Invisalign

Straighten Your Teeth Without the Drawbacks of Traditional Braces

At Beach Orthodontics in Del Mar, CA, the orthodontist offers Invisalign as a treatment option for teen and adult patients. It’s no secret that straight, well-aligned teeth are an important part of a great smile. Unfortunately, the inconvenience and discomfort often associated with traditional braces keep some of our patients from wanting to straighten their teeth. For these patients, Invisalign could be the perfect solution.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign uses a series of soft plastic aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth to gradually and gently straighten your smile. No wires or brackets to irritate your mouth! Unlike traditional braces, you can remove your Invisalign aligner during your oral hygiene routines and while eating your favorite meals. Brushing and flossing is not complicated and you don’t have to give up any of the foods you love.

Why Invisalign

Our patients, especially working professionals, tend to prefer this option because Invisalign is more aesthetically pleasing, requires less maintenance than braces, and may be a better lifestyle fit.

Rather than installing metal hardware, which some patients find cumbersome and unattractive, the aligner is a clear tray that fits over your teeth. It is far less noticeable than braces.

Because the trays are removable, your lifestyle is largely unaffected by your treatment. A key concern for patients with braces is participation in sports and recreational activities.

Should a patient sustain a mouth injury, the braces can cause additional damage as well as be damaged themselves. This could result in an emergency visit. The use of aligner trays eliminates this concern because trays can be removed before the activity and returned to the teeth afterwards.

The Daily Invisalign Experience

For the first few days of each stage of your treatment, you may feel minor discomfort as your teeth get used to the added pressure, similar to what traditional braces patients experience after adjustments. This is perfectly normal and a sign that the aligners are doing their job.

The difference is with this treatment, you may be tempted to take the aligners off to relieve the pressure. Resist that temptation, because it will delay your results! You should wear your aligners at all times during your treatment, except during meals and snacks and while brushing and flossing your teeth. Wearing them less often will make your treatment take longer.

Potential patients often ask if the aligners will make it difficult to speak clearly. Most Invisalign patients experience very little difficulty with speaking clearly while wearing their aligners, but there will likely be an adjustment period as you get used to having them in your mouth.

Caring for Your Trays

To clean your aligners, brush and rinse them in lukewarm water and use Invisalign Cleaning Crystals or special cleaning tablets. Make sure you’re also brushing and flossing after each meal before you re-insert your aligners.

One of the best advantages of these aligners over traditional wire braces is that there is no banned foods list! As long as you are brushing and flossing before putting your aligners back in, you can enjoy all your favorite foods without compromising your orthodontic treatment!

Gum can stick to your aligners, so it’s not a good idea to chew it while they’re in. Take your aligners out for all meals and snacks. We also discourage smoking during Invisalign treatment, as it can stain and discolor the aligners, as well as put you at risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

How Beach Orthodontics Can Help

For those patients that do not want traditional braces, Dr. Maulik recommends Invisalign. It is a modern approach to teeth straightening without many of the drawbacks of braces. The clear plastic aligners are nearly invisible, allowing you to confidently show off your smile while straightening your teeth.

We want to help determine whether or not Invisalign is right for you. If you live in or near Del Mar, call us today at +1(858)790-3996 or email us to set up a smile consultation.