Wyomissing
INVISALIGN

Get a Straighter Smile Without Braces

Invisalign in Wyomissing

Want to straighten your smile without braces? With Invisalign treatment, you can correct alignment issues and crowding with a discreet, subtle treatment. Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that allows patients to straighten their smiles without placing wires or brackets on their teeth. Learn more by scheduling a consultation at our Wyomissing orthodontics office today. 

Invisalign vs. Braces

who is a Candidate for Invisalign?

Invisalign is usually appropriate for patients who have minor or moderate orthodontic issues. It can be used to treat most gaps between the smile, slightly crooked and crowded teeth, uneven teeth, and even some bite alignment problems.

However, it is not intended to correct major bite alignment problems and other orthodontic issues. To qualify for Invisalign, your teeth must be strong and healthy, and your mouth must be free of oral health issues like decay and gum disease. To find out if you’re a candidate, schedule a consultation with Dr. Molly Hottenstein today.

What to Expect

The Invisalign Process

After Dr. Molly approves you for treatment, she will work with Invisalign to develop your treatment plan based on digital scans and x-rays taken during your initial consultation. Your first several sets of aligners will arrive at our office in a few weeks, and you’ll come in to pick them up.

You’ll wear your aligners for 20-22+ hours per day for about 2 weeks. About every 2 weeks, you’ll switch to a new set of aligners. Every 8-10 weeks, you’ll come back to our office for a brief checkup to get your next several sets of aligners. This process will continue until your treatment is complete.

Making the Right Choice

The Benefits of Invisalign

What Can

Invisalign Treat?

Invisalign used to be thought of as a purely cosmetic orthodontic treatment that could only correct minor aesthetic spacing and alignment issues. However, this hasn’t been true in many years thanks to the introduction of Invisalign attachments. 

Attachments are buttons made of composite resin that come in varying shapes and sizes and are bonded to certain teeth as needed. Not everyone requires attachments for their Invisalign treatment, but if you have more complex malocclusions like bite problems, then attachment buttons and elastics will be needed to help shift your jaws or perform complex tooth movements. 

Invisalign can correct minor to moderate orthodontic problems such as crooked teeth, overcrowding, gaps, and bite problems. Invisalign is not suitable for severely misaligned bites, large gaps, teeth that need to be rotated past 20 degrees, and intrusion and extrusion (moving the teeth higher or lower in the gums). To find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, give us a call today to schedule a consultation.

How to Take Care

of Your Invisalign Clear Aligners

To care for your aligners, always store them in their protective storage case when you aren’t wearing them to prevent damage or loss of your aligners. You should clean your aligners twice a day, just as you would clean your teeth. 

To clean your aligners, we recommend using the Invisalign cleaning system such as cleaning crystals but you can also use denture cleaner or soap. Use this solution and a soft bristle toothbrush to thoroughly scrub the aligners.

You’ll need to remove aligners to eat and drink flavored beverages. Regularly rinse your aligners with water when taking them out and before putting them back in. Brush and floss your teeth after eating so you don’t introduce stains, food particles, and bacteria to your aligners. You should soak your aligners every day in the cleaning solution for at least 15 minutes.

Is There a Minimum or Maximum

Age for Invisalign?

There is no maximum age limit for Invisalign and older adults in their 50s, 60s, and even 70s regularly undergo successful Invisalign treatment to improve their speech, smile aesthetics, oral hygiene, and ability to properly chew their food. 

However, there is a recommended minimum age for Invisalign and that’s 7 years old. This is because 7 is the age that orthodontic intervention is recommended to prevent long-term oral health problems. 

However, because Invisalign requires a lot of self-accountability and vigilance, Invisalign is generally not the best option for young children unless they are very mature for their age or their parents will be vigilant in constantly monitoring their treatment. 

This is because aligners need to be worn for at least 22 hours per day. The aligners are removable so your child will have the ability to take them out whenever they want. If taken out too frequently, this can negatively impact or prolong their treatment. 

They also need to avoid running them under hot water, eating with their aligners in, and they need to frequently clean them. Invisalign is a better option for older teens and adults. Young children who have difficulty cooperating with so much responsibility may benefit from trying braces first.