Invisalign®
Dr. Le is an Invisalign® Orthodontist, treating patients throughout the local area. Invisalign® is an excellent way to straighten your teeth, preferred over traditional metal braces by adults of all ages. If you want to improve the appearance of your smile, call (360) 799-3466 to schedule a consultation and see if Invisalign® is right for you or your loved ones.
Teenagers and adults choose Invisalign® because it straightens teeth without anyone noticing that they are correcting their smile. People living in the Camas WA area, trust Dr. Le to help them achieve their smile goals in a way that is comfortable and convenient.
How does Invisalign® work?
As an Invisalign® Orthodontist, Dr. Le straightens teeth using a series of aligners. First, we make an impression of the patient's teeth and create a series of aligners in a dental lab. The aligners are made out of a thermoplastic material that is both strong and flexible, to help the patient feel comfortable while wearing the aligners for long periods of time. The material is nearly invisible.
The aligners should be worn for 22 hours a day and switched out with the next one in the series every two weeks. Over a period of several months, the aligners will slowly move the teeth into place and make one minor adjustment at a time. Each of these adjustments is targeted to specific teeth. Thanks to the speed of the process, a patient's teeth will remain comfortable as they are moved into position. Once the patient is done wearing the aligners, he or she will have straight teeth.
Benefits of Invisalign®
How do I care for my aligners?
Dr. Le recommends that patients remove their aligner and rinse it with warm water on a daily basis. You may also want to brush them with a soft toothbrush.
Attachments
Some patients may need to wear attachments or ridges in order to ensure that their teeth move into place. An attachment is a clear bump, made out of an enamel-colored composite that is secured to the teeth. There are bumps on the aligner, which grips the aligner and holds it in place. Ridges work in a similar way, except that an indent is created instead of a raised bump. This can be necessary for more complicated cases to ensure that a particular tooth, or several teeth, move into the proper place as they should.
Checkups
Patients of All Star Orthodontics will need to see Dr. Le for checkups to ensure that their teeth are moving like they are supposed to. Fortunately, since the aligners are made at the beginning of the procedure, these appointments are less frequent than if you were wearing metal braces. With traditional braces, a metal bracket is placed on each tooth. A wire is threaded between each bracket and held in place with rubber bands. We will need to adjust the wire on a regular basis in order to keep the teeth moving in the right direction. For each adjustment procedure, the patient will have to make frequent office visits. This can be inconvenient for people with busy schedules and a hectic life. However, any delay in appointment scheduling can prolong the timeframe that the braces need to be worn. As an Invisalign® Orthodontist, Dr. Le sees patients less frequently because the checkups are not to adjust anything, just to make sure that the procedure is working. This is far more convenient for patients throughout the local area.
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Treatment Time
For most patients living in the Camas WA area, the procedure takes around twelve months. The exact timeframe will depend on your situation; only Dr. Le can tell you how long Invisalign® will need to be worn. Overall, the treatment time can be less than with metal braces. This is in part because you do not have to schedule appointments to keep your teeth moving. Simply put on a new aligner.
Finding an Invisalign® Orthodontist
Not all orthodontists offer Invisalign®. An orthodontist has to receive special training in order to provide Invisalign® to patients. With that in mind, Dr. Le has completed the necessary Invisalign® orthodontics training and will ensure you are given excellent treatment at his office in Washington. To learn if the procedure is right for you, schedule an appointment with our All Star Orthodontics office by calling 360-799-3466.
How will Invisalign® impact my life?
Unlike wearing traditional braces, Invisalign® will not make a major impact on your quality of life. Since the aligners are clear, it will not drastically change your appearance. Additionally, since they only need to be worn for 22 hours a day, they will not interfere with eating. This is a huge advantage because you can eat your favorite plate of ribs, go out for a romantic date or eat a caramel apple without worrying about a wire being pulled out of place. This time also allows you to take the aligner out when having an important conversation or making a presentation at work. It is important to note that you need to brush your teeth and clean out any food in your mouth before you place your aligners back in. Overall, this is a convenient way to straighten your teeth and provides the maximum level of flexibility.
Some people are concerned about whether or not wearing an aligner will impact their speech. Most of our Camas patients tell us that they have to get used to wearing aligners after the first couple of days. Patients may have a slight lisp that goes away once they adjust to speaking while wearing the aligners. This is standard with any orthodontic procedure. Fortunately, most people can speak normally within a couple of days.
How do I get started with Invisalign®?
Call (360) 799-3466 and schedule a consultation with Dr. Le.
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