If you value straight teeth, maybe you wore metal braces in the past. That’s normal enough – brackets and wires are great at aligning smiles. Still, there’s a good chance your pearly whites shifted back over the years. In that case, though, there’s a solution: clear aligner treatment. As it happens, you can get Invisalign after braces. Your local Hillsboro dentist can even tell you how. To that end, here’s a summary of Invisalign, how it works after wearing braces, and its distinct upsides.
Context: What’s Invisalign?
In essence, Invisalign is an orthodontic service that aligns teeth. It relies on clear, plastic trays to slowly shift each tooth with “micro-movements.”
For treatment to work, a patient wears the aligners over several months for 20-22 hours daily. Individual tray sets, though, are only worn for a few weeks at a time. Once each multi-week period ends, the Invisalign provider offers a new set of trays to continue the process. After all the tray sets are worn, the result is a perfectly aligned smile that looks beautiful.
Can It Straighten Teeth If You Wore Braces Before?
To be clear, Invisalign can straighten teeth even if you once wore braces. Many who get treatment were braces patients in the past.
All that said, do talk with an orthodontist first. They’ll need to see if you qualify for the Invisalign process, as it’s best suited for mild issues. (For more advanced alignment problems, traditional braces are the preferable solution.) To do so, the dental team will perform an oral exam to see if you’re a good treatment candidate.
The Perks of Invisalign Over Metal Braces
Compared to traditional braces, Invisalign has several noteworthy perks. Such benefits include the following:
- No Metal Mouth: Per their name, metal braces rely on eye-catching brackets and wires. Invisalign, however, uses clear plastic trays that don’t draw attention. Its aligners are thus subtle and discrete. You won’t have to fear the dreaded “metal mouth” when you smile!
- Short Treatment Time: Typically, metal braces need 12-18 months to straighten teeth. Invisalign differs in that it only takes 6-12 months on average. As such, you can trust it for a speedier treatment.
- No-Hassle Maintenance: Braces are worn for the whole duration of treatment, so they often interfere with meals and teeth cleaning. Meanwhile, Invisalign trays are designed to be removable. That means they won’t keep you from eating normally or cleaning your teeth as usual.
As you can see, it’s entirely possible to get Invisalign after braces. That being the case, contact your local dental provider for treatment options soon!
About the Practice
Infinity Dental Care is based in Hillsboro, OR. As led by the titular Dr. Aarati Kalluri, our practice offers top-quality dentistry for kids and adults alike. Therefore, we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental treatments. Our team is even well-equipped to handle orthodontics like Invisalign clear aligners. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (352)-622-3236.