If you have overlapping, crooked, or gapped teeth, you can schedule an appointment with your dentist. They will find treatment to straighten your smile. Your dentist will likely recommend teeth straightening treatment with Invisalign. This consists of a set of plastic aligners worn for at least 22 hours each day that will gradually align your smile.
Each patient will receive personalized aligners that they will swap every two weeks to get an even bite and smile. But how do dentists make these oral appliances? Dr. Sahil Goyal, a dentist practicing in Columbia, MD, outlines the process that dental professionals use to build customized Invisalign for their patients.
Create Impressions of Your Smile
If you and your dentist decide to pursue teeth straightening with Invisalign, your dentist will first take impressions of the current structure of your smile using either a physical mold or digital imaging technology. This will allow your dentist to construct aligners that fit your unique smile. It will also mean they can determine a strategy that will get you the smile of your dreams.
During this initial evaluation of your smile, your dentist will also consider if Invisalign is the best way to enhance the alignment of your teeth. Patients with severe malocclusions or prior dental work may not find Invisalign effective. A dentist may recommend alternative orthodontic treatments that will better suit their dental needs.
Consider Teeth Straightening Plan
Invisalign utilizes multiple sets of clear-colored aligners to straighten the placement of teeth in a dental patient’s smile. Therefore, dentists need to consider more than the current alignment of the patient’s teeth. They must also think of the aesthetic and structural goals for the patient’s smile.
The dentists will build aligners that can help patients achieve these goals gradually and without discomfort. The length of the treatment and the number of Invisalign sets that a patient will need may vary for each patient. A dental professional will approach each treatment plan on an individual basis.
Construct Personalized Aligners
With a treatment strategy set in stone and effective imaging on file, the dentist can then create a patient’s personalized Invisalign aligners. They construct them from polyurethane plastic. This will feel comfortable on a patient’s teeth while exerting pressure to move teeth into their desired position.
They can construct a personalized fit to the aligners. Patients will not have to worry about their appliances slipping out of place at inopportune moments during their day. Many patients also appreciate that while Invisalign must be worn for the majority of their day, the aligners are removable. Therefore, they can eat and complete their oral hygiene regimens without the interruption of brackets or wires as with traditional orthodontic treatments.
Ask Your Dentist in Columbia, MD About Invisalign
Columbia Family Dentist offers Invisalign and other cosmetic dental treatments to patients in Columbia, MD. Dr. Goyal also specializes in implant, restorative, and general dentistry, including laser dental solutions, for patients of all ages. To schedule a consultation or appointment with our practice, contact our staff by phone at 410.670.8211 or reach our office online.