Bartlett Invisalign Experts
Bartlett Invisalign gives teens and adults the same results traditional braces provide, with more freedom and flexibility. Polk Orthodontics is your trusted expert straightening smiles for patients of all ages in Bartlett and the surrounding areas.
What is involved in Invisalign treatment?
By using a series of clear, removable aligners, the Invisalign system aligns your teeth and improves your oral health. When used as directed, Invisalign has been proven to be just as effective as traditional braces at treating many of the most common orthodontic problems.
At your initial consultation we use x-rays and digital impressions to create a precise 3D image of your teeth, then build a set of aligners designed just for your smile. The trays are made of a smooth, comfortable material that fits firmly over your teeth. You will switch to a new set every one to two weeks to keep up with the teeth as they move into their new positions.
What are the benefits of choosing Invisalign treatment?
Besides being nearly invisible, one of the biggest benefits of Invisalign aligners is their removability. By design, you should remove your Invisalign aligners before eating or drinking anything other than water. This means you'll never have to worry about food getting stuck in brackets or wires. They should also be removed before brushing and flossing. It's much easier to maintain a good oral hygiene routine because you can access your teeth more easily. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy is especially important during your orthodontic treatment.
No need to worry about any food restrictions since you can remove your aligners to eat and drink. This is pretty significant because food restrictions are often the biggest learning curve with traditional braces. With Invisalign, you can eat all of your favorite foods while working on your straighter smile. Aligners do need to be removed before you eat to avoid staining, and they should be cleaned and rinsed out with warm water at least once or twice a day.
Another benefit is the absence of pesky wires to poke out and irritate your mouth, and there are no wire adjustment appointments. You will still come in for periodic check-in visits so Dr. Polk can confirm your teeth are making good progress and hand off your next sets of aligners.
How does the Bartlett Invisalign system work?
The Invisalign system is pretty straightforward. You'll wear each aligner for about two weeks, and should only be removed to eat, drink, brush, or floss. As the aligners are replaced with the next one in the series, your teeth will be moving gradually, until they reach their new and improved positions.
During your visits with Polk Orthodontics, we check to make sure treatment is progressing as planned. You must change the aligners on time and wear them as you are instructed to do. This is the most important part of the success of your smile with Bartlett Invisalign. Your trays are custom designed to fit your unique dental needs, and they need to be changed often to keep up with the shifting of the teeth as they begin to straighten. Not changing aligners as scheduled or skipping your appointments can quickly undo any progress that has been made.
Keep in mind that every patient responds to orthodontic treatment differently, so it is hard to say up front exactly how long you will be in aligners. Most cases run somewhere between 12 and 24 months, though simple corrections finish sooner and complex ones take longer. Treatment time depends in large part on how consistently you wear your aligners, and Dr. Polk will give you a realistic estimate once she has seen your scan. If you are still weighing your options, our guide to Invisalign versus braces covers both timelines.
We estimate average treatment based on patients following the recommended guidelines. This means wearing aligners for at least 20-22 hours every single day during the entire treatment. Straying from this schedule even a little bit can add extra time to your overall treatment. Invisalign can only work if patients stick to the program.
To learn more about Bartlett Invisalign, or to find out if you are a good candidate for clear aligners, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Kaitlin Polk. She will look at your bite, walk you through your options and tell you plainly whether Invisalign is the right call.