There’s a common misconception that you can get too old for braces. It’s true that your teeth are at their easiest to move when you’re a child, but there’s definitely no age limit on getting the smile of your dreams. More and more adults are choosing orthodontic treatments.
That’s thanks, in large part, to the fact that you have options that didn’t exist before. Specifically, you don’t have to choose a mouthful of metal to get your teeth to their desired positions.
With Invisalign®, our team of cosmetic dentistry specialists — Arman Dayan, DDS, Xuan Yue, DDS, and Anne Kim, DDS — can help you get your dream smile without affixing a single piece of metal to your teeth.
If you’re interested in this virtually invisible way to straighten your teeth, keep reading.
Traditional braces use a stiff archwire to move your teeth into place. Each tooth gets a bracket cemented to its front. That bracket attaches to the archwire, gradually repositioning your teeth over time.
The problem? A lot of adults don’t want to deal with the hassle of metal braces, let alone the way they change their appearance.
Invisalign uses a similar principle, shifting your teeth to their ideal positions. Instead of relying on a metal framework to do that, it uses a sophisticated series of 3D-printed plastic aligners. These aligners are made from clear plastic, so you can wear them without most people knowing you’re straightening your teeth.
When you choose Invisalign, the process starts when one of our cosmetic dentists takes a 3D image of your teeth. Using that scan, they create the first set of aligners for you to wear. These aligners are even trimmed to match your gum line, so you get the most comfortable and least visible fit possible.
You wear the first set of aligners in your series for a set period of time (usually one to three weeks) as prescribed by Dr. Yue, Dr. Dayan, or Dr. Kim. Then, you swap them out for the next aligner in your set. Each aligner you wear moves your teeth closer to their perfect position. Once you finish wearing the last aligner in your Invisalign series, you get a straight, beautiful smile — all without a single piece of metal.
Another perk of Invisalign is that you only need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day. That means you can take them out if you have a big presentation at work, want to play a pickup game with your friends, or have a date.
You also take out your aligners to eat, which means you don’t have to worry about any food getting stuck in them. Just brush your teeth before you replace the aligners to avoid staining them.
In short, Invisalign aligners can integrate seamlessly into your life, no matter your age. If you’re interested in learning more about how our team can use Invisalign to help you get your dream smile, call our office, or book an appointment with us online today.
