Invisalign – Tulsa, OK
A Discreet & Convenient Orthodontic Solution
In the past, in order to address orthodontic problems like misalignment, crowding, and bite problems, patients only had one choice — traditional braces. Today, that’s not the case! Dr. Hammond offers modern and discreet Invisalign clear aligners that gradually place a strategic amount of pressure on teeth to slide them into their ideal positions. The result is a grin that’s healthier and more beautiful, and you don’t have to compromise your appearance in the process! Call Glisten Dental Care of Tulsa today to schedule a consultation and learn whether you’re a candidate for Invisalign.
Why Choose Glisten Dental Care of Tulsa for Invisalign?
- Aligners Crafted from Digital Impression Software
- Offers Invisalign Comprehensive, GO, and Teen
- Care Credit Financing for up to 24 Months
How Does Invisalign Work?
Your treatment with Invisalign in Tulsa begins a few weeks after your consultation when you return to our dental office to start straightening your smile. Invisalign trays are made in a series, and each tray is worn for approximately two weeks. You then switch to the next one in the series until the treatment is complete.
During your initial Invisalign visit, Dr. Hammond explains the importance of adhering to the treatment plan. Your aligner trays are removable, so you can take them out to enjoy your favorite foods and to keep your mouth sparkling clean. Just make sure to wear them for at least 22 hours each day. Dr. Hammond will also show you how to place and care for clear aligners. During regular visits, she will monitor your progress, but these appointments are not as frequent as checkups for conventional braces. Every patient is different, but the typical treatment time is about 12 to 18 months with Invisalign.
Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign has many benefits over traditional orthodontic braces, including:
- Comfort: Wires and brackets can be uncomfortable, and they may scratch the inside of a patient's mouth. Invisalign aligners are smooth and easy to wear.
- Affordability: In most cases, the price of Invisalign orthodontics is comparable to traditional braces. Many patients prefer to go with Invisalign due to the number of advantages they have over the alternative.
- Discretion: Instead of hiding teeth behind metal, patients can showcase their smiles throughout their treatment. The clear aligner trays are discreet, making them a great way for adults and teenagers to avoid embarrassment while undergoing orthodontic treatment.
- Ease of Use: Invisalign aligner trays are easy to remove and wear. They can be removed when a patient is brushing, flossing, or eating. Then, snap them back in place.
- Effective: Invisalign has been proven over the years to make dramatic improvements in a patient's smile. The trays move the teeth into their proper positions, and alignment can be maintained by continuing to wear the final tray overnight as a retainer. Invisalign can be used to straighten all teeth in the mouth, including readjusting a patient's bite.
Invisalign Teen
If your teenager is worried about the way traditional braces would affect their appearance, Invisalign Teen could be an excellent alternative for them. The see-through aligners are far more discreet than brackets and wires, which can improve your teenager’s confidence throughout the orthodontic process. Don’t hesitate to call our office to learn more about Invisalign Teen and how it could help your child achieve a straighter smile and a better bite.
How is Invisalign Teen Different?
One of the things that separates Invisalign Teen from regular Invisalign treatments is the blue dots present on each aligner. As long as your teenager wears their aligners as often as they should, these dots will eventually fade away. This provides us with a simple way of confirming that your child is sticking to their treatment plan.
Additionally, as part of the Invisalign Teen process, you will receive a few replacement aligners if your child ever loses their current one. This ensures that you can keep your teenager’s treatment on track without having to worry about additional costs. (That said, you should definitely make sure that this type of accident doesn’t happen too often if you want to avoid paying extra.)
Is Invisalign Right for Your Teen?
Invisalign tends to work best for mild to moderate orthodontic problems. On the other hand, traditional braces may be the better choice for patients with more severe misalignment issues. We encourage you to schedule a consultation at our office for your teenager as soon as possible. Once we have learned more about their situation, we can determine whether Invisalign Teen is truly a viable option in their case.
Remember, since Invisalign aligners are removable, the treatment relies heavily on patient compliance. Your teenager will be responsible for making sure that they wear the aligners for at least 20 hours a day. Additionally, they will need to be able to take good care of both their smile and their aligners. Keep this in mind when you’re trying to decide between Invisalign Teen and a more traditional orthodontic approach.
