Invisalign

Beautiful smiling woman is holding an invisalign bracer

Invisalign® is a form of orthodontic treatment that uses clear, removable aligners to apply a slight resistance that gradually moves the teeth and/or jaws. Invisalign® is considered an alternative to traditional braces and can be used for adults and teens. The aligners are made from a durable material that fits tightly around the teeth and is nearly invisible in the mouth. People use this type of orthodontic treatment because they want straighter teeth but don’t want to deal with metal brackets and wires that are noticeable and fixed in place.

Candidates

Candidates for Invisalign® treatment are individuals who have crooked and/or overlapping teeth. Invisalign® can also be used to treat minor malocclusion issues such as overbites, underbites, cross bites, and open bites.

The Treatment

When receiving Invisalign® treatment at SmileMcLean Dentistry, Dr. Farahi will take an oral scan of your mouth. This information will be used in coordination with Invisalign®’s software to develop a treatment plan and fabricate your clear aligners. Once you receive your first set of aligners, you will need to wear them for at least 22 hours a day. Ideally, your aligners should only be removed when you brush, floss, eat, or drink anything besides water.

After wearing each aligner for a certain amount of time, you will then progress to the next aligner in the series. You will also need to visit our McLean dental office so that Dr. Farahi can closely monitor your progress and make adjustments to your treatment as needed. Unlike treatment with metal braces, treatment with Invisalign® is comfortable, discreet, and does not require dietary modifications. The length of your treatment will vary, but the average treatment length is 18 months.

Once your treatment is completed, Dr. Farahi will give you a clear retainer to wear. As the name suggests, a retainer is used to retain the new position of your teeth. In the beginning, you will need to wear your retainer full time, however you will eventually be able to wear it only at night.