Invisalign® Clear Aligners
Invisalign® is an orthodontic treatment system that gives you beautiful, straight teeth without traditional metal braces.
Instead, we use clear plastic aligners to gradually move your teeth into the correct alignment. Invisalign has many of the same alignment problems as traditional braces, from crooked teeth to dental bite issues.
You should wear your aligners at night and throughout the day, removing them only for meals, brushing, and flossing. They are virtually invisible; most people will never know you are wearing them.
Invisalign is available for both teenagers and adults. Average treatment times are 12 to 18 months, but everyone starts with different needs, so your treatment time may be longer or shorter. Our dentist will work with you to create your customized plan and inform you of your progress.
Why Choose Invisalign?
Invisalign has numerous advantages over traditional braces:
- Traditional braces require appointments to tighten the wires and check the condition of the braces. With Invisalign, you switch to the next set of aligners in the order of treatment laid out by your dentist.
- Braces can leave permanent marks on your teeth, and even with good oral hygiene, plaque can develop around brackets and damage tooth enamel.
- Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign allows you to eat any food you want without restrictions.
- The wires of traditional braces can poke at your mouth and cause pain and even injury. A broken wire often means an additional visit to your dentist or orthodontist.
Who Is a Candidate for Invisalign?
Are you concerned about crooked teeth? Do you have a prominent overbite or underbite?
Invisalign can treat these common problems and many others, including:
- Protruding teeth
- Wide gaps
- Uneven spacing
- Crowding
- Overbite
- Crossbite
Caring for Invisalign
Good oral hygiene habits are easy to practice during Invisalign. Remove the aligners, brush and floss your teeth as usual, and rinse with warm water or the Invisalign cleaning kit to keep your aligners in good shape and bacteria-free.
Never use hot water to rinse or clean your aligners, as it can warp the plastic. You should also call our office if you crack or damage your aligner in any other way. A cracked aligner will not correctly move your teeth and impede your progress.
You should always brush your teeth after a meal before putting your aligners back in your mouth. If you don't brush, bacteria can become trapped in your teeth, and your aligners can become stained or damaged.
Please contact our office for more information. We are happy to schedule a consultation to determine whether Invisalign is a good option for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
While metal braces have come a long way in comfort and appearance, adults and older teens have more aesthetic options that better suit their lifestyles. Clear aligners can fix many cosmetic dental problems and are virtually undetectable. Since the trays are removable, you can clean your teeth thoroughly and eat the foods you enjoy.
Your orthodontist specialist can tell you if you’d benefit from clear aligners. In general, you’re a good candidate for clear aligners if:
- Your oral issues are not severe. For example, an excessive open bite or underbite requires shifting the jaw using a more intensive treatment.
- Your jaw has stopped growing, and you have all your permanent teeth.
- You have the discipline to wear clear aligner trays for about 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat and clean teeth.
If you do have a severe misalignment issue, your dentist may be able to develop a treatment plan for you that includes both braces and clear aligners.
That doesn’t mean that less severe problems aren’t important enough to fix, however. Even slightly misaligned or overcrowded teeth can cause more serious problems if not treated. If you have any of these oral health issues, clear aligners might be perfect for you:
- Mildly misaligned teeth
- Minor bite problems
- Protruding teeth
- Gaps in teeth
- Overcrowding
- Malocclusion
- Overbite
Our Team
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Daniel Hengst DMD
Dr. Daniel Hengst’s journey in dentistry began at West Virginia University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1995. He subsequently completed his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) at the University of Pittsburgh ...
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Joseph Stirling DMD
Dr. Joseph Stirling joined the practice in December 2020 and has brought with him his clinical expertise and patient-centered approach. Originally from Vestal, New York, Dr. Stirling grew up in an area similar to Perry ...
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Invisalign® Clear Aligners Technology
Panoramic X-Rays
Individual x-rays are beneficial for identifying decay, infection, and many other dental conditions. Having a full-picture view is often helpful, and that’s where panoramic x-rays come in handy. Panoramic x-rays take a full-picture view of the teeth, bone, jaw joints, and other biological landmarks. These types of x-rays are helpful in planning oral surgeries, such as extractions and dental implant placement, as well as identifying tumors, cysts, and jaw joint problems.
Testimonial
We travel a distance and are thankful there is little wait time for appointments.
My son has been a patient of Dr. Hengst for many years. We travel a distance and are thankful there is little wait time for appointments. The staff and Dr. Hengst are caring and professional. His hygienist, Jill, is a credit to her profession.
-Jo