Invisalign

Invisalign straightens teeth with a series of clear plastic trays instead of brackets and wires. Each tray is shaped a little differently from the one before. You switch to the next one on a set schedule, and your teeth move a small step each time. Because the trays come out, you can eat what you like and brush and floss the way you always have.

Cases aligners handle well

Aligners do their best work on mild to moderate crowding, gaps, and minor bite problems. A common example is the adult whose teeth were straight after braces as a kid and have drifted since. More complex cases, like a large overbite or teeth that need to turn or move a long way, usually do better with braces, and we refer those to an orthodontist. We’d rather tell you that at the first visit than start something that won’t get you where you want to go.

Say you’re 40 and one lower front tooth has started to tip in behind its neighbors. Floss catches there and the gum bleeds a little. That’s often a good aligner case. We’d check your gums first, then scan your teeth and plan each movement before any trays are made.

Living with 20 to 22 hours a day

People underestimate this part. The trays have to be in 20 to 22 hours a day. They come out to eat, to drink anything other than water, and to brush. Long lunches and coffee sipped all afternoon make that harder. Steady wear is the biggest factor in staying on schedule.

Some teeth need small tooth-colored bumps, called attachments, so the trays have something to grip. We take them off at the end. A new tray may feel tight for a day or two. At check-ins we confirm your teeth are tracking, and if they fall off plan we rescan and make a few extra trays. Many adult cases take about 12 to 18 months.

Afterward, teeth tend to drift back, and they keep shifting slowly throughout life. A retainer holds them where they ended up. Wondering whether aligners fit your case? We’re happy to take a look and give you a straight answer.