Misaligned teeth (also called malocclusions) affect as many as 93% of teenagers globally, with 46% of those experiencing impacts on their lifestyles. While the number of people dealing with it varies across different ethnic and economic spectra, anyone can find themselves struggling with some degree of malocclusion.
To make a fresh start for your dental health, managing misalignments with Invisalign® can significantly improve your teeth's function and appearance. Understanding the facts about this treatment option, what it does to straighten teeth, and what to expect when it’s finished will help you decide whether or not Invisalign is the treatment to change your smile.
If you live in the East Village, Manhattan, New York, and you need ways to straighten your teeth, Dr. Adam Nusblatt and the Nusblatt Dental team are here to help with Invisalign and other options.
To treat various types of misaligned teeth, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, and gapped teeth, braces have traditionally been used to slowly force teeth into proper alignment using metal brackets and wires. Invisalign is a popular choice that uses clear aligner trays that perform the same function but are removable and replaced during the course of treatment.
Invisalign uses a unique thermoplastic called SmartTrak®, a flexible, thick material formed to fit your teeth for comfort while the trays do their work. The result gives you a way to straighten teeth without anyone realizing you’re having any work done on them.
To get your smile looking its best, the Invisalign treatment starts with a 3D scan of your teeth to set a benchmark for how you want them to look. At this point, we model the trays that will be used to straighten teeth over several months and send the information to a lab for fabrication. Once they arrive back, your journey with Invisalign really begins.
You get fitted for the first set of trays and wear them for up to 22 hours each day, taking them out to eat, clean, or attend events like public appearances and job interviews. The aligner trays are replaced every week or two, with a mold that pushes your teeth closer to being straight each time. You get regular check-ups to see how things are going throughout.
Overall, this process can take up to 18 months to straighten teeth with proper use, and retainers are used to maintain the finished appearance by preserving the position of the last set of aligner trays. Without wearing them, your teeth will eventually revert to their previous positions, leaving you to do it all over again.
You wear retainers all day for the first couple of weeks, then nightly thereafter. It’s recommended that you replace them every six months for as long as you want to maintain the results of treatment.
To have straighter teeth and share your smile with the world, Invisalign is an excellent choice for the start of the year. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Nusblatt and the Nusblatt Dental team to learn what Invisalign can do for you.
