Invisalign®: A straightforward way to straighten teeth without braces!

Crowded, crooked, and misaligned teeth can make you feel less than your best about the look of your smile. Plus, unevenly-spaced teeth can be more problematic to brush and floss effectively. In turn, your teeth and gums may be at risk of developing destructive conditions like decay and gum disease. Misaligned teeth and “bite” imbalances can even give rise to chronic headaches and other TMJ symptoms, which can significantly and negatively impact the quality of your life. 

Fortunately, the team at Simply Wellness Dental in East Vancouver, British Columbia, can correct these and other spacing and bite issues with Invisalign®. 

An attractive, easy alternative to braces

Traditionally, options for orthodontic treatment were limited to conventional braces. This treatment involves applying fixed (non-removable) brackets and wires to the teeth. This system of silver-coloured metal brackets and wires placed consistent force on the teeth. When adjusted by an orthodontist or dentist, the braces would incrementally reposition the teeth and correct overbite, underbite, and other imbalances. 

Invisalign® is different. This therapy uses a series of clear, BPA-free thermoplastic aligner trays (or “aligners”) to shift the teeth into their proper placements gradually. These oral appliances can be removed before eating, brushing, and flossing your teeth. This unique characteristic helps to prevent treatment from interfering with your life and health; since they can be removed, you continue to enjoy a varied and nutritious diet. You also maintain the good oral hygiene that is so essential to keeping dental decay and periodontal disease at bay.

Since Invisalign’s straightening power depends on the consistent yet gentle force generated by the trays, it is important that you wear them each day as directed by one of our dentists: Drs Adi Nokiani, Ashleigh Sran, or Eric Quan. So, patient compliance is critical to ensure that treatment stays on track and to get the results that you desire. Only remove the aligners for comfortable eating, effective brushing and flossing, and when cleaning the trays. Otherwise, you should keep them in your mouth at all times. Cleaning the aligners themselves is also straightforward and necessary to prevent staining and the build-up of harmful bacteria. We can advise on effective cleaning methods and techniques. 

One final note: Each aligner may look similar. However, there are slight differences from tray to tray. These differences account for and align with different stages in your treatment plan. So, wearing each aligner tray in the correct order is also important. With good compliance, Invisalign® is not only more comfortable than conventional orthodontic treatment, but also more attractive (the trays are nearly invisible!)  

Now that you have a glimpse into Invisalign®, Simply Wellness Dental encourages you to schedule a consultation. During your visit, we can use unique virtual modelling and simulation software to show you the straightening process – and how your smile will look after treatment. Call (604) 229-5922 to contact our East Vancouver, BC team today.