If you’re looking to take advantage of the increasingly popular teeth-straitening technique called Invisalign®, then you’re in luck. Patients living in Fountain Hills and Rio Verde, Arizona who wish to straighten crooked teeth and improve their smiles are invited to visit us at Parkview Dentistry.
When you meet with Dr. Laskis, she can help determine if these custom plastic aligners are the best cosmetic option for you and your smile. Make an appointment at our Fountain Hills office today to learn more. Dr. Laskis is one of only two dentists in Fountain Hills who has been trained and certified by Invisalign®.
What is Invisalign®?
Invisalign is the most popular orthodontic treatment alternative to traditional wire and bracket braces to fix crooked teeth /crowded teeth.
Invisalign (often misspelled as Invisaline) is a series of custom invisible (clear) plastic aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth. These ‘invisible braces’ are custom designed by a dentist for the patient based on a whole constellation of measurements and specialized software. When these aligners are used over time, the patient’s teeth are gradually moved into the desired position to give you the perfect smile you’ve always dreamed of.
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What are the benefits of Invisalign® to our Fountain Hills and Rio Verde patients?
First and foremost, having straight teeth provides a boost to attractiveness. Invisalign also has several benefits over conventional braces. Invisalign aligners are much more aesthetically pleasing than traditional metal braces because Invisalign is difficult to see – Invisalign aligners are less than one millimeter thick. Only Invisalign braces allow you to remove everything from your mouth when you wish and will enable you to brush and floss normally. If you have a nice dinner or an important event or meeting to attend, you can simply leave your aligner tray at home for the day.
Importantly, Invisalign realignment also brings substantive dental health benefits. Invisalign can correct any kind of problems with spacing, crowning or occlusion (position of teeth when bite is closed). This means Invisalign treatment can fix bite problems. Because larger spacing and gapping due to poor orientation of the teeth can greatly contribute to the amount of plaque buildup, alignment also affects oral health. Similarly, Invisalign can properly orient teeth that are all jammed together, which are more difficult for patients to clean at home and thus accumulate greater amounts of plaque.
The metal and wires of traditional braces also tend to be uncomfortable, irritate your mouth and tongue and can become disconnected requiring emergency trips to the dentist. Installing metal braces in your mouth also means there are a variety of foods (think anything sticky like gummy bears) that tend to get stuck in the small metal parts of conventional braces and thus will likely have to be avoided.
What is the process for Invisalign® for Fountain Hills Patients?
Dr. Laskis at Parkview Dentistry in Fountain Hills will take digital x-rays, impressions and photographs from which Invisalign will create a 3-D model of your teeth. Using cutting-edge software, Dr. Laskis will map out a sequence of steps in which your teeth will gradually be adjusted. The software will generate the precise position changes in your teeth, the length of time until proper alignment and the number of aligners required. The Invisalign system software will also show you how your teeth will move on the screen.
Based on Dr. Laskis’ treatment plan, Invisalign will manufacture a set of custom made aligners. Because these are custom, they will be comfortable and smooth and won’t hurt like traditional braces. Once you receive the aligners, you will change them out once every two weeks and have periodic checkups with Dr. Laskis to monitor your progress.
Even if you want to make further changes after treatment is finished, “refinement” aligners can be custom created, at no additional cost, to get you to where you want to be.
When patients living in Fountain Hills and Rio Verde consider any kind of teeth straightening, it’s important to examine the health benefits of straight teeth.
- Healthy Gums
If you have crowded teeth, it can cause your gums to swell and look reddish. Additionally, when teeth are straight, it allows your gums to fit tighter around your individual teeth. The risk of periodontal disease – a serious infection that begins in the open “pockets” of your gums and which damages gums, can destroy the jawbone and lead to tooth loss – is decreased when gums
- Good Oral Hygiene
Because the aligning trays can be removed for cleaning, Invisalign patients will be able to keep their teeth cleaner than those fitted with the wires and brackets of traditional braces. Dirty teeth cause plaque buildup and tooth decay.
- Poor Oral Health
Dental hygiene isn’t just an important aspect of good oral health – studies show it also impacts your overall wellbeing. Untreated tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health concerns have been linked to serious ailments like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and more.
Invisalign makes it easier to keep up with your daily dental health regimen, thus reducing your risk of these potential problems. Plus, once your teeth are correctly aligned, other issues are alleviated, such as:
- Improper bite
- Difficulties chewing and speaking
- Jaw problems
- Increased wear on tooth enamel
Choosing Invisalign® is an effective method to address these orthodontic concerns, gain confidence with a great smile and improve your overall oral health.
A Cautionary word on Do-it-at Home Aligners.
In this modern era, many people look to DIY solutions to save some money. Many people are undertaking home improvements, assembling computers, and doing their own travel planning.
Hoping to capitalize on this trend, two companies launched their own mail order orthodontics businesses – SmileCareClub and Crystal Braces. The companies sell Invisalign knockoffs. Sounds like a quick way to save a few bucks, right?
You should know what you’re getting into. A big piece of the cost of Invisalign is the dentists’ evaluation, expertise and numerous follow-up visits at our Fountain Hills office to make sure your teeth are moving into the right positions and are not causing problems such as periodontal disease, de-mineralization of the teeth, shorter root lengths or relapsing. The discount you are getting is that the in-person dental expertise is being cut out. Unlike Invisalign, where your progress will be examined every four to six weeks by a dentist to check your progress and order curative trays if necessary, you will get no examinations from the do-it-yourself route.
