keep teeth clean and healthy. Straightening your teeth with the Invisalign system at Noe Valley Smiles and Braces can treat the crowding and thereby help you maintain your dental health. It can also help you get the smile you've always wanted!

Invisalign treatment is a technique that straightens your teeth without braces, using a series of clear, removable aligners that are custom-modeled to fit your teeth. The virtually invisible aligners gradually reposition your teeth into a smile of which you will be proud.

Invisalign is made to fit your lifestyle:

• Clear, virtually invisible aligners
• Removable, will not get in the way of your activities
• Easy to remove to eat, brush, and floss
• More comfortable than traditional braces
• Lighter gentler forces
• No wires or braces means less overall adjustments and less office visits
• Graduate to a new set of aligners about every one to two weeks

How Long Will Treatment Take?

Every patient is different and treatment times vary. Treatment time may be comparable to that of traditional braces. It varies, depending on your needs, but in some cases, Invisalign works in less than a year.

Why Invisalign?

Choosing to straighten your teeth is a big decision that affects not only your appearance but your lifestyle as well and the benefits of having properly aligned teeth extend far beyond a confident smile. Straightening your teeth can significantly affect your overall dental health.

As an adult, you may be looking to improve your smile for business and/or social reasons. Or maybe you are a teen or the parent of a teen looking for an effective yet modern-day solution for improving your smile. Either way…Invisalign or Invisalign Teen can provide a simple way to accomplish your goals without having to put your life on hold.

With Invisalign, you don't need to worry about the gum and mouth irritation other teeth-straightening methods can cause. The Invisalign 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.

Invisalign effectively treats a wide variety of cases, including crowding, spacing, crossbite, overbite and underbite. No matter what stage you're at in life, you'll appreciate how our cutting-edge approach to treatment has minimal interference in how you live but has a significant positive impact on how you look and feel about yourself.

Not everyone is a candidate for the Invisalign aligner system. Please contact our office to schedule a consultation to see if the Invisalign system is right for you.

The Invisalign Process

Invisalign clear aligners work the same way traditional braces do: by applying carefully controlled forces to teeth to move them into a better position. But they are not made of metal; instead, they are made of clear, flexible, BPA-free plastic that won't irritate your cheeks and gums.

During your initial consultation, we will discuss your concerns to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. We will take x-rays of your teeth, and scan your teeth with iTero, which will be used to create digital 3-D images. From these images, we will use specialized computer software to design a plan for moving your teeth from their current position into the best possible alignment. This movement will be broken down into several stages. For each stage, there will be two plastic aligners, one to fit over your top teeth and one for the bottom. You will wear each set of aligners for one to two weeks, for a minimum of 20 hours per day.

While every case is unique to each patient, treatment typically takes approximately 12 to 18 months. You will begin wearing your aligners throughout the day and remove them when you eat or brush and floss your teeth. As you wear each set of aligners, your teeth gently and gradually begin to shift into place. To monitor your progress, you will also have occasional checkups with our office.

Caring for Invisalign Aligners

Proper upkeep and good oral hygiene are essential in keeping your Invisalign aligners clean, invisible, and odor-free. The aligners can be easily removed for eating and drinking, however, failing to properly clean your aligners afterward can result in discoloration and a buildup of bacteria.

To maintain clarity, it is good to periodically clear debris from your aligners with a soft toothbrush and water. Do not use toothpaste due to abrasives that can create micro-abrasions that will make your aligners look cloudy and dull.

Do not use denture cleaners to clean aligners and do not soak your aligners in mouthwash. These products can damage the surface of the plastic causing it to become more visible, sometimes making the teeth look somewhat yellow.

• Rinse your aligners when you remove them: Dry saliva and plaque create a perfect breeding ground for foul-smelling bacteria.
• Brush and floss your teeth before reinserting your aligners: Proper oral hygiene is key in maintaining healthy teeth and avoiding cavities and decay.
• Brush your aligners gently: Vigorous brushing can scratch your aligners and leave visible etchings. Brush carefully!