Are you self-conscious about your crooked teeth? Do you want an easier way to realign your smile subtly? Receive cosmetic dental care with Invisalign clear aligners today. Dr. Srotalina Khanna provides Invisalign treatment to patients in Bethesda, MD. Straightening crooked or misaligned teeth improves the look of the smile and helps prevent future oral health problems. Realigning the smile with Invisalign can make it easier for patients to maintain their oral health.
Why Straighten Crooked Teeth?
Crooked teeth may not seem like a huge problem, especially if the case is mild. However, crooked teeth lead to a host of other oral health problems. Crooked teeth are harder to clean and often overlap. You’re more likely to develop tooth decay and gum disease because you’re unable to clean your teeth completely. Plaque builds up in spaces you can’t reach, hardening into tartar. Your likelihood escalates if you’re also skipping your regular dental checkups.
Crooked teeth are also more likely to chip or crack. When your teeth don’t come together properly, the stress and pressure of your bite are unevenly distributed. Certain teeth take on more pressure than they’re meant to handle, leading to chips or breaks. Teeth can come together at odd angles, leading to certain teeth and areas taking on more wear than others.
Lastly, crooked teeth can impact your entire bite. An uneven bite can lead to problems with your jaw joint, like TMJ disorders. Since the bite isn’t coming together smoothly, the jaw joint becomes inflamed. You may experience pain and lose function in your jaw. It may pop or click, or you may have trouble opening and closing your mouth. Aligning your bite properly with Invisalign can help you avoid complications down the road.
Treatment with Invisalign at Bethesda Family Smiles
Dr. Khanna begins treatment by taking panoramic x-rays showing the teeth’ spacing and orientation. She takes digital dental impressions of the teeth that are used to map out each patient’s treatment. These impressions are sent to a dental lab, where customized clear aligners are fabricated.
Once complete, Dr. Khanna ensures that the preliminary pair of aligners fit comfortably. She provides patients with multiple pairs of aligners before they leave her office, as patients switch out their aligners every couple of weeks. The aligner system is personalized to make sure it’s perfect for you. You change the aligners out about every two weeks. Each one is slightly different, to slowly move your teeth into the right position.
Throughout your treatment, you continue to have regular visits with us so that we can monitor your progress. We want to guarantee you’re getting the best possible results. Your treatment plan is personalized, and the treatment length is tailored to your smile.
Invisalign FAQs
Want to know more about Invisalign treatment? Read the answers to questions that many patients may have about Invisalign:
What are the benefits of Invisalign compared to metal braces?
When compared to traditional orthodontics, Invisalign aligners provide a more discreet and comfortable way to realign a smile. This is because Invisalign aligners are made of clear plastic that is customized to each patient. Patients may also remove their aligners to eat as well as brush and floss their teeth.
Metal braces have metal brackets that need to be adjusted. Sometimes the metal wires can poke into the gums and cause irritation. Invisalign aligners are pre-adjusted as each new pair slightly changes the alignment of the teeth.
How long is Invisalign treatment?
The average treatment time for Invisalign is 12 to 18 months. However, each patient’s treatment time varies, depending on how misaligned their teeth are and how well they care for their aligners. We recommend that patients wear their Invisalign aligners for about 22 hours a day, only removing them to brush their natural teeth and eat meals. Cleaning the aligners also keeps them fresh and free from bacteria.
Can I make my treatment go faster?
No, you can’t “cheat” on your Invisalign treatment. You feel the difference for a few days when you change to a new set of aligners. Your teeth adjust, and you don’t have any discomfort after a few days. This doesn’t mean that you can then immediately switch to the next aligners. Your bones, gums, and teeth don’t have time to settle into this new alignment. Your teeth become loose, and your bite isn’t stable if you try to change aligners before your mouth is ready.
Am I a candidate for Invisalign treatment?
The best candidates for Invisalign are teens and adults with mild to moderate orthodontic problems. Dr. Khanna will examine your smile to determine if you would benefit from Invisalign or more traditional orthodontics. She can also provide treatment prior to Invisalign to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy.
What can’t you do with Invisalign?
Only drink water when your Invisalign aligners are in. Drinking other beverages may stain or damage the aligners. Don’t eat with them in, either. Food scratches and damages the aligners.
Does Invisalign give you a lisp?
It takes time for you to adjust to wearing your aligners. You may notice that you have a slight lisp when you begin treatment. However, it’s usually only noticeable to you. Once you’re used to the aligners, you won’t notice that lisp anymore.
How long do I have to wear my aligners each day?
The aligners must stay in your mouth for around 22 hours a day. Your treatment results depend on consistent wear of the aligners. Keep them in your mouth unless you’re eating, drinking something that’s not water, or performing your oral healthcare routine.
Do chewies help my treatment?
Chewing on Invisalign chewies for around 5-10 minutes a day keeps your aligners tight against your teeth. This helps ensure that you have the best fit and you’re getting the most from your clear aligners.
Request a Dental Consultation Today
Call Bethesda Family Smiles today at 301-500-2205. If you are already a patient of Dr. Khanna, call 301-530-0700. Feel free to schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Khanna on our website. Let Dr. Khanna know if you have remaining questions or concerns about treatment, she will be glad to help you.