Invisalign In Elmhurst, IL - McKenna Dental

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is made up of a series of clear thermoplastic aligners that are customized to fit over your teeth. These aligners look similar to whitening trays and each aligner is specifically designed to shift certain teeth throughout the course of your treatment. Once we decide that Invisalign is right for you, we will map out your treatment plan, which we will then send to an Invisalign lab so they can begin designing your aligners.

Besides being discreet, these aligners are also removable. This means that you won’t have to worry about adhering to a strict diet, as you would with traditional braces. You won’t have to worry that certain foods will damage brackets or wire. Just remove your aligners prior to mealtime and you’re all set.

The same goes for your oral care routine. Just remove your aligners prior to brushing and flossing. It’s that simple. Now you won’t have to worry about carefully trying to brush around your traditional braces, where food and bacteria can easily hide. Flossing can also be a challenge with these orthodontic systems, but Invisalign makes it easy to continue caring for your teeth and gums without changing your daily routine. Invisalign fits seamlessly into your lifestyle.

How Does Invisalign Help? 

Invisalign aligner trays are designed to gently force your teeth to conform to their shape over a specific period of time—usually six to 12 months. Once the first tray does its job, it’s time to wear the next one—this process continues every two weeks or so. After your Alexandria dentist confirms that the treatment is complete, you’ll use the final aligner tray as your retainer every night while sleeping.  

Why Do People Prefer Invisalign 

There are a few key reasons why dental patients specifically ask for Invisalign over metal or ceramic braces. Explore whether these reasons apply to your unique case:

• They are working professionals who are required to speak often at business meetings and conferences (the trays can be removed at will)
• They want to be able to enjoy their favorite foods that aren’t easy to eat when wearing permanent braces (like corn on the cob)
• They don’t want to experience the discomfort that is common in the early stages of wearing metal braces
• The treatment period for Invisalign is usually shorter compared to traditional braces

Invisalign is the only nearly invisible way to fix common dental malocclusions such as:

• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites
• Open bites
• Crooked teeth
• Gaps between teeth
• Overcrowding

If you’ve always wanted to close that gap between your front teeth or if you hate how your bottom teeth overlap, then Invisalign might be all you need to fix these imperfections.

Through a series of customized, clear aligners we can tailor a treatment plan that helps shift teeth into their proper position just by wearing these removable trays. Each tray is custom-made to help mold and reshape your smile to achieve your ideal look. How many aligners you wear throughout the course of your treatment will depend on the severity of your condition.

Ideally, each aligner is worn about 20-22 hours each day for two weeks. After, you will replace your aligners for the next set in your treatment plan. What makes Invisalign such a great option for older teens and adults isn’t just the fact that Invisalign is discreet, but also that it fits comfortably into your lifestyle without changing anything.

With traditional braces, certain foods are off limits and brushing and flossing around delicate metal and brackets is enough to leave anyone feeling anxious. But these aren’t issues with Invisalign. Just remove the aligners prior to eating, brushing or flossing and then clean them thoroughly and put them back in. Imagine going to school or work without worrying that other people will notice your braces. This possibility can be a reality when you choose Invisalign.

Want to learn more about Invisalign and whether you are an ideal candidate for treatment? Then it’s time you schedule a consultation with Dr. Tom McKenna and his team by calling 630-359-3502