Unhappy with your smile but not really interested in wearing traditional braces? Maybe think you are too old to get your perfect smile? Well braces aren’t just for kids and teens anymore. More and more, adults are choosing to get braces to straighten their smile.
In fact, over 4 million people in the U.S. are wearing braces, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. Of course, the types of braces adults are choosing are not the metal kind with colorful rubber bands we remember from our past, but sleek, hard-to-notice Invisalign braces.
Why Adults Are Choosing Invisalign?
The primary benefit of Invisalign is that it’s hard for others to tell you are wearing braces. And it also offers more comfort than traditional metal braces.
Besides the aesthetics, the advantage of a clear aligner is that it can be removed to clean your teeth, which is a lot easier than trying to brush and floss around braces. It also does not affect your speech.
Does It Work?
One of the first questions our patients asks about the Invisalign system is “does it really work?” The answer is yes it does really work. While traditional braces are geared towards improving long-term teeth and bite function, Invisalign works better for aesthetic purposes.
But it is a well proven system to correct a wide range of orthodontic issues including:
- Crooked teeth
- Malocclusion
- Overbites and underbites
In this sense, Invisalign can be considered a form of cosmetic dentistry, especially for adults hoping to achieve the straight smile they’ve always wanted.
The Process for Invisalign Braces
Invisalign trays are created by taking dental impressions and X-rays of your teeth. We then create a 3D model of your mouth. The “clear aligners” are a series of custom trays made to be changed every week or two that gradually move your teeth. Each aligner will slightly shift your teeth toward a straighter smile.
Invisalign is also shown to have results as soon as a year after beginning treatment, but the process can take 12-18 months depending on the corrections that need to be made. Your Afdent dentist can tell you what to expect for your specific case.
Please remember that the only place you should get these braces is from your dentist. Recently, direct-to-consumer options have popped up on the internet. We strongly recommended that you see your dentist to be fitted for this system or you risk not getting the results that you’re hoping for.
At Afdent, our full-service dental practice can help you decide which cosmetic dentistry service is right for you and your teeth. We can show you examples of Invisalign braces to see if it could be something that would benefit your smile. Call our office in South Bend or Fort Wayne to schedule a no-cost consultation.