Flower Mound Family Dentistry’s orthodontic options provide long-term corrective services to help align mispositioned teeth and jaws. We have three main ways to correct crooked teeth and protect newly straightened teeth: Invisalign, retainers, and mouthguards. Invisalign treatment benefits patients with mild to moderate orthodontic needs in our Flower Mound, TX office. These clear aligners offer comfortable cosmetic dental treatment to straighten crooked and misaligned teeth over time.
Invisalign in Flower Mound, TX
The process is simple, comfortable, and convenient, making it a great choice for teens and adults. Understanding the process can help you know what to expect if you’re considering Invisalign.
Step 1: Consultation with Your Dentist
The Invisalign journey starts with a consultation. Your dentist will examine your teeth and discuss your goals. They will determine if Invisalign is the right option for you. Invisalign can fix issues like crowded teeth, gaps, overbites, and underbites, but some severe cases may still require traditional braces.
Step 2: Digital Scans and Treatment Plan
If you decide to move forward with Invisalign, your dentist will take digital scans, X-rays, and photos of your teeth. These images create a 3D model of your mouth. Using advanced technology, your dentist will design a step-by-step treatment plan. You’ll even get a preview of how your teeth will move and what your smile will look at the end of treatment.
Step 3: Receiving Your Custom Aligners
After the treatment plan is finalized, Invisalign will create your custom aligners. The aligners are made from a smooth, clear plastic that fits snugly over your teeth. Once they arrive, your dentist will check the fit and give you instructions on how to wear and care for them.
Step 4: Wearing Your Aligners
You will wear your aligners for about 20 to 22 hours a day. The only times you should remove them are when you eat, drink anything other than water, or brush and floss your teeth. Every one to two weeks, you’ll switch to a new set of aligners, which will continue shifting your teeth into the right position.
Step 5: Regular Checkups
Throughout the process, you’ll visit your dentist every six to eight weeks to monitor your progress. Unlike metal braces, Invisalign doesn’t require wire adjustments, making these appointments quick and easy. Your dentist will ensure your teeth are moving as planned and make any necessary changes to your treatment.
Step 6: Completing Your Treatment
Most Invisalign treatments take between 6 and 18 months, depending on how much your teeth need to move. Once you finish all your aligners, your dentist will check the final results. To keep your new smile in place, you’ll need to wear a retainer, usually at night, to prevent your teeth from shifting back.
Why Choose Invisalign?
Straightening your teeth can improve your smile and oral health, but choosing the right treatment is important. For many years, metal braces were the only option, but now, Invisalign offers a modern alternative. Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners to straighten teeth, while traditional braces rely on metal brackets and wires.
Nearly Invisible Appearance
One of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is its clear design. The aligners are transparent plastic, making them nearly invisible when worn. This allows you to straighten your teeth without feeling self-conscious about your appearance. On the other hand, metal braces are very noticeable, which can make some people feel embarrassed, especially teenagers and adults in professional settings.
More Comfortable Than Braces
Invisalign aligners are smooth and custom-fitted to your teeth, so they don’t have the sharp edges or rough brackets that metal braces have. Traditional braces can irritate the inside of your mouth, causing sores and discomfort. Braces also require wire tightening, which can lead to pain and pressure. Invisalign gradually shifts your teeth without metal wires, making the process more comfortable.
Removable for Eating and Cleaning
Unlike metal braces, Invisalign aligners can be removed whenever necessary. This makes eating much easier because you don’t have to worry about food getting stuck in brackets or breaking a wire. With metal braces, you have to avoid certain foods like popcorn, sticky candy, and hard snacks. Invisalign allows you to enjoy all your favorite foods without restrictions.
Being able to remove the aligners also makes oral hygiene easier. With braces, brushing and flossing around brackets and wires can be difficult, leading to plaque buildup and a higher risk of cavities. With Invisalign, you can brush and floss normally, keeping your teeth and gums healthier throughout your treatment.
Fewer Office Visits and Adjustments
Traditional braces require frequent visits to the dentist or orthodontist for wire adjustments and bracket repairs. These appointments can be time-consuming and sometimes uncomfortable. Invisalign requires fewer office visits because patients receive multiple sets of aligners in advance and simply switch to a new set every one to two weeks. This makes Invisalign a more convenient option for people with busy schedules.
