Invisalign orthodontic services are part of the cosmetic dentistry practice field that seeks to realign your teeth within your dental structure. Receiving Invisalign treatment impacts your appearance, making it a major dental procedure. Based on this, you need to work with a skilled dentist who understands the most effective treatment method for your needs. Moreover, your dentist should have proper knowledge of orthodontic treatment to ensure they plan out the Invisalign treatment schedule correctly.
At Valencia Advanced Dentistry at Copperhill Smiles, we understand the importance of quality service delivery, specifically when administering Invisalign treatment. Our team is ready to provide reliable orthodontic services to help you realign your teeth and attain your desired smile. Additionally, we can answer your questions and address your concerns, making us a reliable orthodontic partner. Our services are available for patients seeking Invisalign treatment in Santa Clarita, California.
Understanding Invisalign Treatment
After losing your temporary teeth, your secondary set of teeth grows and occupies different areas of your jawbone permanently. Many patients notice dental misalignment as their secondary teeth grow, primarily because they are larger and occupy more space in the same jaw space as before. Additional factors also cause tooth misalignment, making it necessary to seek orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign treatment is among the various options to choose when seeking treatment to realign your teeth, and it has grown in popularity over the years. Orthodontists use clear, plastic dental plates shaped like your teeth to reinforce them into the desired position.
The treatment involves creating slight variants of your dental structure, with the modification improving your teeth' position. Your dentist must, therefore, make projections of the desired tooth positions, generate the plastic plates, and have you wear them for at least two weeks before changing them.
You notice changes in your dental structure with gradual modifications and pushing the teeth to the desired position. Your Invisalign treatment, therefore, concludes when your upper and lower jaw teeth are within the required position in your jaw, making them properly aligned.
Invisalign treatment continues to be the preferred orthodontic method compared to traditional options like metal braces. This is mainly because of how convenient they are compared to braces, as you enjoy more flexibility as treatment continues.
You must observe your orthodontist’s directives despite the flexibility to uphold positive results. For example, if your dentist recommends attending an appointment every two weeks to change the Invisalign plates, you should observe the dates to prevent your teeth from regressing.
Discipline in wearing your Invisalign plates is also essential, as you can remove them when eating or undertaking high-impact activities. The rate of improvement in your tooth alignment is directly proportional to the duration you wear Invisalign per day. As a result, orthodontists emphasize the importance of following their guidelines.
Patients in Need of Invisalign Treatment
Sometimes, you may need clarification on whether you or a loved one qualify for dental treatment, including orthodontic services. If so, you should schedule a dentist consultation to receive additional information on your condition and whether Invisalign can remedy it.
Invisalign is as effective as traditional braces, so you may be eligible for treatment if you face the following dental conditions:
You Have an Overbite
Overbite conditions arise when the teeth on your upper jaw project outward significantly more than those on your lower jaw. Multiple practices or genetic conditions may trigger the condition, and your dentist can help identify the primary cause based on the details you provide.
For example, if your parents have a smaller jaw and large teeth, your genetic predisposition may cause you to develop an overbite over time. You may notice the phenomenon, especially after your permanent teeth grow, as they occupy more space.
Additionally, habits like sucking your thumb or pushing your tongue against your upper front teeth also result in overbites, especially when done repeatedly. The force you put on your upper teeth causes gradual movement not only on your upper jaw incisors but also on your peripheral teeth. As a result, you may notice extended overbites on your other incisors and canines, making it necessary to seek Invisalign treatment.
Overbites have a lasting effect on your appearance, as they give the effect of looking older than you are. The situation occurs because you must stretch your upper lip to close your mouth, creating a pouting look. You can thus expect your facial structure to improve after starting Invisalign treatment.
You Have an Underbite
Underbites are the inverse condition of overbites, whereby lower front teeth protrude more than upper jaw teeth. The situation arises under similar circumstances as an overbite, specifically when you apply too much pressure to the teeth using your tongue, thumb, or other objects you use out of habit.
Underbites also change your facial structure significantly, giving you a wide-face appearance. However, the impact varies among patients depending on their natural jawline structure. Based on this, your orthodontist performs dental examinations to determine how much your tooth misalignment has caused a change in your appearance.
