When a person feels good about their smile, it can really boost their self-confidence. Straightening your teeth can significantly improve your self-confidence and your oral health, improving your hygiene and making chewing more comfortable and effective. Having straighter teeth will make a dramatic impact on your quality of life. That’s why our Thunder Bay dentist offers Invisalign®, a revolutionary way to straighten your teeth without the all the drawbacks of traditional metal braces.
What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign® uses a series of clear, plastic-based trays to gradually realign your smile. Your aligners are specifically designed just for you under the supervision of Dr. Chow. The clear trays gently shift the position of your teeth over time. When you’re finished with one tray, you simply replace it with the next one until your smile realignment is complete.
The Trouble with Braces
For a long time, metal braces were the only viable option for patients who wanted straighter teeth. Metal braces are an effective treatment, but they have some serious shortcomings. For example, metal braces are bulky and distracting, which causes many patients to become self-conscious about their smile.
Metal braces can irritate the soft tissue in your mouth and they have sharp wires that can scratch your gums. These wires also require regular tightening from an orthodontist, which can be painful as well as time-consuming. Wearing metal braces also makes dental hygiene more difficult and places restrictions on the type of foods you can eat.
The Invisalign® Advantage
One of the best things about Invisalign® aligners is that they’re clear and practically invisible. In fact, most of the people you meet throughout the day won’t even notice you’re wearing them. Invisalign® trays are discrete and much more comfortable than regular metal braces. Also unlike metal braces, Invisalign® never requires painful tightening and far fewer dental visits are necessary.
Invisalign® will never interfere with your dental hygiene routine because you simply remove your tray when it’s time for brushing and flossing. That means you can eat whatever you want, as food will never get stuck in your Invisalign® trays.
The Invisalign® Process
With Invisalign®, your treatment is completed in stages, and it’s all done under the supervision of your personal dentist. For adults, the process could last up to a year, but it’s typically faster than similar orthodontic treatment using metal braces. The course of treatment with teens is similar to the time frame for metal braces.
Your Initial Consultation
The first step in getting Invisalign® is to meet with Dr. Chow to discuss your smile goals and your unique situation. If you decide on Invisalign®, Dr. Chow will design a treatment plan just for you.
Fitting Your Customized Aligners
Dr. Chow will create an impression of your smile to share with the dental technicians at Invisalign®. Then Dr. Chow will develop a course of treatment designed specifically for your smile. Next, Invisalign® will fabricate your custom aligners. You’ll replace them every two weeks as they gradually reshape your smile.
Your Invisalign Dentist in Thunder Bay
See Dr. Chow at Oasis Family Dental in Thunder Bay if you ready to learn more about Invisalign®. She’ll make sure you get the proper care and the treatment you deserve.