No Risk of Broken Wires or Brackets
Metal braces come with the risk of brackets breaking or wires snapping, which can cause pain and require emergency dental visits. Invisalign aligners don’t have any metal parts, so there’s no risk of breakage. If you care for your aligners, your treatment will continue smoothly without unexpected problems.
Effective for Many Orthodontic Issues
Invisalign can treat many orthodontic problems, including crowded teeth, gaps, overbites, underbites, and crossbites. While very complex cases may still require traditional braces, Invisalign has advanced over the years and can now handle more difficult cases than ever before.
Boosts Confidence During Treatment
Since Invisalign aligners are clear and discreet, many people feel more confident wearing them than metal braces. Whether at work, school, or social events, patients don’t have to worry about metal brackets affecting their appearance. This is especially important for adults who want to straighten their teeth without looking like they have traditional braces.
Invisalign FAQs
Learn more about Invisalign in Flower Mound, TX, with answers to these common questions:
Who is a good candidate for Invisalign?
A good candidate for Invisalign is someone who wants to straighten their teeth without traditional metal braces. We recommend Invisalign for people with mild to moderate alignment issues, like crowded teeth, gaps, or minor bite problems. Treatment is effective for older teens and adults since their teeth and jaws have stopped growing.
How long should you wear Invisalign aligners each day?
You should wear your Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours each day. Only remove your aligners when you eat, drink anything other than water, brush your teeth, or clean the aligners.
Wearing the aligners for the recommended time helps ensure your teeth move into the right position as planned. If you don’t wear them enough, it might take longer to get the desired results. Stick to 20 to 22 hours a day.
How often do I need to change my aligners?
You usually need to change your Invisalign aligners every 1 to 2 weeks. Your dentist or orthodontist will give you a schedule for when to switch to the next set of aligners. Each new set of aligners will help move your teeth a little bit more toward the final result.
How long does Invisalign treatment take?
Invisalign treatment usually takes about 12 to 18 months. However, this time can vary depending on how much your teeth need to move. We will give you a more specific estimate based on your needs and how well you follow the treatment plan. To stay on track with your treatment, wear your aligners as recommended and keep up with your dental appointments.
Does Invisalign have dietary restrictions?
Invisalign doesn’t have dietary restrictions because you remove your aligners before you eat or drink. You can eat all your favorite foods without worrying about damaging the aligners. However, you should always brush your teeth before you put the aligners back on your teeth. This helps keep your teeth clean and prevents food from getting stuck in the aligners.
Will Invisalign give me a lisp?
You might notice a slight lisp when you first start wearing the aligners. This happens because the aligners can change how your tongue moves when you speak. After a few days, you should get used to speaking clearly with your aligners. The lisp usually disappears if you practice speaking and keep wearing your aligners as directed.
Is Invisalign painful?
Invisalign is usually not painful. However, you might feel discomfort when you first start wearing a new set of aligners. This happens because the aligners gently shift your teeth into a new position.
The feeling is often like a little pressure or soreness, but it should only last a few days as your teeth adjust. Contact our office if you feel too much pain or the aligners don’t fit right. We can make adjustments if needed.
Is Invisalign faster than braces?
Invisalign is not always faster than braces but can be for some people. The time it takes to straighten your teeth depends on how much they need to move and how well you follow your treatment plan. Based on your specific needs, we can give you a better idea of how long your treatment will take with Invisalign compared to braces.
Get Invisalign Today
Call 972-848-8745 or request a dental appointment with us today. Our dentists are open to serving patients with their orthodontic expertise in many cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
We serve Flower Mound, Bartonville, Lantana, Copper Canyon, Highland Village, Lake Dallas, Lewisville, and Coppell. Our office also sees patients from Grapevine, Southlake, Keller, Trophy Club, Roanoke, Elizabethtown, Justin, Northlake, Argyle, and Colleyville.
If you have teeth out of place, come in to talk to one of our dentists about solutions for creating a smile that will last a lifetime and boost your confidence!