Teeth Crowding
Crowded teeth cause misalignment because of the limited space on your jawbone, pushing teeth out of place. You are likely to live with the phenomenon if you have a small jaw and no tooth extractions, resulting in less space for proper dental alignment.
Patients with tooth crowding often have a few teeth growing inward and others protruding, indicating the need for Invisalign treatment. Your orthodontist will assess the severity of your case before recommending treatment, and you may need to receive treatment to prepare yourself for the Invisalign installation.
In severe tooth crowding cases, your orthodontist may have to perform dental surgery to extract the grown teeth and those still inside your jawbone. These are mostly your wisdom teeth that are not yet on the surface and may cause recurrent problems if not extracted.
Teeth Gaps
Having gaps in your teeth may result from several factors, and Invisalign can help remedy them through different treatment applications. For example, if you lost several teeth, resulting in uneven gaps, your orthodontist can prescribe Invisalign to push your teeth into the available spaces and fill them up. With time, you will notice a more natural dental structure to help you improve your smile.
Other factors causing tooth gaps include genetic predispositions, especially if the gap is on your top front incisors. These gaps are highly likely if a parent has one, and they do not pose a severe dental risk. Nevertheless, if you prefer to have yours closed, you will benefit from Invisalign treatment, as its gradual impact on the teeth will close the gap.
If the gaps are from severe dental conditions like enamel erosion or overfilling the teeth, your dentist recommends alternative remedies first to help restore your dental health. For example, they discourage you from seeking alternative dental procedures involving tooth filing if they consider them unnecessary. Similarly, they may discourage you from eating or drinking foods with high acid content, often linked to enamel deterioration and tooth decay.
You Have a Crossbite
Crossbites are more complicated than overbites and underbites, as they entail having your upper and lower jaw teeth misaligned when you close your mouth. The typical dental layout entails the upper and lower jaw incisors, canines, premolars, and molars on the same linear plane. If you are living with a crossbite, your incisors may align with your canines, causing chewing and biting problems.
Your orthodontist may recommend Invisalign treatment if they can restructure your teeth, allowing for gradual realignment. However, crossbites may sometimes be complicated to remedy, pushing your dentist to recommend alternative treatment options like surgery before Invisalign.
Preparing for Invisalign Treatment
After a dental examination, your orthodontist may recommend Invisalign treatment to help remedy your dental conditions. Therefore, you must begin the preparation procedures necessary to ensure your treatment goes smoothly and concludes in the shortest time possible.
Preparation procedures vary between patients, as each presents a unique set of dental problems. Therefore, your orthodontist will guide you through the most critical processes to start treatment. They include:
Undergoing a Physical Examination
Physical examinations are essential for your orthodontist to perform, as they are the first indicator of your possible dental problem. Your pre-treatment process begins with a physical examination that allows the orthodontist to establish whether you have a complete set of teeth and how their alignment has affected your overall appearance.
During the procedure, your dentist issues instructions to help position your teeth in a way that reveals underlying misalignment conditions. For example, they may ask you to bite several times, open your mouth widely, remain closed, and move your tongue.
Each instruction is helpful, regardless of the number of repetitions your dentist makes. Based on this, consider following the guidelines to the best of your ability to promote a more accurate diagnosis. Some physical examinations may also reveal underlying problems like cavities or tooth decay, which require more urgent attention than Invisalign.
Taking X-Ray Images
Apart from performing physical dental examinations, your dentist relies on X-ray imaging to help detect other underlying tooth problems. An x-ray reveals your tooth placements inside your jawbone and presents your dental structure to show whether your wisdom teeth are impacted before growing out of the gums.
An x-ray may also be pivotal in showing your expected dental layout once Invisalign treatment begins, mainly because the orthodontist keeps referring to your initial imaging as a reference point. Based on this, x-ray imaging is a common first step towards starting your Invisalign treatment, and you may undertake it within the dental clinic for more convenience.
The process is fast and painless, often lasting under a minute. The dental assistant in charge of X-ray imaging requests that you bite onto a plastic plate to keep your head still. Biting the plate also allows the X-ray image to portray your dental structure, including whether you have an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. The results will subsequently form a reliable diagnostic reference point for the dentist.
