For years, dental braces were the go-to solution for crooked teeth. However, advances in dental technology give today’s patients a range of choices in orthodontic care. At Historic Hyde Park Dentistry, we provide Invisalign in Tampa, FL, to straighten crooked teeth.
Invisalign uses a series of aligners to shift teeth into a straighter position. This cosmetic dental treatment straightens teeth and improves your smile’s appearance. Invisalign aligners are a much more discreet alternative to traditional braces in our Tampa dental office.
Benefits of Invisalign in Tampa, FL
Metal braces use brackets, wires, and elastic to shift teeth into a straighter position. Alternatively, Invisalign uses clear aligners that fit over the teeth like mouthguards.
Invisalign offers many benefits, especially compared with metal braces. Invisalign aligners offer:
- Removable Aligners: You can remove your clear aligners to eat and drink what you want. You don’t have to avoid hard or crunchy foods like popcorn, nuts, or hard candy.
- Easy Cleaning: You don’t have to floss or brush between wires and brackets during Invisalign treatment. Instead, you can brush and floss as normal after you remove your aligners.
- Clear Aligners: The clear Invisalign aligners are less noticeable than metal braces. Clear Invisalign aligners blend in with your teeth for a more discreet treatment.
- Quick Treatment: Most patients complete Invisalign treatment in twelve months. Your Invisalign treatment time often depends on how crooked your teeth are and how you care for your aligners.
Who is a Candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign is best for teens and adults with mild to moderate orthodontic problems. Clear Invisalign aligners can fix gaps between teeth, crooked teeth, overbites, crossbites, underbites, and open bites.
Dr. Benedict doesn’t recommend Invisalign for children because their jaws aren’t fully developed. If you experience bruxism or teeth clenching and grinding, please let us know before treatment. Clenching and grinding will damage the Invisalign aligners. We will recommend TMJ treatment before Invisalign treatment.
How Much Is Invisalign?
Every patient has unique dental needs. The cost of your Invisalign treatment will depend on the severity of your orthodontic problems. Treatment will cost more over 18 months than over 12 months. After an examination and consultation, we will estimate your Invisalign treatment cost.
Patient Review
Invisalign Treatment in Tampa, FL
To begin treatment, Dr. Benedict will examine your smile to determine which areas need treatment. Then, using the iTero scanner, Dr. Benedict will take a quick, precise 3D scan of your teeth. Using this scan, Dr. Benedict can help plan your Invisalign treatment. Dr. Benedict will also send specifications to Invisalign.
Technicians will create the aligners from durable plastic materials. After your aligners arrive from Invisalign, we will ensure they fit correctly. Then, we’ll send you home with your aligners and case.
You will switch to a new set of aligners every one to two weeks. We’ll help you schedule follow-up appointments with Dr. Benedict approximately every two months. Invisalign shifts teeth gradually into their ideal position by gently applying a calculated force through each clear aligner.
Caring for Invisalign Aligners
Invisalign is made from dental-grade plastic material. Caring for Invisalign aligners is essential for the best treatment possible. Here are some of the best practices to care for your Invisalign aligners:
Do Not Eat with Invisalign
Invisalign uses removable aligners. You may take your aligners off whenever you need to eat, drink, or brush your teeth. Eating with your aligners on could damage them. They can also make the aligners ineffective.
Eating with Invisalign on your teeth could change the aligners’ shape. It could also change the pressure applied to your teeth.
Clean Your Teeth Thoroughly
You can remove your aligners to clean your mouth. Once your teeth and gums are clean, you can put your aligners back on. Proper cleaning helps ensure your treatment progresses as intended.
If food gets lodged between your teeth, it could affect the pressure the aligners apply. You may also feel uncomfortable with the aligners in your mouth.
Keep the Aligners Safe
Invisalign has a storage case to keep them safe when you take them off. Please store your aligners in the case whenever you’re not wearing them. Avoid leaving them outside their case, on the bed, table, etc. Keep the aligners away from children and pets to prevent any damage.
Avoid placing your aligners in a tissue, napkin, or paper towel. You may accidentally throw them away. Instead, keep them in their case.
How to Prevent Future Crooked Teeth
Orthodontic relapse occurs when your teeth shift out of their straightened positions. If you don’t wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment, you may develop tooth gaps and crooked teeth.
We will provide retainers after you complete Invisalign treatment. Retainers are mouthguard-like appliances that will keep your teeth straight. Once you complete the Invisalign treatment, we will take impressions of your teeth to create your retainers. Then, when your retainers are complete, you will return to our office for a fitting. You will bring your retainers and their case home.
At first, you will wear your retainers for twenty to twenty-two hours a day. Then, you can wear them at night months after you complete treatment. You can care for your retainers the same way you care for your clear aligners. Use a mouthguard soak to clean your retainers daily. Remove your retainers to eat and drink.
If you don’t wear your retainers long enough, they may no longer fit your teeth. Please contact our South Tampa dental office if you lose your retainers. You may need more orthodontic treatment if your teeth revert to their previous positions.
Straighten Your Smile
Do you want to address crooked, overcrowded teeth? Schedule a dental appointment with our experts to address your oral concerns as soon as possible. Call us for Invisalign treatment in Tampa, FL, today at 813-733-6981. You can also schedule an appointment online.
Visit us for cosmetic and restorative needs, including dental implants, crowns, veneers, and more. We serve patients from Palma Ceia, Davis Islands, Bayshore, South Tampa, and all of Hillsborough County.