The Benefits of Invisalign Teen
Plenty of teens prefer Invisalign over traditional braces for a variety of reasons:
- Invisalign clear aligners are much less noticeable than traditional braces. Other people may not even realize that your teenager is wearing them unless they know what to look for.
- The average treatment time for Invisalign falls in the range of 12 to 18 months. Meanwhile, traditional braces often have to be worn for as long as 18 to 24 months.
- Invisalign doesn’t come with any dietary restrictions. Your teenager will be free to continue enjoying all of their favorite foods.
- Since Invisalign aligners are removable, they won’t get in your teenager’s way when they’re trying to brush and floss their teeth.
- Many teenagers find that the smooth surfaces of Invisalign aligners tend to be more comfortable to wear than metal brackets and wires.
Improving Smiles with Invisalign
Invisalign is based on a very different concept from traditional braces. A robust computer software system turns impressions of your mouth into three-dimensional images, projecting the changes you want to see in your smile. A series of transparent, plastic aligners (something like mouthguards) is created to move teeth progressively into the proper position over about a year of treatment. For many adults and teens, Invisalign is the ideal treatment option, but to find out whether or not it’s right for you, you’ll need to schedule an Invisalign consultation.
Schedule Your Invisalign Consultation Today
Dr. Hammond offers complimentary Invisalign consultations to get your orthodontic treatment process started. She listens carefully to your concerns and makes a thorough examination of your mouth to determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. If you have existing dental problems such as gum disease or cavities, we’ll resolve them before treatment. If she determines Invisalign is a good option for you, Dr. Hammond gets started right away by taking impressions of your bite and sending that information to the Invisalign lab. The manufacturer crafts customized Invisalign aligner trays that are fabricated with durable, medical-grade plastic.
Invisalign FAQs
Are you learning about Invisalign for the first time? Considering it for your teenager or a friend? Glisten Dental Care of Tulsa is prepared to answer any questions you may have about this convenient treatment process for realigning crooked and misaligned teeth. Below, you can read about a few of the most common questions we hear as well as our detailed responses to help you stay informed. If you have other concerns you’d like to address with us directly, please give Dr. Hammond a call!
How do I protect my clear aligners?
To ensure your aligners do not crack or break, it’s very important that you do not attempt to chew food or gum while you wear them. While they are durable, they are not nearly as thick as other oral appliances and therefore can break if used improperly. You’ll also want to keep them in their protective case whenever they are not in use. Never place them in a napkin while you eat either as they can easily be mistaken as trash.
How soon can I expect results with Invisalign?
One of the benefits of choosing Invisalign to shift teeth is you can actually start to notice improvements in your tooth’s alignment very early into treatment. For example, it’s not uncommon for patients to notice changes in as little as six weeks! However, the complexity of your case could require more time to notice results, so it’s important to be patient and continue wearing them as instructed by our office.
How do I know that my Invisalign treatment is working?
When you first wear your aligners, you’ll notice that they feel quite tight against your teeth. This is not only normal but an important part of the realignment process. If your aligners feel loose, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Tight aligners indicate they are actually shifting your teeth into their new positions. They should also not be moving out of place while you talk or drink water. If you fear something is not quite right with your aligners, give us a call and we’ll perform an evaluation of your treatment progress so far.
What should I avoid when using Invisalign?
Whenever you are wearing your aligners, we do not recommend using harsh cleaners, toothpaste, or flavored soaps to keep them clean. This can easily cause damage, cause them to stain, or leave behind an unpleasant aftertaste. You should not keep them out of your mouth for more than two hours at a time or skip days where you should be wearing them, as this can cause hiccups in your treatment progress and force you to wear them longer than initially planned.
How do I keep my Invisalign aligners clean and transparent?
A great way to keep your aligners clean, sparkling, and transparent is by soaking them in Invisalign’s proprietary cleaning crystals. Of course, a denture cleanser can also accomplish this quite effectively if you run out of cleaning crystals. Additionally, make sure to avoid drinking beverages containing richly pigmented ingredients. This includes things like coffee, wine, and dark tea.
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