For patients with crooked or misaligned teeth, metal braces used to be the only treatment option. Although they’re better than they used to be, many patients still find metal braces to be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Thanks to the technological innovation of Invisalign, there’s now a much easier solution for straightening your smile.
Invisalign uses clear aligners that are virtually invisible, so your friends won’t even notice you’re wearing them. The aligners are also removable, allowing you to take them out while you eat and keep them clean. With the freedom offered by Invisalign, these are just a few of the many benefits you can enjoy.
When teeth are crooked they form nooks that are difficult to clean and subsequently invite bacteria that can cause cavities and tooth loss. In addition to helping prevent decay and cavities, straightening the teeth can also alleviate a number of dental issues caused by misaligned teeth, such as jaw stress, trauma to jaw bone and jaw joints, chipping, grinding, and abnormal or uneven wear on the teeth.
How Invisalign Works
The Invisalign process begins when you schedule a free consultation with Dr. Grussmark. During this meeting, he’ll thoroughly examine your smile to determine if Invisalign is the right treatment for you.
Next, Dr. Grussmark will use the Itero Element® scanner to create a digital 3D impression of your smile in just a few minutes. This eliminates the need for traditional dental impressions, which are often messy and time-consuming.
Dr. Grussmark uses the 3D impression of your smile to develop a treatment plan which he’ll submit to Invisalign. The technicians at Invisalign use this information to custom-design your aligners for a perfect fit.
Your first set of aligners typically takes about four weeks to arrive — after that, you’ll receive a new pair of aligners every two weeks until your smile goals are achieved. The process typically takes about a year to complete.
Because of our advanced technology, we can visually predict the results of your treatment with great accuracy. Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners only move the teeth that need to be moved, creating the exact smile you’re looking for.
Caring for Your Aligners
Caring for Invisalign aligners is very simple compared to metal braces. You remove your aligners when you eat, keeping them free of crumbs and debris. You won’t have to worry about getting food stuck in your aligners, as you would with traditional braces.
Gently brush your aligners every day and use the Invisalign cleaning system we provide to keep them clean. Dr. Grussmark will monitor your progress to make sure your treatment is proceeding smoothly when you visit us for checkups every six to eight weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the Invisalign process take for an open bite?
The duration of Invisalign treatment depends on a variety of factors, and no two treatments are alike. Factors such as the severity of your open bite will determine how long the treatment will take. Minor open bites may take as little as three months, while moderate open bites can require up to 18 months.
For an accurate timeline, we recommend scheduling a consultation with Dr. Grussmark. During this visit, he’ll examine your oral health and create a customized treatment plan that will include a breakdown of your journey with Invisalign.
What happens once I’ve completed my treatment?
Once you’ve completed your treatment, you can enjoy the benefits of a stunning smile. Dr. Grussmark may recommend that you wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting out of alignment. This will help you avoid retreatment in the future – which is common for patients that have failed to wear their retainers following braces treatment.
What happens in the first week of Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are specially designed to actively move with your teeth, which may take some getting used to. Some patients experience speaking with a lisp during their first week of treatment. You might also experience mild discomfort or soreness in the first week of wearing your aligners, but this will usually fade as your treatment continues. If your discomfort doesn’t subside or gets worse, please contact our Miami office at (305) 842-3672.
Does the Invisalign process hurt?
Aside from mild discomfort in the first week of wearing them, Invisalign aligners are a painless and discreet way to straighten your teeth. Unlike traditional metal braces, Invisalign doesn’t use any metal wires or brackets that might poke at your mouth. Any initial pain or soreness will fade as your teeth adjust to each new phase of your aligners.
If you experience any pain past the first week, contact our Miami office at (305) 842-3672 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Grussmark where he’ll assess your situation.
How often will I change aligners?
For the best results, you’ll need to wear your Invisalign aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day. How frequently you move on to each new phase of aligners will depend on your personalized treatment plan. Most patients change their aligners weekly or every other week. Dr. Grussmark will give you instructions on when to proceed with new aligners to keep your treatment on track.
Visit Dr. Grussmark for Invisalign
If you want straight teeth up to 2X faster than other aligners, Invisalign is the solution for you. Offering a combination of comfort, convenience, and spectacular results, it’s no surprise that this treatment continues to grow in popularity.
Contact our practice in Miami today and schedule your free Invisalign consultation with Dr. Grussmark — it’s the first step to your new smile.
