66 Ridgedale Ave. Florham Park, NJ 07932

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Invisalign and the Science Behind It

Invisalign
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Invisalign is the modern way to straighten your teeth without the pain and hassle of traditional braces. Many patients are choosing Invisalign over traditional braces for the increased amount of comfort, the faster treatment, and for the invisible appearance. Many patients are coming to A Healthy Smile Dentistry in Florham Park to seek Invisalign treatment from Dr. Gohard. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about Invisalign and the science behind it.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment option that can correct mild to moderate orthodontic problems. The Invisalign clear aligners are made out of a thin and durable plastic that is molded to fit your teeth exactly. The clear aligners snap over your teeth and every two weeks or so, you will swap them out with new aligners to slowly move your teeth into their ideal position. The treatment can take anywhere from 6 months to two years, depending on the severity of the orthodontic problems.

Is Invisalign Right for You?

If you have been thinking about Invisalign treatment, your dentist in Florham Park will need to evaluate your smile to determine if Invisalign is the right treatment for you. To do this, Dr. Gohard will need to take x-rays of your smile. She will analyze them to see how severe your orthodontic problems are as well as a visual inspection. Patients who have a severe bite problem are usually not good candidates for Invisalign. Dr. Gohard will tell you if Invisalign is right for you and from there start planning out your treatment plan. If you are not able to hold yourself accountable for wearing the aligners for at least 22 hours per day, Dr. Gohard will not recommend Invisalign treatment for you.

Invisalign Can Treat:

  • Crowded Teeth
  • Gapped Teeth
  • Mild Overbite, Underbite, Crossbite
  • Crooked Teeth

Candidates for Invisalign will have a mild to moderate orthodontic problem. In addition, the candidate must be responsible enough to wear their aligners for at least 22 hours per day and switch them out every two weeks or as instructed by your dentist. Following these instructions will ensure your treatment evolves correctly so that your treatment ends on time. Otherwise, it can take longer than predicted, or even halt the results. If Dr. Gohard does not approve you for Invisalign treatment, she will direct you to a treatment or different dentist that can help.

I’m a Candidate for Invisalign, Now What?

After Dr. Gohard has approved you for Invisalign treatment in Florham Park, she will first begin by taking impressions of your teeth. In addition, she will take some photos of your smile. She will then send the impressions and photos off to the Invisalign lab as well as her notes and map of your Invisalign treatment plan for your aligners to be made. The clear aligners are custom-made to fit your teeth throughout your entire treatment plan.

After a couple of weeks, the aligners will return from the lab and your treatment can begin! As a patient, all you need to worry about is wearing the aligners as instructed by Dr. Gohard. From there, treatment is easy. Now you are probably questioning how Invisalign actually works. Keep reading to find out.

The Science Behind Invisalign

There is actually a science behind Invisalign treatment. The thin plastic clear aligners are molded to fit your teeth exactly. Patients are instructed to wear their aligners for at least 22 hours per day and then every 2 weeks the aligners are swapped out for new ones. The new ones are slightly different from the previous ones. This is so that your teeth move slowly into their desired position. Invisalign’s science is completely attributed to Dr. Gohard’s treatment plan she created for you in her Florham Park dental office. Dr. Gohard’s treatment for you plans every step of the process and every small movement of your teeth during the length of the plan.

The Difference Between Traditional Braces and Invisalign

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, traditional braces are less comfortable and less desired by patients due to their unsightly appearance. Traditional metal braces involve pointy and sharp metal brackets and wires and painful tightening appointments. Since you visit your orthodontist every 6 weeks instead of swapping aligners out every 2 weeks, you receive all of the pressure of tightening at once instead of gradually. This makes for a painful aftermath. In addition, the wires and brackets will constantly rub against your cheek and lip and cause you painful sores and cuts. Metal braces treatment actually takes longer than Invisalign treatment too. This can be due to the length in between tightening appointments. Lastly, many patients don’t want to opt for metal braces due to their unsightly appearance. Many patients feel self-conscious when wearing braces, especially older patients.

With Invisalign treatment, your will wear comfortable clear aligners. You won’t need to worry about having painful tightening appointments every 6 weeks. Instead, you will change your aligners out every 2 weeks and experience a slight feeling of pressure in your mouth. In addition, your cheek and lip won’t get cut up during the treatment. With Invisalign treatment, you can remove the aligners for brushing your teeth and eating, ensuring a healthy smile throughout treatment. You will still need to visit your dentist every 6 weeks to ensure your treatment is moving along correctly. Dr. Gohard may recommend the use of rubber bands or additional aligners towards the end of treatment to give you the perfect smile. Many patients prefer Invisalign for their treatment because it is invisible and most people can’t tell when someone is wearing it. This makes the treatment more attractive for older patients and even teens. They will never have to worry about people poking fun at their metal mouth, or looking like a young teenager. For the comfort and for aesthetics, Invisalign is the top choice of Florham Park patients.