Taking Dental Impressions
Dental impressions are replicas of your upper and lower teeth imprinted on a malleable mold. Once the mold dries, it forms the replicas that serve as a reference point for your orthodontist as they develop a unique Invisalign treatment process for you.
Taking dental impressions is also a fast and painless process, as the dental team only needs to press the mold against your teeth for the marks to form. You may feel pressure as the mold presses against your teeth, and some patients may gag as the mole occupies the upper mouth plate.
Despite this, your dentist remains attentive to your concerns, and you can alert them if the process becomes too uncomfortable for you. Once the impressions form, the dental team uses the tooth replicas to design your first Invisalign set with slight variations to start the realignment process.
Thorough Teeth Cleaning
Your orthodontist may also recommend professional teeth cleaning before starting Invisalign treatment to prevent plaque formation or infections. They are likely to recommend the procedure if your teeth present signs of tooth cavities or decay, making it essential to prevent the symptoms from worsening.
The cleaning process takes around ten to twenty minutes, depending on the required intensity. For example, if the dental team must also clean out your teeth pockets before completing the procedure, they will take longer, as these are delicate parts of your gums.
After concluding the process, you receive aftercare tips to help maintain your teeth as they are and to prevent recurrent plaque formation. After a few days, you are ready to begin your Invisalign treatment, provided you do not need to undergo other preparatory processes.
Teeth Extractions
Teeth extractions are a standard procedure in orthodontic treatment, and your dentist performs them to create more space for your teeth to realign properly. Although not everyone must have teeth extracted, many orthodontists prefer to perform the procedure for a more seamless dental realignment process.
You do not have to worry about experiencing pain during the extraction phase, as the dentist uses strong anesthesia to prevent discomfort and sharp pain. Despite this, expect to feel some pressure that only lasts as they pull out the teeth.
If your dentist recommends undergoing a tooth extraction, they will schedule the process a few days to a week before receiving your first Invisalign. They do this to give time for the pain to reduce and for the gums to heal as the process exposes the gums.
Providing Your Medical History
Your medical history is essential to any treatment, including Invisalign orthodontic services. Your orthodontist relies on your medical history to establish possible causes of your dental misalignment and how Invisalign would remedy the situation.
Based on this, consider giving detailed recounts of your dental history, including whether you have received orthodontic treatment that resulted in worse alignment problems. In doing so, your dental team works from a more informed position and ensures your treatment is comprehensive towards achieving your desired smile.
If you have documents to supplement the details you provide during your first consultation, you can send them to your dentist. For example, previous dentist reports and x-ray images can help in your current diagnosis and treatment.
How to Care for Your Invisalign Plates
After concluding the preparation procedures, your orthodontist calls you in for your first set of Invisalign plates. You must wear them for extended periods throughout the day to notice improvements in tooth alignment, making it important to follow the guidelines. Your dentist recommends only removing them when eating or cleaning the plates. Subsequently, your Invisalign should be on for twenty to twenty-two hours daily.
Additionally, you should return to the dental clinic every few weeks to a month to change the plates and to give your dentist a chance to examine your dental realignment. If they establish that you are ready to receive your next set, you will exchange the current plates for a new one.
Your orthodontist also provides instructions on cleaning and maintaining your plastic plates to avoid damage. Based on this, you should use lukewarm water to rinse the Invisalign and a recommended solution to fight off bacteria from the dental plates. With continuous treatment, you will notice an improvement in your tooth alignment until you achieve the desired results.
Contact an Orthodontist Near Me
Living with tooth misalignment can affect your self-image, dental health, and overall well-being. Regardless of your misalignment, Invisalign can be an excellent treatment option to help you gradually correct tooth placement and ultimately enjoy an improved smile. When considering an orthodontist to consult about Invisalign treatment, consider their experience and knowledge of the method, as well as their availability and reliability. They should also be well-equipped to undertake the treatment process smoothly.
At Valencia Advanced Dentistry at Copperhill Smiles, we dedicate ourselves to providing high-quality orthodontic services for patients seeking Invisalign treatment. Our team has researched and completed multiple treatment processes with patients, making us a trusted dental partner. We are also available to address your concerns and guide you through the most efficient way to improve your overall smile. If you or a loved one requires Invisalign treatment in Santa Clarita, California, call us today at 661-775-7717.
