
Oct
Do you wish your teeth were a bit straighter? Ready to straighten your smile, but the idea of wearing traditional braces doesn’t sit well with you? We understand! As a self-conscious teenager or adult, wearing metal braces can adversely impact your image. That’s why Westlake Family Dentistry in Lake Oswego, Oregon, provides Invisalign treatment as a convenient and discreet solution.
The Invisalign system by Dr. Brad Sievert uses clear, transparent, removable plastic trays to help you achieve your orthodontic goals while maintaining your style and confidence.
As mentioned, Invisalign uses removable plastic aligners that apply constant but gentle pressure on the teeth to move them into a straighter position. These aligners are precisely fabricated to ensure they deliver the right amount of pressure at the right time to the right tooth. This way, we can determine when your treatment will be complete and what your final smile will look like. No guesswork! You’ll know what to expect even before you start treatment, more like “seeing before buying.”
The number of aligners required for treatment typically falls within 18-30, contingent upon the intricacy of the orthodontic concern. Each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks before graduating to the next in line. Moreover, for the most expedient path to a straighter smile, you must wear these aligners consistently for about 22 hours daily, including while you sleep. However, this shouldn’t worry you because the aligners are precisely made to fit comfortably over your teeth. When you get used to your aligners, their presence will be virtually indistinguishable.
After your treatment, we’ll recommend you wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from relapsing to their old positions. Unlike clear braces, a retainer is only worn at night.
Expect minimal pain in the first couple of days when using clear braces. However, this discomfort will gradually dissipate as your teeth acclimate to the pressure exerted by the trays. This pain can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen. Embrace this discomfort as a positive sign because it shows the aligners are doing their job of shifting the teeth.
In the beginning, you may also have difficulties pronouncing certain words. Like Invisalign pain, your disrupted speech is short-lived. Within a week or so, your natural speaking ability will be restored.
Invisalign is popular for many reasons. One of its biggest perks is invisibility. When the transparent trays are worn over the teeth, no one will notice your treatment unless they are uncomfortably close. The discreet nature of Invisalign clear aligners is ideal for adults and teenagers looking for a minimal-fuss orthodontic treatment.
The other benefits of Invisalign include:
Modern technology has made Invisalign treatment as effective as traditional braces. Like metal braces, Invisalign can resolve malocclusion cases, overlapping, and crooked teeth. This way, you can solve multiple orthodontic issues without needing obtrusive metal braces.
If you are in Lake Oswego, OR, and its environs, call (503) 636-4576 to schedule an appointment with Westlake Family Dentistry. We’ll help you move your smile closer to perfection with Invisalign.
Dr. Brad Sievert holds a zoology degree from Oregon State University and a DMD from Oregon Health Sciences University. He is passionate about continuing education and regularly attends cosmetic, complex restorative, dental sleep medicine, Invisalign, and implant dentistry courses. He has had post-doctoral training at the prestigious KOIS Center in Seattle and the Los Angeles Institute of Clinical Dentistry. Dr. Sievert is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. He is also certified in laser dentistry and as a Healthy Start Provider.