Your Certified Invisalign Wichita Providers
One of the things that we love here at Dillehay Orthodontics is how versatile our Invisalign aligners are. They are invisible, removable, and priced the same as regular braces. Not only that, but there are no limitations on what foods you can eat, and brushing and flossing are just as easy as they are without orthodontic treatment. At Dillehay Orthodontics, we get patients from all ages looking for orthodontic treatment, and we love that Invisalign is adaptable for teens and adults at any age!
Some of our patients wonder, “Am I too old for orthodontic treatment?” Absolutely not.
It’s a common question, but as long as your teeth are healthy, it is never too late to straighten them out. Taking any action towards orthodontic treatment can help prevent oral health problems in the future. Invisalign works for teens, young adults, middle-aged adults, and even senior citizens! To help you understand why Invisalign works so well for all patients, let’s look at how it works and how it can benefit you!
What is Invisalign? How does it work?
Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment that uses a series of clear, removable, plastic aligner trays to gradually shift your teeth into a new position. These aligners are made from molds of your teeth using 3-D technology, and they have proven to work just as effectively as traditional metal braces.
The process of getting Invisalign is the same for all patients, regardless of their age. We carefully evaluate the gums and bones that support the teeth to make sure that they are healthy and strong. We will also take a look at your dental history as well as your bite situation and desired result.
Once your aligners arrive, you will begin wearing them immediately. It is recommended that you wear your aligners for 20-22 hours a day to make sure that your teeth will move into their new position as quickly as possible. Each set will have to be replaced every 1-2 weeks, and are only removed for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. As you move onto each new aligner in the series, your teeth will gradually move little by little until you’ve finished your treatment and your teeth have moved into their final positions.
While you’re going through Invisalign treatment, you will visit our office every 4-6 weeks to ensure that everything is right on track. On average, total treatment time takes around 9-15 months to complete, and the number of aligners patients usually go through can be between 18-30. These numbers can vary from case to case, sometimes by a lot! The reason for this is that the amount of time it takes to straighten teeth is dependent on the severity of the problem, and some mouths are just more accommodating than others! Even though adult patients’ teeth are more firm and fixed than our younger patients’, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t be moved by simple orthodontic treatment like Invisalign; the process just might take a little bit longer.
More benefits, less fuss
One of the greatest things about Invisalign is its invisibility, which is particularly ideal for our teens and professional adult patients. Even though braces have been made to be smaller and less noticeable than ever before, many patients prefer an even more subtle solution to straighten their teeth, and that’s exactly what Invisalign brings to the table!
One of the hard realities of braces is that patients can’t eat a lot of the foods that they’re used to, such as popcorn, apples, caramel, and other hard or sticky foods. With Invisalign, you can take out your aligner whenever you eat, so you don’t have to forfeit eating all your favorite treats!
You will also have to remove your aligners every time you brush and floss your teeth. This can be challenging for a patient with braces, because getting in between all those brackets and wire can be difficult. Keeping up with oral hygiene is a breeze with Invisalign, and the aligners are easy to clean too!
Many people put off orthodontic treatment out of fear that the treatment or the braces themselves will be painful. Thankfully, that’s not much of a worry at all with Invisalign. The aligners are made with smooth plastic that prevents irritation to your cheeks and gums. As with any orthodontic treatment, you will probably feel a little bit sore whenever you change aligners due to the movement of your teeth, but overall, Invisalign provides a pain-free outlet to straightening your teeth.
Orthodontic treatment for all ages
Most people that we see with braces or any sort of orthodontic treatment tend to be on the younger side, like teens and young adults. However, more and more adults are also opting to get orthodontic treatment for misaligned teeth, jaw problems, and everything in between. This is due to the ever-improving technology in orthodontics, and Invisalign plays a huge part in that. People of all ages are now able to reap the benefits of having a straighter smile without interrupting their lifestyle.
For teens and young adults, physical appearance plays a big role in self-confidence. Since Invisalign is designed to be discreet, insecurities that might normally come with braces are not a worry. As an added bonus, being able to temporarily remove the aligners means proms, homecoming dances, and class pictures don’t have to be remembered with a mouth full of metal!
As a parent or professional adult, you might think that you don’t have the time or energy to keep up with the appointments that come with traditional braces. You may also be hesitant to choose braces because of the change in appearance that comes with them, not to mention the food restrictions that can make it hard to plan a family meal. Luckily, with Invisalign, your follow-up appointments are far and few between, there’s no change in appearance, and there are no food limitations. Your lifestyle is completely uninterrupted!
And not to leave out grandparents and senior citizens! Not only are there cosmetic benefits to using Invisalign, but having your teeth and jaw aligned can improve the health of your mouth and, sometimes, even your overall health – gum disease can increase your chance of heart disease by over 25%. It is never too late to receive the orthodontic treatment you’ve waited so long for.
Whether you have college or retirement ahead of you, we want to reassure you that Invisalign truly is for all ages. If you are in the Wichita or Derby area and are looking for a subtle way to straighten your smile, get in touch with us at Dillehay Orthodontics and set up a consultation appointment. We look forward to helping you achieve that great smile you’ve always dreamed of!