Invisalign® for Adults
Seattle, WA
 Your smile is quite often the very first thing that people notice about you. Your teeth are a major component of your smile. If your teeth are crooked, they can significantly impact the quality of your smile. Not only does this have an impact on your confidence, but it can affect the impression that you make on others. Crooked teeth can also cause issues like bruxism, [[[pag:45987|temporomandibular joint disorder]]], and other complications. Braces have been the go-to treatment for years. While effective, most adults do not want to deal with a shiny metal smile. At Queen Anne Family Dental, we can correct alignment issues for adults with Invisalign®.
Traditional Treatment for Crooked Teeth
Traditionally, crooked teeth are corrected with braces. This treatment uses metal brackets and wires. The brackets are bonded to the front surfaces of each tooth. The wire spans across the arch of teeth, attached to each bracket with an elastic O-ring called a ligature. The wires effectively realign the teeth to improve the quality of your smile. While braces are a highly effective treatment, many adults are not very fond of the idea of wearing them. One of the biggest reasons is because they are so visible. For many adults, the thought of a metal smile can be more embarrassing than crooked teeth. Braces can also be uncomfortable. The brackets can rub your cheeks, causing sores. If wires break or pop loose, they can also cause sores by poking your intraoral tissues.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an invisible alternative to traditional braces. Rather than brackets and wires to correct teeth alignment, Invisalign uses clear plastic aligners. The aligners are removable, although they should be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day to achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. They should only be removed to eat and to brush your teeth. Your aligners are made from digital impressions of your mouth. The impressions are shown in 3D on a computer monitor. Using these images, we can see every step of your treatment from beginning to end. You can see what your smile will look like before treatment even begins.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Treatment with Invisalign involves the use of a series of aligners. Each set of aligners is made to be worn for two weeks at a time. Each set of aligners is slightly different, and are designed to gradually shift your teeth into the proper alignment. The rigid plastic of the aligners works similarly to the wires of traditional braces. The plastic puts pressure on your teeth, which then puts pressure on your periodontal ligaments. This widens the ligaments so that the teeth can be moved. Depending upon your needs, you may go through anywhere from 18 to 30 different sets of aligners.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign provides several benefits, including:
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They are completely invisible. No one will be able to tell that you are wearing them.
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They are removable. This means that there are no limitations on what you can eat. Removable aligners also make brushing and flossing much easier.
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You are provided with several sets of aligners at a time, reducing the number of office visits you require.
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Treatment with Invisalign typically requires less time than treatment with traditional braces. |
Whether you are tired of living with crooked teeth or your previously corrected teeth are beginning to shift out of place, Invisalign can help. Call Queen Anne Family Dental today at (206) 424-4450 to find out if Invisalign is right for you. We offer other cosmetic and restorative services like inlays and onlays and fluoride treatment, and dental implants.
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