People get worried about how orthodontic treatment is going to affect their day to day lives. A lot of adults and youngsters who want to feel good about their appearance worry that getting braces will be a hassle. After all, who wants to deal with metal brackets and wires getting in the way of eating their favorite foods or looking good on camera? The good news is that there are now some discreet alternatives out there that work a treat and make life a lot easier for people who are put off by traditional metal braces. Patients can learn All About Braces and understand how modern orthodontic technology works to gradually straighten teeth, correct bite issues, and create lasting improvements in both oral health and appearance.
At Forest Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, we’ve seen firsthand how clear aligner technology has revolutionized the orthodontic experience for our patients. Now people who thought they’d never be able to get on with traditional braces because it would be too much hassle can now get the treatment they need, because they can straighten their teeth without having a bunch of metal stuck in their mouth. It’s a win win. You get the grin you’ve always wanted, and you can still look like you at the same time.
The first thing we do is take a good look at how your teeth are lined up and how they fit together when you bite. We use some pretty cool digital scanning technology to take an exact 3D model of your teeth, and that becomes the basis for designing a treatment plan that’s tailored just to you. We can even show you exactly how your teeth are going to move during treatment and what you can expect your smile to look like in the end. The Norris 20/26 treatment approach focuses on guiding proper tooth positioning and jaw development to support efficient orthodontic correction and long-term stability throughout treatment.
In Lake Forest, using Invisalign as a way to do your orthodontics has become a really popular thing, especially since it’s both effective and relatively easy to use. When you wear the custom-made clear aligners, they’re practically invisible, which is perfect for people who still want to feel confident in social or professional situations, even if they are wearing a mouthful of plastic. Each aligner is designed to slowly and gently nudge your teeth into their perfect spots over time.
We like the fact that these Invisalign aligners can be taken out, which is a major plus compared to traditional orthodontic methods. You can eat all your favourite foods without having to worry about getting food stuck in your teeth, and you can brush and floss just like normal without having to worry about metal brackets and wires getting in the way. To ensure treatment goes as planned, we just ask that you wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day.
Treatment time will depend on just how complicated a job you need done. If it’s a simple fix to sort out a small gap or a bit of crowding then it might only take a few months. If you need more work done to sort out a bite issue or move teeth a fair bit, then it could take up to 18 months to do the job properly. We’ll check on your progress and give you the next set of aligners at each appointment.
Clear aligners are usually a lot more comfortable than regular metal braces. Okay, you might feel a bit of pressure when you switch to new aligners, but it’s nothing compared to what you’d get from traditional braces, and the smooth plastic texture makes it impossible to get any cuts or irritation in your mouth like you would with metal.
We’ve got a lot of experience with Invisalign in Lake Forest and can help with all sorts of alignment problems, everything from crowded teeth to gaps, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. Not every case will be suitable for clear aligner treatment, but technology has come on so much that we can now fix a lot more problems than we used to be able to.
When it comes to orthodontic treatments, cost is always something to think about. But a lot of people will tell you it’s worth the money because it’s convenient and you end up with a great smile. And don’t forget, many dental insurance policies will now cover orthodontic treatment, including clear aligners, which can help bring the cost down. We also offer flexible payment options that can make treatment a whole lot easier.
The benefits of having properly aligned teeth go far beyond just how they look. It’s way easier to clean your teeth when they’re straight, which makes it less likely that you’ll get cavities or gum disease. Proper bite alignment can also save your teeth from wearing out too quickly, which can save you from a whole heap of future dental problems.
We’ve got a lot of experience and our friendly team is always here to help, so if you’ve been thinking about getting orthodontic treatment then we invite you to come in for a consultation. We can take a look at your unique needs and talk about whether clear aligner therapy might be the way to go to help you get the smile you want.