Invisalign For The Busy Professional

In the on-the-go world of the busy adult professional, it can sometimes feel like you barely have time to breathe, let alone take a day or two to do something for yourself and your health. There just aren’t enough hours in the day when you’re dealing with early mornings and late nights. Add in a kid or two, and you’re stretched even thinner. You look in the mirror and see a tired smile you barely recognize. More than that, you see a smile that could really benefit from orthodontic treatment, but have no idea how to make that happen. You’ve always wanted a brighter, healthier smile and straighter teeth, yet you feel like it’s probably too late for that.

Oakland Dental Specialty has good news for you – it’s not!

What if we told you there’s an orthodontic treatment that is subtle, comfortable, affordable, and best of all, removable? The Invisalign aligner system is all these things and more. Interested in learning more about it? Let’s discuss what it is, how it works, and why it’s one of the best orthodontic options for a busy professional like you.

What Invisalign is – and isn’t

Invisalign, like traditional metal braces, is designed to straighten your teeth in small increments over time, but that’s where the similarities end. While braces use metal brackets, wires, and bands to work, the Invisalign system consists of clear trays made of smooth plastic. Using a combination of x-rays, pictures, and impressions, a precise 3-D image of your teeth is created, and this is used to custom-make your aligners. The trays are practically invisible, fit over your teeth, and don’t irritate your cheeks and gums the way metal braces might.

Invisalign is an effective option for gently moving teeth and working to straighten your teeth in a less invasive way than braces do. Because every patient has different needs, there is no treatment time set in stone, but the average tends to be somewhere between 6 and 18 months. This average is based on the patient being compliant with their orthodontist’s recommendations. For a patient to see the best results in the shortest amount of time, the aligners must be worn at least 20-22 hours every day, throughout the course of their treatment. Deviating from this in any way can delay results and add time to the process.

Thanks to the removable nature of the aligners, there are none of the food restrictions you have with braces, so you can eat and drink whatever you want while undergoing treatment. In fact, you’re actually required to remove your aligners to eat and drink (anything other than water.)  You will also remove the aligners when carrying out your daily dental hygiene routines. We recommend thoroughly brushing and flossing at least twice a day – not having brackets and wires to work around makes this job much less tedious and a whole lot easier to accomplish!

How Invisalign works

Through the use of their patented thermoplastic design, Invisalign aligners move your teeth through the use of controlled force. Not only does the system control the force that gradually moves your teeth into better placement, but it is also ensuring the timing of the force application.  Essentially, what this means is that during each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move. These movements are determined by your orthodontist when they work with you to develop your own specific Invisalign treatment plan.

Over the course of your treatment, you’ll receive a series of aligners, each based on where you currently are in your progress. Every aligner makes slight adjustments to the position of the teeth based on the previously mentioned treatment plan. By wearing your aligner for the recommended 20-22 hours daily, the teeth will gradually shift from their current position. You’ll be expected to change aligners every 1-2 weeks, each one continuing the teeth straightening process up until it is complete.

Why Invisalign works for busy adults and professionals

Obviously, one of the biggest benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are virtually invisible. Many adults are hesitant to seek orthodontic treatment even when needed because traditional treatments are so noticeable. Invisalign aligners fit seamlessly into your lifestyle, providing all the benefits of orthodontics without feeling like you’ve time traveled back to middle school with a mouth full of metal!

Invisalign also offers flexibility. Have a big meeting or presentation? Working dinner? Company portraits? Although aligners need to be worn 20-22 hours a day for the best results, you can still remove them temporarily when needed. There are no pesky food restrictions, and brushing and flossing are as easy as 1-2-3, ensuring fresh breath and better oral health overall. And forget the kind of gum and cheek irritation you get from metal brackets and wires – the smooth plastic aligners are comfortable as can be.

Wondering about the time you’ll have to spend visiting your orthodontist for check-ups? While you’ll be expected to attend follow-up visits at your orthodontist’s office every 8-10 weeks, there are no bracket or wire adjustments to be made, so these appointments tend to be pretty straightforward and fast.

Oakland Dental Specialty can give you the smile you’ve waited for your whole life

Here at Oakland Dental Specialty, we’re firm believers that a beautiful smile can start at any age! As a specialist in orthodontic care, Dr. Karkhanechi and her team take pride in providing the highest quality care to patients of all ages.  If you’ve ever wondered whether you could benefit from orthodontic treatment, and how on earth you’d be able to fit it into your busy lifestyle, get in touch with our friendly team today to set up an appointment to discuss your options.  With a convenient office location and payment plans and financing available, you owe it to yourself to check out how Invisalign at Oakland Dental Specialty can change your smile for the better!