Invisalign
Many adults, as well as some teens, are good candidates for treatment with Invisalign. Invisalign allows us to give you the beautiful straight teeth you've always wanted, but without braces!
Invisalign uses a series of clear removable “aligners” that are difficult for others to see that you're wearing. That should make you smile! Invisalign is made with 3-D computer imaging technology and has been proven effective in over a million cases around the world.
Not only are the aligners "invisible", they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment. Plus, brushing and flossing are no problem, so dental health should be excellent during treatment. Invisalign aligners are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
Dr. Joiner has treated several hundred Invisalign patients, having become an Invisalign provider shortly after the company formed in 1999. In fact, he has consistently treated so many cases and completed advanced continuing education to the extent that he has achieved the status of "Premier Provider" for many years, a status achieved by relatively few orthodontists. Please call our office to schedule a complimentary consultation so Dr. Joiner can determine if Invisalign is right for you. No referral from your dentist is necessary.
Getting Started With Invisalign
Step 1: Visit our office for a complimentary initial evaluation
During the initial visit, Dr. Joiner will see if you are a good candidate for Invisalign. We will take complimentary digital photographs and, where appropriate, a digital panoramic x-ray, to more completely evaluate and discuss your orthodontic problems. We will also discuss financial options with you.
Step 2: Collect diagnostic records
To get started with your Invisalign treatment, we will take any other necessary x-rays and impressions (molds) of your teeth and send them, along with a set of precise instructions, to Invisalign for processing.
Step 3: Invisalign makes your aligners
Invisalign uses advanced 3-D computer imaging technology to create a virtual model of your teeth, and the virtual crooked teeth are then moved into their final, straightened position in a series of discrete steps. Each step represents a stage of treatment and an upper and lower aligner is robotically created for each stage. There may be as many as 45 sets of aligners in the series or as few as 10, depending on your individual treatment plan.
Step 4: You begin your aligner treatment in a few weeks
During your next visit to our office, you will receive your aligners and precise instructions on how to wear them and care for them. Adjusting to the aligners is usually a simple process, with little if any discomfort or speech issues.
Step 5: You wear your aligners
You'll wear each set of aligners day and night for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss your teeth. We will see you approximately every six weeks once treatment is underway to monitor progress and make adjustments to your teeth and the aligners. Total treatment time is usually between 6 and 18 months, but will vary from case to case. Your treatment may require a second, smaller series of aligners (at no extra charge) to more precisely move certain teeth into their most ideal position.
Step 5: You've finished Invisalign treatment! Now hold them right there…
Congratulations! When you're finished wearing each aligner in the series, your orthodontic treatment will be complete and your smile should be dazzling. But the teeth won't automatically stay put! As is true with treatment with braces, nighttime retainers are needed to hold the teeth in their new, straightened position. Wearing these retainers is a simple matter and well worth it for a lifetime of beautiful smiles!
