According to the books of record, teeth straightening is a dental procedure that has been in practice for thousands of years. Research done by the American Dental Association showed that aligning crooked teeth will improve your overall oral health and your general health.
Why You Need to Get Your Crooked Teeth Fixed
Most people seeking orthodontic services are usually concerned about their image, but there are more reasons to straighten teeth other than aesthetics. Crooked teeth, underbites, overbites, and other oral issues are likely to affect self-esteem and lower confidence. This is why we at Montgomery Dental Associates & Implantology Center are committed to fixing your dental flaws. Visit our website or give us a call to learn more about the services we provide and how to book an appointment.
Teeth that are properly aligned are easier to clean and thus lower your risk of developing periodontal disease. This disease can progress to the jaw bone tissues and cause their breakdown if not addressed early. Straight teeth will also eliminate uneven teeth grinding, allowing you to chew food properly.
Having straight teeth will lead to proper jaw alignment, resulting in comfort and reduced jaw aches.
Although traditional dental braces are still being used to straighten teeth, today’s technology has enabled experts to develop better and more efficient teeth straightening methods like Invisalign®. As a result, Invisalign braces have become a common choice for both teenagers and adults who want an alternative to traditional braces. This is because, with Invisalign treatment, no wires and brackets are used, and there are no food restrictions that come with it.
What’s The Time Frame to Straighten Teeth with Invisalign
Statistics from the American Dental Association show that at least 65% of American citizens have misaligned teeth. If you fall in this category, you can get Invisalign braces for straighter teeth. The treatment process results will start to show some few weeks after the initial treatment course, while for the full results, you’d have to wear the retainers for at least 12 months.
Factors Causing Variation in Invisalign Wear Time
The genetic coding of every human is unique, just like their fingerprint; thus, it becomes quite difficult to estimate the exact treatment duration. For example, patients who need minor dental corrections can take six months to complete treatment, while major corrections can require more than 18 months. Below are some contributing factors to the differences in the duration of treatment:
- Patient’s age
Invisalign has shown positive results in adults and teenagers, but your age is likely to affect how fast it works. Young people will experience quicker results because their teeth are still growing and will thus move easier and faster than the aged. This, however, does not apply to some patients who, despite their age, teeth shift faster than the rest. Nevertheless, clear aligners are designed to work despite someone’s age, so this should not discourage you from getting them.
- Teeth crowding
If you have a small jaw or larger teeth, you are likely to have misaligned teeth due to crowding. You can get minor crowding issues corrected at your dentist’s office within six months, while moderate cases can take up to a year to be fixed. Crowding will prolong your Invisalign treatment since teeth have to move a longer distance to get in position. If your crowding case is severe, our dentist in 20850 may suggest another treatment course before you start Invisalign.
- Patient compliance
This is a major factor that determines the efficacy of the treatment and its duration as well. Failure to wear your aligners based on the dentist’s plan will most likely extend the treatment duration significantly, even if you only need minimum dental correction. Clear aligner trays should be worn for no less than 22 hours a day, every day. Since they are removable, you can always take them out whenever you are eating or brushing teeth and afterward put them back in even during your sleep.
Benefits of Invisalign
Although there are various teeth straightening options, Invisalign is the one that is completely free of metal wires and brackets. Here are some of the benefits it offers:
- It will fix your crooked teeth and eliminate possible risks of bad breath, teeth sensitivity, and gum inflammation.
- Invisalign aligners will improve your dental hygiene as it makes it easier to clean teeth.
- Compared to traditional braces, Invisalign offers more comfort as they have smooth edges and are custom-made.