Invisalign® Clear Braces – Annapolis, MD
The Right Choice for Metal-Free Orthodontics
Many patients wish they could achieve a straighter smile, but the thought of wearing metal braces for years on end is just too much of a hurdle. If you’re looking for a more sophisticated solution, Invisalign in Annapolis could be the right choice for you. Each pair of clear aligners is designed to be entirely transparent, so you don’t have to change your appearance just to get a straighter smile. Plus, you can eat the foods you want, practice oral care with ease, and get it all done in less time overall! Give our office a call to get started!
Why Choose Goodman Dental Care For Invisalign?
- #1 Get Your Teeth Straightened in a Fraction of the Time
- #2 Keep Your Current Brushing & Eating Habits
- #3 Maintain You Professional Appearance in the Process
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign consists of clear, plastic aligners that are designed to gently shift your teeth into the proper position. After taking digital impressions of your smile, Dr. Goodman will send the images to a dental lab to have your custom aligners created. This will ensure a proper and comfortable fit throughout the duration of your treatment.
Once you receive your aligners, we will provide you with clear, detailed instructions on how long to wear each set, which is typically 22 hours a day for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, you will swap out your current set for the next one in the series. It’s important that you keep your previous set just in case you accidentally lose an aligner.
It will be your responsibility to maintain your regularly scheduled appointments with our office, as your cosmetic dentist in Annapolis will need to review your progress and make sure everything is moving along smoothly.
While treatment times may vary depending on each individual case, once you are finished with treatment, it will be important that you wear a retainer to keep your teeth from shifting back into their original position.
Indications for Invisalign
As one of the most versatile orthodontic treatments available, Invisalign can shift teeth and realign bites in less time than traditional braces.
Crowded Teeth
At Goodman Dental Care, we see cases of crowded teeth far more often than you might think. Although you might feel as if no one else could possibly understand what it’s like to have overcrowding issues, the fact is that many people have problems that stem from teeth sitting too close together. If you’re ready to do something about yours but want to avoid years of wearing metal brackets and wires, we can provide an alternative solution with Invisalign in Annapolis. With the help of clear aligners, you can watch your teeth properly realign, creating a healthier, more uniform smile. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation.
What Can Happen If Crowded Teeth Are Left Untreated?
If you’ve been living with crowded teeth for some time now, you are probably already aware of the negative consequences it is having on your smile. Not only do you experience difficulties brushing and flossing and trying to rid your mouth of harmful bacteria and left-behind food particles, but the lack of self-esteem may have you keeping to yourself these days.
If crowded teeth are not treated in a timely manner, you will become more susceptible to tooth decay, gum disease, cavities, and even a misaligned bite. This is why in order to prevent damaging effects to your smile, you should seek care from a dental professional sooner rather than later. Fortunately, with the help of clear aligners, you can watch your teeth properly realign, creating a healthier, more uniform smile.
Gaps Between Teeth
Invisalign in Annapolis is an extremely versatile orthodontic treatment method. If it is spaces between your teeth that are keeping you from feeling confident about your smile, these clear aligners can eliminate unwanted space and ultimately, improve your oral health so you start seeing a healthier, more aesthetically pleasing smile. At Goodman Dental Care, our team of experts will discuss your goals and desired look before providing you with customized aligners that will gently shift your teeth into proper alignment and “bring the gap,” so you no longer feel embarrassed by your appearance.
What Can Happen If Gaps Between Teeth Are Left Untreated?
No matter the reason behind the spaces between your teeth, it is likely that you have started to experience some of the more common dental problems that can occur as a result. When teeth have too much space between them, food particles and bad bacteria can become trapped and make effective brushing and flossing extremely difficult.
Invisalign can help you avoid these problems associated with leaving gaps between teeth untreated:
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Excessive wear and tear
- Misaligned bite
Bite Alignment
Many people are aware of the fact that Invisalign can correct the position of your teeth to make the smile look straighter. However, what many people don’t know is just how effective it is at correcting misaligned bites as well. If your teeth do not come together properly and your jaw is uneven, it can lead to many debilitating conditions that you might not have been aware of previously, including TMJ disorder and tooth enamel erosion. With Invisalign clear aligners from Dr. Gary and Dr. Goodman , you can fix your bite and stay proactive against dental problems later.
Why Do I Need to Fix My Bite Alignment?
It’s bad enough that a poorly misaligned bite can lead to speech problems and an increased difficulty in showing off your smile to others. However, an uneven bite puts disproportionate amounts of force on different areas of your teeth and joints. The result is a large amount of strain and discomfort in your jaw joints, which connect the jaw to the skull. If you want to avoid TMJ disorder, a condition that causes headaches and chronic pain in the jaw joints, neck, upper back and shoulders, you’ll want to start thinking about fixing your bite.
