When something is elite it is considered the best in its field.
When people talk about college basketball, we talk about Kentucky being an elite program. When we talk about football, people refer to Super Bowl champions as elite teams.
In dentistry, Invisalign has a program for the dentists it considers Elite Preferred Providers, and at least one of them is here in Lexington.
Dr. Patricia Takacs of Beaumont Family Dentistry has been recognized for her knowledge of Invisalign and her success in using it to correct orthodontic issues for our patients.
If you are considering Invisalign to straighten your teeth, then you deserve to get that care from a dentist who knows what those clear aligners can do and how to make them work for you.
Who Can Use Invisalign?
Patients of all ages — from teenagers to working professional adults — can be treated with Invisalign. Many misalignment problems that can be treated with traditional braces can be treated with Invisalign, too.
Here are a few examples of cases that can be treated with either orthodontic option:
- Crossbites
- Crowded teeth
- Open bites
- Underbites
- Overbites
- Gapped teeth
Now, Invisalign may not work on severe cases, but it will work for most people who are considering orthodontics.
It’s important for you to know that we are not going to recommend Invisalign unless we are convinced that it will work for you. At the end of the day, we want your orthodontic treatment to work, no matter which treatment you receive.
Your Treatment Process
The first step in any orthodontic treatment is knowing the condition of each patient’s teeth.
At our office, we will take pictures and make X-rays of your teeth and the supporting bone structure. We also make impressions, which are sent to Invisalign so they can begin creating custom-made plastic aligners for you and your teeth.
When your aligners are ready, you will come to our office. We will show you how to put on your aligners and how to take them out.
Unlike braces, which you wear the entire time you are being treated, you can take out your Invisalign aligners from time to time. You should wear your aligners for at least 22 hours every day, but this also means that you can take them out for up to two hours each day.
With Invisalign, you actually receive a series of aligners. Approximately every two weeks, you will replace your aligner with a new one. Each aligner pushes your teeth a little closer to their final, straight position.
For most patients, the treatment is over in 12 months, which is about half the time of traditional braces.
After you are finished with your final aligner, you may need to wear a retainer temporarily. The retainer helps to keep your teeth in their new position.
Without the retainer, some patients’ teeth will drift back toward their original, misaligned positions. Wearing a retainer will help your body accept your straight teeth as being in the correct position.
The Invisalign Advantage
We’ve already touched on two of the advantages that Invisalign has over braces.
First, Invisalign usually works faster than traditional braces (one year vs. two years).
Second, you can remove your Invisalign aligners for up to two hours per day. You can take them out during meals, so you can continue eating all your favorite foods during your treatment.
And you can take them out to brush and floss your teeth. You won’t have to learn any special cleaning techniques or how to use any special tools like you would with braces.
Third, Invisalign aligners are clear, as in transparent. When you are wearing them, many people won’t know that you have them on your teeth. This can be extremely helpful if you work in a position that requires you to have a lot of face-to-face contact with clients or customers.
Fourth, the aligners are made of smooth plastic. There are no brackets that come off your teeth and no wires that can break loose and poke you in the lips, cheeks, or gums.
Quality Care
If you needed someone to work on your car, you would find a mechanic with experience and knowledge. Likewise, if you need someone to straighten your teeth, you should find a dentist with experience and understanding of how to make that happen.
Invisalign is an effective treatment for many people, and the staff at Beaumont Family Dentistry knows how to make it work for you.
Click on the name of the office closest to you to fill out our online form or call the office to make an appointment.