If your teeth are misaligned or crowded, you will probably feel uncomfortable showing your teeth when you smile. In addition, you might have bite issues or other problems. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend years of your life wearing metal braces in order to correct your teeth issues. At Cynthia Mikula, DDS, Inc. in Bay Village, Ohio, we can fix your problems with Invisalign.
Is Invisalign Worth Getting?
Invisalign is an innovative treatment that corrects misaligned or crooked teeth without the use of traditional metal braces. When you use this method to enhance your smile, you will wear aligners over your teeth. These aligners will be made of smooth, clear plastic.
Wearing your customized aligners will put extra pressure on your teeth. Over time, this pressure will slowly shift some of your teeth into better locations inside your month. This is a very effective, easy treatment that is worth getting. In fact, this treatment has a number of benefits that older techniques lack.
A Comfortable Method
This technique will not require you to get uncomfortable braces that need frequent tightening and repairs. Instead, your plastic aligners will feel comfortable inside your mouth.
A Discreet Option
The plastic used to make your aligners is see-through and nearly invisible. Your coworkers, friends, and other people in your life will not be able to tell when you are wearing your aligners. As a result, you don’t need to tell your friends and family members that you are using this tooth straightening method.
In addition, you will be able to take off your aligners if you are attending a special event. For example, if you are giving an important presentation at your job, you could take your aligners off while you are talking. In addition, you could leave off your aligners while you are attending a wedding.
What Types of Problems Can I Correct With Plastic Aligners?
Although everyone’s teeth are unique, there are a number of common issues that are usually treatable with Invisalign.
Crowded Teeth
Crowded teeth can make it difficult for you to floss between each of your teeth. You also might not like the way that your crowded teeth look when you smile. Aligners can correct this problem by shifting these teeth into better positions.
Overbites
An overbite occurs when the upper teeth in the front of your mouth extend too far in front of your lower teeth. This issue can cause you to have problems when you are talking. Your teeth may also begin to wear down. We can correct this issue by using gentle pressure to move your upper and lower teeth into a better alignment. When we have finished improving your overbite, your upper teeth will not extend as far out in front of your lower teeth.
Gaps Between Your Teeth
It’s common for food to collect in gaps between your teeth. This problem will increase your risk of experiencing cavities, tooth decay, and other problems. Wearing aligners can close the gaps in your smile and give you straight, even teeth.
Analyzing Your Teeth
In addition to the problems described above, we can use aligners to fix crossbites, underbites, and other common teeth issues. To determine whether Invisalign can correct your smile, you will need to visit our office in Bay Village.
To diagnose your teeth issues, we will need to take a look at your teeth and gums. We will also talk about the teeth issues that are bothering you. Once we have completed our examination, we will let you know if we can use aligners to fix your smile.
Will I Wear Aligners on My Upper and Lower Teeth?
It’s common to have teeth issues that affect your upper and lower teeth. To fix these problems and create comprehensive changes in your smile, you will need to wear aligners on your upper and lower teeth. Wearing two aligners at a time is also a good way to improve bite issues.
That said, under some circumstances, you might be able to achieve meaningful changes by wearing one aligner at a time. For example, if a few of your front teeth are crooked, you might be able to improve this problem by wearing one aligner. During your initial meeting with us, we will look at your teeth and discuss the changes that you are trying to achieve. We will let you know if you should wear pairs of aligners during your treatment.
Will I Have to Stop Eating Certain Types of Food During This Treatment?
You probably already know that certain types of foods can damage braces. For example, eating popcorn or biting into whole apples can harm the wires and brackets in your braces. As a result, if you use this technique to improve your smile, you might have to give up your favorite desserts and snacks for the duration of your treatment. Avoiding your favorite foods can be very frustrating and difficult.
Fortunately, we will not require you to change your diet while you are wearing your plastic aligners. When you are drinking or eating, you should take your aligners off. Since you will not wear these devices during meals, you don’t need to worry about harming your aligners at this time. You will be able to continue to indulge in caramels, chips, and other crunchy, chewy foods.
