Invisalign

McKinney’s Invisalign Experts

Some patients put off getting braces for years because of the irritation brackets from traditional braces can cause. Others simply don’t like the appearance and decide it’s not worth it. Luckily, there is a more subtle alternative that is less irritating and just as effective: Invisalign clear alignment trays.

Invisalign consists of clear plastic orthodontic aligners that fit over your teeth like a retainer or mouth guard. They are custom-made to straighten your teeth quickly and effectively. Invisalign braces are worn around 20 hours each day. You can remove them while you are eating or cleaning your teeth. Every two weeks, you will return to your dentist for a new set of clear aligners.

If you’d like to find out whether Invisalign is right for you, contact us today! With our awesome iTero digital scanner, we can show you a simulation of what your smile will look like after Invisalign treatment!

What is Invisalign?

The Invisalign method involves a series of clear alignment trays that are custom made for your teeth. You wear each tray in the series for two weeks before visiting our McKinney, TX orthodontic office to receive the next tray in the series.

Invisalign trays are made of a clear plastic, which is more comfortable than metal brackets and wires. Better yet, if you ever feel any discomfort from your Invisalign trays, you can simply remove them. This advantage also makes cleaning your teeth easier than it would be with traditional braces.

Invisalign clear aligners are made of a smooth plastic that will never irritate your lips or cheeks. Invisalign won’t create painful sores in your mouth. You will find that it is perfectly comfortable to remove and replace the aligners at any time. You might even forget that you’re wearing braces.

These virtually invisible aligners are hardly ever noticed by others. Invisalign is perfect for the more image-conscious individual. If you want a straight, eye-catching smile, but do not want to sacrifice your current appearance to get braces, Invisalign is a great option for you.

Some patients are nervous about changing their oral hygiene habits when they get braces. With Invisalign removable clear braces, you don’t need to change a thing about your teeth cleaning routine. You can simply remove the plastic aligners and put them to the side while you brush and floss your teeth as normal.

Invisalign will give you the straight and beautiful smile that you want. Our patients who have chosen Invisalign have seen great success in achieving the smiles of their dreams. What makes Invisalign’s results even more enjoyable? How little time it takes to get them! On average, patients who choose Invisalign only have to wear their braces for a total of 12 months before they get to see that gorgeous smile in the mirror.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign centers around the use of clear aligners. Clear aligners are easy to put on and take off. Braces on the other hand are permanently installed onto your teeth, so there is no taking them off. Each patient who starts with Invisalign will be started on an Invisalign treatment plan that entails a set of Invisalign clear aligners.

Once given the set of aligners, patients will be directed to wear the aligners in a sequential order. Each aligner is to be worn for about two weeks and then replaced with the next aligner that is in the series. These aligners will help shift your teeth to a straightened position, therefore each aligner helps your teeth make shifts.

Invisalign patients are also recommended to visit the orthodontist every 6 weeks to make sure that the treatment is going as planned. At these sessions, the doctor can make any adjustments to the treatment or spot any issues that may be arising.

The average Invisalign treatment takes from 9 to 15 months and the average number of Invisalign clear aligners worn is between 18 and 30. However, like anything else, exact treatment duration changes from person to person based on the orthodontic case at hand.

Advantages Of Invisalign In McKinney, TX

In addition to the advantages of being able to remove your Invisalign trays, there are many other benefits of Invisalign. Some of these benefits are:

Effective at straightening crooked teeth
Shorter treatment period
Ability to eat normal foods
Subtle appearance

How Do I Know If I’m a Candidate For Invisalign?

Not everyone is a good candidate for Invisalign. Here are some factors that can help you determine if Invisalign might be right for you:

You’re a Teen or Older: Invisalign is made for teens and adults and is not a recommended option for children. Children are much younger and are prone to lose their aligners or can forget to put them on. In order to minimize patient error, Invisalign is not provided to children.

You’re Organized and not Forgetful: Unlike braces, Invisalign is not permanently installed to your teeth. Patients are to remove their Invisalign when drinking, eating or brushing their teeth. However, because Invisalign aligners are removable, patients can forget to put them on. If this is to happen, it can delay or compromise treatment.

Mild Orthodontic Case: Not all smiles are created the same. Some require much more work to fix and others can be a much simpler fix. If a particular patient has a complicated orthodontic case, meaning that there are many obstacles to achieving straight teeth, Invisalign may not be a good option as it is not created to handle these level of cases.

These are three major areas that help determine if you are a good candidate. However, to figure out if you, specifically, are a viable candidate, we recommend that you visit an actual orthodontist.

Getting Invisalign With a Dentist Or Orthodontist?

Invisalign is widely available and many dentists offer Invisalign services as well. However, we do recommend that if you are to seek out orthodontic treatment through Invisalign, we highly recommend to go through an orthodontist. Invisalign’s technology has improved and has made results more efficient and allowed more people to pursue treatment.

Saying that, Invisalign technology has not reached a point where it can automate treatment for patients. Every smile is different and every patient requires a custom treatment tailored to them. Therefore, by going through an orthodontist, they can understand the exact, unique needs for your smile and can tweak and adjust your Invisalign treatments.

There are cases where combination orthodontic treatment is needed, where a patient will need braces and Invisalign. Another common scenario is Invisalign treatment will sometimes need to be tweaked or adjusted. An orthodontist has years of training and even more years of experience that allows them to easily stay flexible and versatile for treatment to ensure that a perfect smile is achieved.

Those who are not orthodontist do not have the training and are not experienced in spotting potential problems that can arise. Missing important problems or not being able to easily adjust can negatively affect results and/or extend the needed time for treatment.

How Do I Get Started With Invisalign?

Many people have seen friends or acquaintances with Invisalign and wonder how they themselves get started. We find that a lot of people overthink it. However, it’s actually really simple to get the process for Invisalign started. All it takes is one appointment!

Most orthodontists, including Dr. Dan Gehani, can sit down with you and take a look at your teeth and analyze the improvements and structure of the teeth. At Showtime Smiles Orthodontics you can come in for a free consultation and Dr. Dan can determine if Invisalign is a viable option for you. These meetings are no obligation. You do not need to move forward with treatment if you aren’t sure if you want to proceed.

At Showtime Smiles we will also provide a complete list of treatment options that is available to you. Orthodontic technology has made leaps and bounds over the decades, so there are many more options than just Invisalign and traditional metal braces.

Meet Our

Doctor

When you’re at Showtime Smiles, you’re under the care of the best orthodontic team in the McKinney area. Our board certified orthodontist, Dr. Bar, has a certification granted by the American Board of Orthodontics. The distinction comes with years of extra residency, additional education and more hands-on patient care. When you choose a board certified orthodontist, you know that you are choosing someone that the dental industry deems the top of the class!