.png){kind=logo}
Invisalign®
Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It’s virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you’re straightening your teeth.
Clearly Different
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan.
Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners — as few as 5-10 or as many as 50. Each aligner is worn for about a week and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually — week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you'll be smiling like you never have before!
If you want to learn more about Invisalign and how it works, please visit the Invisalign home page.
To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. Only an orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, contact us to make an appointment.
Invisalign FAQs
Q: How often must I wear my aligners?
A: Each aligner is worn for one week and only taken out to eat, brush and floss.
Q: Are there any restrictions to what I can eat while in treatment?
A: No. Unlike braces, you may eat whatever you like as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Prior to placing the aligners back on, it is important to brush your teeth and the aligners after you eat.
Q: Will wearing the aligners affect my speech?
A: Like any orthodontic treatment, there is a short adjustment period. The more you speak with the aligners on, the quicker you will adjust.
Q: Is there any discomfort with Invisalign® treatment?
A: There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.
Q: Can I chew gum?
A: It is recommended that you remove your aligners prior to chewing gum as the gum will stick to the aligners.
Q: Can I smoke with the aligners in?
A: We discourage smoking with aligners as the cigarette smoke will tend to discolor them.
Q: How do I keep my aligners clean?
A: Brushing them with toothpaste will keep them fresh and clean.
Q: How often do I see an orthodontist while wearing Invisalign®?
A: Regular office visits are every five to six weeks. This will ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
Q: What happens after my treatment is complete? Do I need retainers?
A: All orthodontic patients are instructed to wear their retainers at night indefinitely. Sleeping with your retainers in at night will ensure a healthy bite and maintain the new position of your teeth.
Q: How long does Invisalign treatment take?
A: Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the misaligned teeth. Treatment time can be shorter than traditional braces, between six and 18 months.
Q: Does Invisalign work for kids?
A: Yes, if their teeth, including second molars, have grown in completely.
About Invisalign
Invisalign aligners are clear acrylic trays that fit over your teeth and are designed to straighten your smile. They're removable, making it easier to eat, drink, brush and floss.
Invisalign is much more comfortable than traditional metal bracket braces and can give you stunning results.
The Process
We'll take photos and X-rays to create a 3D image of your mouth. We make your first set of custom-fitted aligners from these images, and then you begin the process of straightening your teeth.
You will probably wear Invisalign aligners for 9–15 months, and will typically use 18–30 sets over the course of the treatment.
You wear the trays for about 22 hours a day but can remove them for brushing your teeth and eating. Based on your individual needs, you will wear several sets of trays throughout your orthodontic treatment, and will start to notice a change in just a few months!
Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth. It uses a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth.
Wearing the aligners will gently move your teeth into place little by little, based on the exact movements your orthodontist plans for you. There are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners about every two weeks, until your treatment is complete.
You’ll get a great smile without a treatment that gets in the way of your daily life. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth. See more at the Invisalign site.
This nearly-invisible option to straighten your teeth is truly changing the way people see orthodontic treatment. We're very excited to offer this technology to our Daphne, Bay Minette and Atmore braces patients. Dr. Glass has a lot of experience treating patients with Invisalign, and they’re happy to offer it to you.