Invisalign® Clear Aligners Fort Smith AR Our team at Harper Dental is very concerned with the proper alignment of our patients' teeth. In cases where teeth are misaligned, the quality of a person's life is often diminished. Crooked teeth can interfere with proper chewing of food and cause strain to the muscles, teeth, and jaws. It can also make cleaning of teeth more difficult as surfaces are at odd angles. This results in poor oral hygiene that then increases the risk of developing problems such as cavities and tooth decay. Invisalign is an orthodontic solution that helps to straighten misaligned teeth discreetly and effectively. It is used to fix several problems including overbite, underbite, gaps, crooked teeth, and open bites. Standard treatment used to be metal braces. Now with Invisalign, clear custom made plastic aligners are instead used to adjust the position of teeth into proper alignment. Why Choose InvisalignOur patients benefit more from the use of Invisalign aligners over other orthodontic treatments in several ways. They are removable, meaning that when you need to cleaning or eat, you do not have to worry about snagging on any parts. Maintaining a good cleaning regimen is made easier. With wire braces, food often gets caught in the parts, and actions like flossing become difficult to perform. The medical-grade polyurethane resin used in the construction of Invisalign aligners leaves them transparent and difficult to detect when worn. The smooth surface and edges of the trays also mean greater comfort. This is unlike with braces that often scratch inner cheeks and other soft tissue. Because the aligners are customized, they ensure a comfortable fit with minimal pain or discomfort to the patient. It also means that the individual problem of each tooth is addressed appropriately, gradually bringing it into its correct position. Seeing the progress of the treatment at every stage is also made simpler. We also have an Invisalign FAQ page to learn much more about Invisalign. How Invisalign WorksAn initial assessment is required with one of our orthodontists to determine if Invisalign is the best option. Some misalignments can be too severe to allow for the use of Invisalign, but this can only be determined after consultation. Once you are comfortable with going ahead with the treatments, the process will begin with a 3D digital scanning of your teeth. This is much easier than dental impressions and allows us to map out the movement of individual teeth. These images will be used to then create the aligners. The set of aligners will be worn for about 1-2 weeks. With each new set, the teeth will be slowly moved into straighter positions. The trays are typically slightly straighter than your teeth, thereby applying gentle pressure to shift them closer to their correct positions. You can remove the trays when eating or brushing teeth. This usually means they remain on for at least 22 hours a day. A checkup every 4-6 weeks will be needed to ensure the process is moving forward as expected. While the duration of treatment can greatly vary, typical treatment takes anywhere between 12-18 months for completion. That can mean changing out trays roughly 20-50 times over that duration. Invisalign is great for boosting your smile confidence during the treatment and after successful completion. To find out if you qualify for this orthodontic solution and the results you can expect, come and see us. Contact Harper Dental on (479) 431-0280 to make an appointment today. |
