A Smile Makeover in Half the Time

Achieving a beautiful smile is easier than you think. For many people, correcting the shape of a smile can not only change their appearance, but also how others feel about them. Smile makeovers give patients more confidence in their smile, and in themselves as well. At Lexington Dental Group, we straighten teeth without traditional wire braces with a product called Invisalign.

Invisalign is a series of clear plastic retainers that straighten teeth in about half the time of traditional wire braces. The transformation process is typically accomplished in 10 -12 months rather than the traditional 2 year time needed for braces. Some people require less time and some, a little more.

A series of clear aligners are used to slowly transform the position of teeth. Every two weeks a new dental aligner is provided for the patient to wear. Top and/or bottom teeth may be corrected as needed. The mouthpiece feels snug at first, and then they loosen up as the teeth move into their new position and the shape of the clear mold matches with the teeth. The process is repeated based on the amount of movement required to move the teeth to their new positions. Each patient is different and the process will vary.

For adults, Invisalign may be the best solution, and there are several reasons for this.

First: Most Invisalign cases are done on fully-grown adults, not children whose teeth may not all be completely erupted. These kids may be in the midst of growth and development, when guiding proper jaw growth is an integral part of the orthodontic treatment.

Second: Most adult concerns tend to focus on the smile zone, typically the most forward 8-10 teeth in the upper and lower jaws. Back molars are more likely to be in a proper bite that may not require much if any alteration in position.

Third: Invisalign aligner treatment lends itself more to creating tooth movement on multiple teeth simultaneously more so than traditional braces.

Lastly, proper case selection by the treating doctor is key. Invisalign excels at widening dental arches to create room for crowded teeth and it also excels at moving teeth in the curve of the jaw to create a straight appearance. There are some cases, especially those that are the fault of jaw growth that may be more challenging to do with Invisalign aligners. Sometimes proper treatment may require surgical intervention to treat these individuals.