Unsurprisingly then, the American Association of Orthodontists has cautioned consumers against adjusting teeth without first being examined and continually supervised by an orthodontist. A spokesman for the association, Dr. Rolf Behrents, stated: “Our concern is that patients who don’t see an orthodontist for regular checkups and/or for a complete diagnosis are more likely to be harmed.” See this article . See also this article .
Invisalign® has awarded Dr. Laskis as a Preferred Provider in Fountain Hills AZ.
See Dr. Laskis’ profile on Invisalign®‘s website.
Make Your Appointment at Parkview Dentistry to Learn More About Invisalign®
Dr. Laskis is proud to offer Invisalign® treatment to our patients living in Fountain Hills, Rio Verde and the surrounding community. If you are looking for an effective teeth-straightening solution, Invisalign® may be the right option for you.
When you come to Parkview Dentistry, Dr. Laskis will treat you like family, taking the time to answer all your questions and ensuring we pursue the best cosmetic technique for your individual needs. Our welcoming and caring atmosphere ensures you always feel at ease. Plus, we make sure our meticulous and modern techniques are as affordable as possible.
Patients find that Parkview Dentistry is the best option for clear braces in Fountain Hills, Rio Verde and Scottsdale.
Call us today for a free consultation to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for Invisalign®!
Dr. Laskis introduced me to Invisalign and I am more than pleased with the results. Most of my friends and co-workers didn’t even notice that I had braces. But now that they are off everyone notices how fantastic my teeth look!
Anne
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Some additional questions and answers about Invisalign®.
Q: Are there any other side-effects of Invisalign®?
A: Some people report having a slight lisp when the aligners are in. However, keeping the aligners in is crucial to finishing treatment. Some patients initially report some pain with the aligners but this can be fixed by the dentist filing the tray down a bit or applying wax to the offending edge.
Q: When will I notice results?
A: It usually takes two to three months for most patients to notice results from clear aligners
Q: Do I have to keep brushing?
A: Keep brushing! Invisalign® allows patients to practice better dental hygiene over braces. However, if you don’t care for your teeth before placing the aligners, it becomes a moot point
Q: How do I maintain the aligners?
A: It’s easy to care for the aligners. Simply brush your tray with toothpaste or sometimes just water. Nothing special is needed.
Q: Will I still be able to kiss with Invisalign®?
A: Yes! You can still kiss!
Q: Am I too old for Invisalign®?
A: Nope. Many of my older patients in the 50s and 60s are excellent candidates for Invisalign®. Being older may make the commitment to using the trays regularly easier than when you were younger.
Q: Can I whiten my teeth while doing Invisalign®?
A: As part of an overall smile makeover, people often ask me this question or should they wait until after Invisalign® treatment is completed, or can you do both? You can get whitening immediately and throughout treatment – there is no issue.
Q: When should I change Invisalign® trays?
A: I tell patients to change trays at night. The first day or two of a new tray is the uncomfortable part. By changing trays at night, you will be sleeping through the bulk of this time. Also, be sure to wear your trays for 22 hours a day.
Invisalign® is also available for Teens.
Are you a teen? Invisalign has a special program for teenagers interested in straightening their smile, called “Invisalign Teen”
Below are the key points:
The most attractive way to fix your smile.
Invisalign Teen is similar to Invisalign, where the aligners are clear trays that are almost impossible for people to see.
A little reminder.
Invisalign Teen aligners also have small indicators that show whether they are being worn sufficiently so you’ll know if you are falling behind or making the right kind of progress to get the best results.
Protection from a busy lifestyle.
Invisalign Teen offers up to six free replacement trays in case one (or three) of them gets lost. At a party or whatever. Or swimming. They are cool and aren’t nosy about it.
Super-convenient.
If you’re tired of frequent trips to the dentist, then you’re in luck. When you choose Invisalign teen, this teeth-straightening solutions means far fewer checkups, especially when compared to traditional braces. There are no wires or brackets that can get disconnected/swallowed or broken and thus no need for emergency visits and waiting.
No Hassles.
You like eating snickers? Gummy bears? Of course. Do you like remembering NOT to eat certain foods because they will get stuck in your wire brackets? (that’s a rhetorical question). You can remove Invisalign teen aligners at any time. Pretty sweet, right? (that’s mom humor).
No Death Breath.
Because you can remove the aligners any time you wish, it’s easy to maintain good brushing and flossing.
Comparable Cost.
Invisalign Teen’s cost is comparable to traditional braces. Plus, with flexible payment plans, correcting alignment issues don’t have to put stress on your family budget.
Safety.
Because Invisalign doesn’t use metal brackets, there’s little risk of the kids of repeating chafing and cuts that lead to problematic infections.
New Developments
Invisalign has introduced SmartTrack which delivers a gentle, more constant force over the two-week aligner wear period to improve tracking. A pilot patient study of 1015 patients showed significant improvement in control of tooth movements, plus a 99.9% confidence level. See Invisalign’s brochure on smarttrack.
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