Post Invisalign Treatment

After your Invisalign treatment has been completed, you will need a long-term solution for maintaining your new smile. This means you will need to wear a retainer. Immediately following your treatment, Dr. Gohard will give you a Viveria retainer or other clear retainer that is similar to your Invisalign aligners. She will instruct you to wear the retainer for a certain amount of hours per day for an extended period of time. Eventually, you will only need to wear them at night while you sleep. The point of the retainer is to prevent your teeth from moving back to their original position. It’s imperative that patients wear their retainers for the instructed amount of time during the retention period otherwise you might ruin your new smile and see your teeth slowly drift back into their old position. Don’t waste all of the hard time and money you spent on Invisalign treatment and be sure to always wear your retainer.

Aesthetic Benefits of Invisalign

There are tons of benefits associated with Invisalign treatment, and amongst them are lots of aesthetic benefits of Invisalign. Patients of all ages love how invisible and discreet Invisalign aligners are. Young adults enjoy wearing Invisalign aligners instead of metal braces because they don’t have to be afraid of being teased during their treatment. The aligners can also be removed for important events, pictures or even dates. Older adults enjoy the aligners because they don’t have the stigma of braces only being for children associated with them. This allows older patients to continue feeling confident at work and on dates whereas they would not with a mouth full of metal. The invisible and discreet appearance of the Invisalign makes it an appealing treatment option to anyone considering orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign also provides another aesthetic benefit with its ability to be removed at any moment. Although we don’t recommend patients do this all the time, patients should know that if a special occasion like a date, wedding, or even a family photo session arises, they can remove the aligners if they need to for a few hours. This will allow you to live your life the way you want to without worrying about your treatment getting in the way. You don’t need to feel self-conscious with your aligners in as they are nearly invisible. Feel free to smile in pictures like normal, nobody will notice your aligners. Enjoy your life with Invisalign treatment.

The Hygienic Benefits of Invisalign

Many patients don’t stop to think about the other benefits of Invisalign, including the hygienic benefits. Unlike with traditional braces, patients undergoing Invisalign treatment can clean their teeth efficiently like they could without the braces. You will remove your Invisalign aligners to brush and floss your teeth, giving you the ability to clean your teeth effectively. With metal braces, you have to use special floss which is a pain to use. In addition, it’s hard to effectively clean your teeth with metal brackets and wires in the way. To avoid any dental decay or dental problems, Invisalign is the best choice for maintaining your dental health.

Dental cleanings are also a lot easier with Invisalign treatment. With traditional braces, you have to have your wire removed in order for a hygienist to perform a dental cleaning. This means you need to visit the orthodontist to have the wire removed then you must visit Dr. Gohard in Florham Park for the cleaning. You then must return to the orthodontist to have your wire put back in. This makes for a stressful dental cleaning. Avoid all of this and opt for Invisalign treatment.

In addition, you can still have whitening treatments to protect your white smile during the treatment. This means, once your treatment is complete, your smile will already be white and ready! With traditional braces, staining is common to occur around the brackets, causing patients to need a whitening treatment as soon as the brackets are removed. The aesthetic benefits of Invisalign are endless.

Eat Everything with Invisalign

With Invisalign, you don’t need to restrict certain foods in your diet like chewy candy, popcorn, apples, corn on the cob, or nuts. With Invisalign, you remove the aligners every time you eat, giving you the freedom to eat whatever you want whenever you want. This is perfect for patients who don’t want to give up their favorite foods during their orthodontic treatment.

Benefits of Straight Teeth

You might be wondering if you should invest the time and money into orthodontic treatment when you can correct your smile with porcelain veneers or with nothing at all. Unfortunately, not fixing your smile can actually be bad for your teeth. There are many benefits of straight teeth that make Invisalign treatment or other orthodontic treatments completely worth it. One benefit is that your teeth will bite together properly and evenly, which prevents uneven wear of your teeth, can correct TMJ pain, and even stop grinding and clenching of the teeth at night (bruxism). Orthodontic treatment can also provide some relief for patients who suffer from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be caused by an obstruction of the airway, which can sometimes be solved with just orthodontic treatment.

Lastly, a benefit of straight teeth is increased dental hygiene. Straight teeth are easier to clean and it prevents food from getting stuck in hard to reach spots. When your teeth are perfectly aligned, Dr. Gohard can more easily clean your teeth. Orthodontic treatment will leave you with a healthier smile that prevents future problems from developing.

Want to Straighten Your Smile for Good?

After reading about the science behind Invisalign, it may have persuaded you to receive the treatment for yourself. Achieve a beautiful smile with Invisalign treatment with the expertise of Dr. Gohard. Once you schedule your Invisalign consultation, Dr. Gohard will evaluate your smile to determine if it’s the right treatment option for you. Following that, your Invisalign aligners will be ordered and your new smile will slowly be on its way! From there, you will visit us every 6 weeks to ensure your smile is moving correctly to its ideal position. If Invisalign sounds like the right solution for you, give Dr. Gohard a call at our Florham Park dentist office or fill out our online contact form to set up a consultation. We look forward to helping you transform your smile.

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