Do I Need to Wear My Aligners During the Daytime?
Your aligners improve your smile by using gentle, steady pressure to shift your teeth. If you do not wear your aligners for a significant portion of each day, these devices will not able to improve your teeth problems. Although your treatment will depend on the issues that you are trying to fix, it’s common to wear your aligners for at least 20 hours each day. To comply with this requirement, you will need to wear your aligners during the day and nighttime.
You will be able to remove your aligners when you are eating or playing sports. In addition, you can remove your aligners for an important event like a wedding. However, if you lose your aligners or forget to wear these devices, you may negatively impact the quality of your treatment. If you stopped wearing your aligners, you should contact our office so that we evaluate your situation.
Will I Need to Visit Your Office During My Treatment?
You will need to make periodic visits to our office throughout your treatment. Attending these visits will increase the effectiveness of your treatment and allow you to feel comfortable while you are wearing your aligners.
Receiving Your First Aligners
Once we have created your customized aligners, you will need to have an appointment at our office. During this meeting, we will provide you with your initial sets of aligners. We will also teach you how to comfortably move these devices in and out of your mouth. In addition, we will show you how to clean your aligners.
When you start wearing your aligners, you might develop minor changes in your speech. For example, you might have a slight lisp. Fortunately, you will quickly adjust to your new aligners, and this problem should resolve within a couple of days.
Getting Follow-Up Visits
You’ll need to have additional visits at our office while you are wearing your aligners. During these visits, we will monitor your progress and ensure that your aligners are continuing to fit comfortably within your mouth. Under some circumstances, we may need to make minor changes to your treatment. For example, we might tell you to stop wearing your new aligners and return to wearing an older pair of aligners.
Completing Your Treatment
After your bite problems, gaps, or other issues are corrected, you will have a final appointment at our office. During this meeting, we will provide you with a retainer. This retainer may appear to be very similar to the aligners that you have been wearing during your treatment.
To stop your teeth issues from returning, you will need to consistently wear this device. In the beginning, we may tell you to wear your retainer during the day and night. Over time, you will probably be able to stop wearing this device during the day.
Will My Tooth Straightening Treatment Be Affordable?
This tooth straightening method is a very affordable way to fix your crooked teeth. In fact, this type of treatment is comparable in cost to traditional braces and other straightening techniques. Since your treatment will be used to fix your unique teeth issues, the exact cost of your aligners will vary. We can tell you more about the likely cost of your treatment after we have examined your teeth.
This is a well-established tooth straightening technique, and your dental insurance may contribute to the costs of your treatment. If you are paying for your aligners on your own, we can offer financing options that will help you fit this treatment into your budget. For example, you could use a CareCredit card to pay for your treatment.
Can I Use This Method if I Received Braces as a Child?
Wearing braces as a child will not prevent you from having teeth problems later in life. For example, if you did not remember to wear your retainer after your braces were taken off, you may develop bite problems, misaligned teeth, and other issues when you are an adult.
Our tooth straightening technique is a good way to fix these problems. In fact, it’s very common to use this technique to fix issues that appeared years after you finished wearing traditional metal braces.
Can I Use Dental Techniques to Whiten My Teeth?
Straightening your teeth isn’t the only way to improve your smile. After you have finished wearing your plastic aligners, you can continue to improve your teeth by getting a teeth whitening treatment.
Drinking coffee and tea can cause your teeth to become stained. In addition, you are more likely to develop discolored teeth as you get older. At Dr. Cynthia J. Mikula, DDS, we can use a technique called Colgate Optic White to improve the color of your teeth.
Straighten Your Teeth
Bite problems, gaps between your teeth, and other teeth issues can be extremely frustrating. In addition to making you feel self-conscious about your teeth, these issues can lead to cavities, tooth decay, and other dental problems. Fortunately, you can improve these issues by wearing clear aligners. To learn more about the benefits of Invisalign, contact us at Cynthia Mikula, DDS, Inc. in Bay Village, Ohio.
