Are your teeth as straight as you would like? When deciding to correct the spacing of your smile, you have multiple options for orthodontic treatment. While traditional braces offer a strong choice for bringing your teeth into position, their metallic appearance may be too imposing for certain patients. If you prefer a more discreet solution, Invisalign clear aligners can address your misalignment without calling further attention to themselves.
At your Katy, TX dental practice, we know that straightening your teeth can provide serious oral health benefits in addition to enhancing your smile’s beauty. When your teeth are straight, it is easier to access their entire surface area with your brush and floss. This means orthodontic correction can help you prevent tooth decay and its associated cosmetic damage down the line.
Why You Should Correct Your Malocclusion
When your teeth are uneven, your dentition suffers and can damage the integrity of your smile. Beyond improving the esthetic appearance of your smile, orthodontics can help bring your bite into a more comfortable position. We can properly distribute the pressure of your bite so that no particular tooth is damaged by taking on too much force. We see patients feeling more confident in social situations when they know that their smile is more healthy. An even bite also helps you prevent nightly grinding from teeth that are out of position. Also known as bruxism, this condition can quickly wear away at your enamel and further misalign your smile.
Designing Your Clear Aligners
When you visit our practice, we will evaluate your smile to see if you are a candidate for Invisalign® treatment. We will take a series of images of your mouth using digital technology that assists in designing your aligners. By creating a three-dimensional model of your smile, we will not put any messy physical impression material on your teeth. We can then show you a projection of what your smile will look like after completing your aligner treatment. To move forward, we send your model to a technician to create a system of aligner trays that will bring your smile into position.
Wearing Your Aligners
When you receive your Invisalign® system, we will provide instructions on how often to wear them. In general, you will put them on your teeth throughout the day and while you sleep, except for your meals and oral hygiene. This represents around 20 to 22 hours per day. As each tray gradually moves your teeth into position, we will inform you when to move to your next set.
Speak With Your Katy, TX, Dentist About Straightening Your Smile
Orthodontic correction can help you achieve the smile of your dreams while protecting your teeth from misalignment. To learn more about our approach to cosmetic orthodontics, please call Lathrop Dental Center in Katy, TX at (832) 437-3849 to schedule a visit.
