What
is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a method of straightening your teeth—without
braces or wires. This approach uses a series of clear, removable
aligners (pictured) to straighten your teeth. Most people won't
even realize you are getting your teeth straightened! While Invisalign
is a wonderful treatment option, it's not for everyone.
How does it work?
You wear a series of clear aligners, each for a
two-week period. Aligners are worn all the time, except to eat,
drink, brush or floss. Each set of aligners is a little different
and move your teeth a little closer to a great smile. You visit
Dr. Famili about every 8 weeks to check progress and collect another
series of aligners.
How does it compare?
- Eat! Because the aligners are removable,
you can eat whatever you want to. And you don't have to worry
about brushing around braces.
- Smile! Because the aligners are clear,
you won't be self-conscious.
- Relax! The clear aligners are usually
more comfortable than traditional braces.
- Get on with life! Invisalign requires
infrequent office visits, so you have more time for what matters
to you.
Will it work for me?
Maybe. Invisalign works well to correct most problems
with spacing, crowding, and crooked teeth. Other problems — including
over-bites, under-bites and severe misalignment - require other
orthodontic treatments.
To find out if Invisalign
is right for you, simply dial (613) 7DENTAL
(733-6825) and book a complimentary consultation with Dr. Famili,
our Invisalign certified dentist.
How long until I get my new smile?
You start to get a new smile right away. Treatment
time averages from 9-15 months. The number of aligners worn averages
from 18-30.
How does treatment
start?
During
your first visit, Dr. Famili will advise you on your options—including
Invisalign if it's right for you. Our staff will make impressions
of your teeth, as well as take x-rays of your jaw and gather other
orthodontic records. With these records, Dr. Famili will determine
your treatment plan.
Using your orthodontic records and Dr. Famili's treatment plan,
Invisalign will use 3D computer imaging technology to develop
a series of clear aligners that will gradually move your teeth
and create a great smile. About six weeks after your records are
taken, you will receive your first sets of aligners.
You continue to visit Dr. Famili about every 8
weeks or so to verify progress and fix your treatment, if necessary.
Normally, as a permanent tooth comes in under a
baby tooth, the roots of a baby tooth dissolve away and the permanent
tooth replaces the baby tooth. In addition to being important
for chewing, the baby tooth holds the adjacent teeth in place.
The
best space maintainer is a primary tooth, as you see demonstrated
in this radiograph. When nature's best space maintainer is lost
prematurely, we need to intervene and maintain the space for normal
development of the dental arches.
When a baby tooth is lost early, due to decay or
injury, the adjacent teeth may drift together, causing loss of
space in the dental arch. Fortunately, by placing a space maintainer,
this loss of arch space can be prevented.
It generally takes our professionals at 7DENTAL
clinics only two appointments to complete a space maintainer.
On the first appointment,
orthodontic bands are carefully placed and an impression
is taken. A duplicate model of the child's mouth is made from
this impression so that the dental laboratory can custom make
the space maintainer to the exact contours of the mouth.
On the next appointment, the space
maintainer is tried in, adjusted, if necessary, and then cemented
in place. Space maintainers are used until the permanent teeth
begin to break through the gums. While wearing a space maintainer,
it is important to avoid chewing gum, sticky candies, and hard
foods like corn nuts or ice. Following up with periodic checks
of the space maintainer at your 7DENTAL
clinic, your doctor makes sure it's still functioning properly
and keeping all the teeth in their proper position.
This
photograph shows an example of a fixed bilateral space maintainer.
The patient is four years of age. The appliance is cemented on
the two second primary molars and is maintaining the space for
the teeth that are lost early on both sides.
Extractions