Additionally, uneven bites lead to disproportional levels of enamel erosion throughout teeth. Overall, your risk for injury only goes up the longer you go without addressing these issues.
Bite Issues Invisalign Can Fix
Each aligner in your Invisalign series is designed to shift teeth into a straighter and healthier position. While it is known for correcting gapped, tilted, rotated, or overcrowded teeth, it can also resolve most bite issues with relative ease. This includes:
- Overbites – When the upper teeth extend too far over the lower teeth, which makes the lower teeth bite into the roof of the mouth.
- Underbites – When lower teeth are positioned underneath the upper teeth.
- Dental Midlines – When back teeth do not match or fit quite right. This can lead to TMJ disorder.
- Crossbites – When upper teeth sit inside lower teeth. This can cause excessive enamel wear and misaligned jaw growth.
- Open Bites – When upper and lower teeth do not overlap; typically caused by thumb-sucking.
Am I A Good Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign does require a high level of responsibility and commitment because of its flexible approach. Unlike traditional braces, you can remove your clear aligners when eating, drinking, or when engaging in an important event (i.e. work function, wedding, etc.). It is often most successful when more mature teenagers or adults use them, as children who require orthodontic treatment have much better luck with regular braces.
To determine if you are eligible for treatment, our team will evaluate your smile and determine the severity of your orthodontic issues. Patients with severe orthodontic problems may find that traditional braces will give you the results your desire. Otherwise, you can expect to receive the green light for Invisalign.
The Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign isn't like other options. Instead of wires and brackets, it uses clear, customized plastic aligners that are virtually unnoticeable when worn. Patients simply need to wear each one as directed and attend regular check-ups with our team to achieve the dazzling results they’ve been hoping for.
But the benefits of Invisalign extend beyond this. Your aligners are also removable. As a result, you can take them out for meals and for daily brushing and flossing. With traditional braces, there are certain foods you need to avoid because they can damage your braces. But with Invisalign, you can enjoy the same diet you've always enjoyed. Similarly, traditional braces can make thorough brushing and flossing more difficult. With Invisalign, though, you can care for your smile just as easily as you normally would.
How Much Does Invisalign Cost?
There are various factors that are considered when determining how much a person can expect to spend on their Invisalign treatment. Some of these factors include:
- The number of Invisalign aligners you will need
- The severity of your orthodontic problem
- The retainer you’ll need once you are finished with Invisalign
- Whether you will need a tooth extracted prior to Invisalign treatment
During your consultation, Dr. Goodman will be able to provide you with an estimated cost of your treatment, so you can begin to create a budget or contact your insurance company to find out if they will cover any or all of your treatment.
Would you like to know if Invisalign is right for you? Contact Goodman Dental Care today to schedule a consultation!
Invisalign FAQs
Every year, more and more patients use Invisalign instead of metal braces to help them achieve perfectly straight smiles. After all, this treatment offers a plethora of benefits over having a mouthful of metal. However, you may have a few questions or concerns before you fully commit to Invisalign. Not to worry; we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions that we get about Invisalign in Annapolis down below.
Does It Hurt to Get Invisalign?
When you first place the aligners on your teeth, it’s perfectly normal to experience some degree of sensitivity or soreness. This is actually a sign that your treatment is working. Invisalign straightens your teeth by exerting pressure on one small portion of your smile at a time until all of your pearly whites are in the desired position.
One way to alleviate this discomfort is to switch to a new set of aligners right before bed. You can then sleep through the first several hours of the adjustment process. If your mouth is still sore the next morning, you can take an OTC pain reliever as instructed on the bottle.
How Do I Care for Invisalign Aligners?
At least once a day, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and clear hand soap to brush your aligners under lukewarm or cool water. Never use hot water since that could change the shape of the plastic and render your aligners ineffective. It also helps to rinse your aligners after every time you take them out. To prevent them from staining, brush your teeth after eating and before placing your aligners back in.
Will Invisalign Affect the Way I Talk?
At first, your trays may make you sound like you have a bit of a lisp. Many of the sounds you make are produced by your tongue touching the back of your front teeth or the roof of your mouth, where the edges of the aligners now lie. As a result, your tongue may get confused by this new object in your mouth. Practicing speaking, particularly words with a lot of “s” sounds, can help your mouth adjust.
How Often Wil I Need to Have Checkups During Treatment?
Throughout your treatment, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with your cosmetic dentist in Annapolis every four to six weeks. Although this may sound like a lot, very little of that time is actually spent in the dental chair. Typically, these appointments last half an hour or less. All we’ll need to do is evaluate your progress and give you your next few sets of aligners.