Now that the kids have all headed back to school in Edison and elsewhere, issues such as acne breakouts or what to wear take on a whole new level of importance. Right in there is the fear of becoming a metal mouth. Although wearing braces is anything but unusual — almost 4.5 million Americans (the vast majority of them teenagers) wear braces — teens can feel having a mouth full of metal dooms their social lives.
At Gentle Dental we have an answer for that fear. Let’s move the teeth invisibly. Not through some magic by Criss Angel, but with Invisalign. Invisalign can address mild to moderate orthodontic problems very effectively and no one even knows you’re wearing the trays.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the latest technology in teeth straightening, utilizing clear plastic aligners in place of the traditional metal brackets and wires. The Invisalign system uses a series of custom-made aligners. Each aligner is designed by computer to move the teeth a certain amount and is worn for two weeks. At the end of the two weeks that aligner’s job is finished and the next aligner takes its place. This procedure is repeated until the teeth are in the proper position.
What are the advantages of Invisalign?
Obviously, the biggest advantage is visual. With Invisalign most people can’t even tell the person is having his or her teeth straightened because the aligners are clear plastic and virtually invisible.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign won’t irritate the cheeks and lips. There are no stray wires to unexpectedly poke the cheeks or tongue.
And hygiene is much easier with Invisalign. The wearer simply removes the aligner to eat, and brush or floss. No need for floss threaders and the like, and there’s no chance of getting food caught in the brackets.
How does it work?
After x-rays and impressions are made, software in the Invisalign system creates a 3D image of the patient’s teeth. This image guides the creation of each successive aligner. Each aligner is worn for two weeks and then is replaced by the next aligner in the series. When the teeth are into their correct, final position, an Invisalign-type series of retainers are worn to keep them there.
Interested in Invisalign for your teenager? Call the team at Gentle Dental, (732) 549-5660 and let’s see if this great option could work for your teen.
