Invisalign

Invisalign represents an epic breakthrough in orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry. Using a series of thin plastic trays, our dentists now straighten your teeth in months instead of years. It’s true! Invisalign straightens teeth in up to half the time of traditional braces. Here’s how it works: First, our dentists scan your mouth with a small intraoral camera. We won’t stuff a giant tray full of goop in your mouth or make you gag! Next, dentists carefully plan everything using a 3D software. You then receive customized trays that perfectly snap over your teeth.

The first tray fits snugly and gently nudges your teeth a little closer to the ideal position. After a few weeks, your teeth have moved as far as that tray can take them. Next, simply discard the first tray and start wearing the next. Over time these trays gradually advance your teeth into the planned, perfectly straight position. And you have a beautiful new smile!

Because Invisalign trays are removable, you simply take them out to eat or give an important presentation. In addition, these trays are also completely transparent. This means your friends and colleagues (and strangers you’re trying to impress!) barely notice them. Finally, the trays are so comfortable that most of our patients forget they’re even wearing them. Compared to bulky braces, there’s not much choice.

The dentists in our office can significantly shorten the Invisalign process. There are a few methods or appliances that can be used.

There is Acceledent, a mouthpiece that vibrates that can be used for ten minutes each day. The mouthpiece softly vibrates, exerting less than 20 times the force of an electric toothbrush. These micro vibrations slightly loosen the bone around your teeth, allowing the trays to re-position your teeth faster. This safe and painless technology has been proven to almost halve the treatment time in many cases.

There is also Orthopulse, light acceleration which is delivered to your teeth with a mouthpiece as well for 10 minutes each day. This device works very similarly to light treatment for the rest of the body where it helps with the cell turn over and movement of the teeth in the jaws.

And Propel is also a procedure that can be done in the office by the dentist 2 or 3 times during your orthodontic treatment that could also help accelerate your course of treatment.

You might think that once your braces come off, your orthodontic treatment is complete. In reality, that’s not the case. Retaining your teeth in their new position is an essential part of your treatment. While you might usually associate retainers with keeping newly moved teeth in place, your orthodontist can also recommend a fiberotomy procedure to ensure reducing the chance of any relapse. Read on to find out what this procedure entails.

After your orthodontic treatment is completed, your now straightened teeth need to be stabilized to prevent them from shifting back to their original position. This can be done with an appliance known as a retainer. Your retainer is custom-built and is made of plastic or plastic with metal wires. That said, sometimes teeth will relapse to their original positions despite using a retainer. This is especially true for rotated teeth. In such cases, your orthodontist might recommend a fiberotomy procedure. 

A study in the Journal of Dental Lasers points out that when teeth are moved orthodontically, this can cause the stretching of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and gingival fibers that encircle the tooth. After your orthodontist removes your braces, these fibers can contract back to their original position, causing a relapse in the tooth position that they are attached to.

Once your orthodontic treatment is complete, we will administer topical and local anesthesia. Then using a scalpel blade to make incisions through the gingival crevice/sulcus of the aligned tooth (the area of potential space between the tooth and the surrounding tissue) down to the alveolar crest (the top of the bony ridge that holds the teeth). All the supracrestal fibers around the now de-rotated tooth will likely be severed, and prevent the fibers from wanting to go back to their original position. No stitches are typically necessary.

A study of individuals who underwent a fiberotomy procedure reported that healing was uneventful. No patients reported post-operative discomfort or any noticeable changes in the surgical sites at the one-week follow-up appointment. 

It’s normal to have questions or feel concerned. But this procedure is typically painless and fairly non-invasive. And remember, it’s on the last part of your journey to getting the smile you’ve always wanted.

Many dental insurance plans don’t cover Invisalign or cosmetic dentistry. This makes us a little angry. Teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and cosmetic bonding are important aspects of dentistry. So… why aren’t they reimbursed? We at Soothing Dental loathe the restrictions imposed by the insurance industry. Moreover, we want to make quality dentistry much more accessible. Therefore, we offer our own Soothing Dental Membership Plans. These straight-forward plans discount your Invisalign treatment up to 30%. Even better, our plans cover additional work. There is no limit or cap!

Meet with our amazing dentists today for a consultation to discuss your Invisalign options. You’re obviously looking into Invisalign if you’re reading this! First meet us, then see how we do things at a noticeably higher level. Finally get all of your questions answered. We welcome same- or next-day appointments. Simply call or text 415-989-3953 or book an appointment online.

Read More About Invisalign:

• Invisalign FAQ