Invisalign

Thanks to Invisalign®, it’s now possible to straighten your smile without spending a year or longer in metal braces. Suzette Nikas, DDS, and her team at Hazel Dell Dentistry in Carmel, Indiana, offer this innovative teeth alignment system. Call or click to schedule your consultation, and see what Invisalign can do for your smile and your confidence.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a tray-based teeth alignment system that provides an alternative to traditional metal braces. The system uses clear plastic trays to slowly shift your teeth into optimal positioning. Those trays fit snugly against the surfaces of your teeth.

While metal braces use a series of metal brackets affixed directly to the surface of your teeth and a treatment wire that ties those brackets together, Invisalign creates pressure with removable plastic trays.

Invisalign offers the chance to improve your smile without the metallic gleam of traditional braces. Adults love the chance to straighten their teeth without anyone noticing they’re in treatment, and teens enjoy the freedom that comes with not having restrictions on what foods they can eat.

People of all ages appreciate how easy it is to keep up with dental hygiene during Invisalign treatment. Metal brackets and wires provide lots of places for food particles, plaque, and bacteria to hide, but with Invisalign, you can just brush and floss normally. 

What kinds of alignment issues can Invisalign treat?

Invisalign can treat many of the same alignment issues as traditional metal braces. Some examples of treatable cases include:

• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Open bite
• Gapped teeth
• Mix of baby and permanent teeth

There are some circumstances in which metal braces offer a better treatment path. Because metal braces are secured directly to your teeth, they can create unique forces to move teeth in a variety of directions.

During your consultation your dentist discusses which options are right for you, giving you all the details needed to make an informed decision about your care. 

What is it like to go through Invisalign treatment?

During your initial visit, an intraoral scanner gathers imaging of your teeth and other oral tissues. This creates a 3D model that the dental lab uses to craft your first few sets of aligner trays. 

When your trays arrive from the lab, you come back in to learn how to place and remove them properly. You wear your trays around the clock, removing them only while eating, drinking, and performing your dental hygiene routines. 

Every couple of weeks, it’s time to switch to a new set of aligners. You might feel some soreness for a couple of days as your teeth begin to shift as guided by the new aligner trays. This is no cause for concern and simply means your treatment is moving forward. 

Learn more about the Invisalign system during a personalized consultation, which you can book online or by phone today.