INVISALIGN CLEAR ALIGNERS – PLEASANTON, CA
A Clear Path to a Straighter Smile
Metal braces may not be what your teen envisions when learning they need orthodontic treatment. Instead, they prefer Invisalign clear aligners that are more discreet. Instead of capturing the attention of others because of all the metal in their mouth, they can walk with greater confidence knowing their teeth are on the right path. Discover how Invisalign in Pleasanton can help your child take the next step toward a straighter smile by calling to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Main Street Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics of Pleasanton for Invisalign Clear Aligners?
- No-Mess Digital Dental Impressions
- Financing Is Available
- Tailor-Made Treatment Plans to Meet Patients’ Needs
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign is a clear aligner system that is far more discreet than traditional braces. Relying on customized trays that are made from clear plastic, they follow your teen throughout the treatment process, taking the shape of their smile as it progresses toward better alignment.
Worn 20-22 hours each day, your teen will be required to swap them out every 1-2 weeks so that their teeth continue to move. They will continue this process until the series is complete. In just 12-18 months, on average, your teen can expect to see a new smile that is healthier, looks beautiful, and helps them to project much-needed confidence.
Who Can Invisalign Help?
If your teen is experiencing any type of bite misalignment, it can lead to wear and tear on the enamel as well as chronic jaw pain if left untreated. With Invisalign, the clear aligners work to shift teeth so that they align more beautifully and comfortably, creating a more harmonious movement between the upper and lower arches that minimizes risks of injury and decay. Invisalign can be used to treat a range of alignment issues such as those listed below.
Crowded Teeth
When the teeth are too close together, it can make eating, speaking, smiling, and oral hygiene more difficult. Crowding can become worse with age, leading to issues like tooth decay, gum disease, and TMJ issues. Our orthodontist may recommend tooth extraction depending on the severity of overcrowding, but Invisalign can help to create additional space so that teeth no longer rest on top of each other, creating a healthier arrangement that can even boost confidence.
Gaps Between Teeth
Too much space can also be dangerous, as bacteria and food particles can easily become trapped between teeth when eating. These gaps can be caused by the teeth being too small, the jaw being too large, thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting during childhood, and a range of other natural factors. Invisalign clear aligners bring teeth closer together so that gaps close and smiles appear more cohesive and beautiful. The teeth also become easier to clean and harder to injure.
Overbite
If a patient’s top teeth protrude too far over the lower arch, they have an overbite. This sort of alignment issue can cause speech issues, jaw pain, uneven wear and tear on the teeth, and difficulty when closing or opening the mouth. It also leaves the top teeth more exposed, which can put them at a higher risk for injury.
Underbite
If a patient’s bottom teeth protrude slightly past or bite evenly with their top teeth, they have an underbite, which can result from genetics, oral trauma, or habits like thumb-sucking in childhood. An unaddressed underbite can lead to a range of issues such as a higher risk of sleep apnea, difficulty when speaking or chewing, or mouth breathing. While it’s often easier to resolve underbites in younger patients, it’s still important to address them in adults. To treat an underbite, Invisalign clear aligners may require the use of rubber bands or other attachments to adjust the teeth’s alignment properly.
Crossbite
Crossbites happen when the bottom teeth rest slightly in front of the upper teeth, and they are often caused by genetics, poor oral habits, or early loss of baby teeth. While Invisalign can treat this issue, doing so may require the use of elastics or other accessories to help the jaw shift into a better position. Untreated crossbites can lead to long-term issues such as jaw pain, speech difficulties, headaches, bruxism, facial asymmetry, and an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay, all of which can negatively impact a patient’s self-confidence.
Open Bite
If a patient’s top and bottom teeth do not overlap or touch when their mouth is closed, they have an open bite. This issue often results from poor bone development or thumb or pacifier-sucking habits as a child. Open bites can increase the risk of dental damage while making it difficult to pronounce certain words or sounds. Invisalign clear aligners can correct this bite pattern so that the teeth overlap properly to reduce the risk of enamel wear and other issues.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Orthodontic treatment of any kind is highly beneficial, especially if your child is suffering from oral health issues, but Invisalign offers immense benefits that cannot be attained with traditional braces. These include:
- Greater Comfort – Invisalign clear aligners do not have protruding brackets that rub against gums, lips, and the tongue. Instead, they are smooth and fit snugly against teeth, allowing for a more comfortable approach.
- More Discreet – There is no spotlight to shine while wearing Invisalign because they are virtually invisible. Unless someone is extremely close or you choose to disclose your treatment, others are unlikely to notice that you’re wearing your trays.
- You Can Eat the Foods You Love – There are no food restrictions when it comes to wearing Invisalign. You can remove your trays and eat the foods you love without worrying about food getting stuck underneath brackets and wires.
Invisalign FAQs
What Does Invisalign Look Like?
Since Invisalign clear aligners are made from clear plastic, they are entirely visible outside of the mouth but incredibly difficult to detect when worn over the teeth. All patients need to keep their aligners clean, clear, and discreet is a proper routine of hygiene and maintenance. This means that, unlike traditional braces which are clearly visible on the smile, Invisalign can straighten a patient’s teeth without compromising their appearance. However, some patients may require attachments, buttons, or elastics that are more visible than the clear aligners since they are not made from clear plastic.
How Long Does Invisalign Take?
The duration of your Invisalign treatment depends on a variety of factors such as the severity of your alignment issues and how well you comply with your treatment plan. It usually takes between twelve and eighteen months to complete an Invisalign treatment, but patients with mild misalignments may need only six. Treatments that take eighteen months are still four months shorter than the average treatment with traditional braces. Complying with your treatment and seeing your dentist regularly can help your Invisalign process be as speedy and complication-free as possible.
Can You Eat with Invisalign?
One of the major selling points for Invisalign is that the clear aligners are completely removable, allowing patients to take them out during meals. While this means that you can eat whatever you like while wearing Invisalign, it’s important to remember that your clear aligners are not designed to withstand the pressure of chewing, meaning that eating while wearing them can damage them. When eating or drinking anything but water, remove your Invisalign aligners to keep them in good shape and protect your teeth from unnecessary pressure. You should also take care to store your clear aligners in a safe place when not wearing them to prevent them from being injured or thrown away, and we recommend carrying a special case for this purpose.
Does Invisalign Give You a Lisp?
Since Invisalign clear aligners add volume to your teeth, they can affect the way air flows around them during speech. You can expect an initial adjustment period when you first start wearing Invisalign, and this may lead to you developing a slight lisp. While not every patient will experience this issue, a lisp happens when the tongue is not placed properly during speech. While this temporary lisp can be annoying, it will diminish quickly over the coming weeks as you get more practice. If you wish to get rid of your lisp more quickly, a great way to do it is to read your favorite book aloud and repeat any words you have trouble with until you get the hang of them.