Our Invisalign treatments are ideal for adolescents and adults who want to straighten their teeth conveniently and affordably.
Smiles of West Point is a small town in Virginia with a lot to offer! Our office is conveniently located right in the heart of town and can easily be another friendly stop on your regular travels around town. We offer both family and cosmetic dentistry to patients of all ages!
One of our most popular treatments is Invisalign! This orthodontic process is excellent for adults who want to straighten their teeth conveniently and affordably.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an option to straighten your teeth. Some people in the past have had traditional braces where you have the metal brackets on your teeth, but Invisalign gives you that option for it to not be as obvious. You wear these clear trays, which you typically switch out on a weekly basis, and it really just makes it less obvious, which most adults and even teenagers want to avoid.
Why is Invisalign often more comfortable than braces?
That's truly because there's no metal involved with Invisalign. You don't have the wires that are there to potentially poke you in the cheek. Many patients really appreciate that.
What is the process involved in Invisalign?
The process involved with starting Invisalign treatment first involves a visit with your doctor so he or she can talk to you about what the needs are for your treatment and what you're trying to address with your smile. We then take a scan with our iTero machine, which is a digital scanner, and that gives us a three-dimensional model of your mouth where we're able to manipulate it and make the changes to your smile that we want to complete.
Once that's done, we send that off to Invisalign. The doctor goes back and forth with the Invisalign technicians making sure that the treatment plan looks great. If we're happy with that, we bring you back and we deliver the trays. We do typically have to use clear little buttons that go on the teeth and those just help the plastic move your teeth more efficiently. Then we give you a set number of trays and you come back in periodically to make sure that the teeth are moving as the computer calculated for you to do so.
Do you have to sleep with your Invisalign in?
The answer to that is yes. We want you to wear your Invisalign trays at least 21 to 23 hours out of the day because if they are not in your mouth, they are not doing anything. This truly means that you're only taking the trays out to eat. If you're drinking anything besides water, then you're brushing your teeth and putting those trays right back in your mouth.
Is there anything that could prevent you from getting Invisalign?
I would say sometimes there are cases that are more complex that might require the traditional route of using brackets. What it comes down to is patient motivation. If you know you're not going to keep up with your trays or switch them out on a weekly basis, then I typically would recommend a patient to do traditional brackets because then you're forced to come in more consistently and your dentist is controlling the wires and the movement of the teeth.
Are You a Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are removable and should be removed when eating, drinking, and brushing your teeth. Although they can be taken out at any time, they should be worn as often as possible to produce the best results. The best candidates for Invisalign have the discipline to wear the aligners around the clock and keep track of them when they are removed.
This is why Invisalign is an excellent option for adults! While they are in many cases just as effective as traditional braces for adolescent orthodontia, this is only true if they are being worn correctly and for as much time as possible. As long as adolescents are able to keep track of their aligners and replace them after necessary removal, they may be eligible for Invisalign.
This option is also great for those who need minor orthodontic adjustments. For patients who require significant alignment or have dental work that could interfere with the aligners, traditional braces may be the best option.
Is Invisalign painful?
Invisalign can be a little tight to begin with. It's typically the first day that you're wearing a new tray that you'll feel some tightness, but not anything that some Motrin or Tylenol can't address. I usually tell my patients to expect to have some soreness those first few days and then any week after when you're putting in a new tray.
Adolescent and Adult Orthodontics
Teeth shift with age, even if you had traditional braces in your younger years. Missing teeth and other dental problems can also contribute to misalignment through the years.
Many adults aren’t interested in dealing with the uncomfortable feeling and obvious look of traditional braces. That’s where Invisalign comes in!
Invisalign is a teeth-straightening method that gently aligns your teeth over a period of time. No braces, wires, or cement are required. Instead, temporary clear aligners are made to fit over your teeth. Not only are they practically invisible, but Invisalign aligners are also quite comfortable for most wearers.
Aligners will be changed out every few weeks to guide your teeth toward their optimal position. Most treatments are completed between six months and a year for adults.
How to Get Started
Setting up a consultation with Dr. Billue is a great way to get started with orthodontic treatment. We discuss your goals, evaluate your current dental health and take a look at all of the options available for straightening your teeth. There are certain instances where additional dental work is required to prepare your teeth for Invisalign.
If you decide to move forward with this treatment after the initial consultation, we will send scans and impressions of your mouth to Invisalign. You will then return to the office to check the fit of the aligners, typically within a few weeks of sending out your scans. You will be scheduled for regular follow-up appointments so that our dental team can gauge your progress and give you the next aligners that you need as your teeth shift. We will be here to support you every step of the way during your treatment so that you get the results you want from your orthodontia!
Contact Us For a Consultation
Our team at Smiles of West Point offers complimentary consultations! It is our goal to offer honest advice so you can optimize your oral health and feel confident in your smile without pressure.
We use advanced methods and state-of-the-art tools to maximize your comfort. A visit to Smiles of West Point should be enjoyable, relaxing and productive. Hopefully, you’ll smile the entire time you’re with us and keep smiling long after you’re gone. Contact us at (804) 494-4382 to schedule your consultation today.