A beautiful, healthy smile can make a great first impression, but if you have crooked or uneven teeth, you may be less than confident about your smile. If you’ve been putting off having this corrected because you don't want to endure the process and time involved in wearing traditional braces, you are not alone. But there are options to correct alignment issues and give you back your beautiful smile. Today, let's take a look at some of the advantages of using the Invisalign™ system.

What makes Invisalign aligners preferable to traditional braces?

• Easy Treatment Plan: Your Invisalign™ treatment starts when we take the X-rays used to create a 3-d digital image of your mouth.  Next, you’ll be given a series of custom-made aligners that you will take home and change about every two weeks. You will see the difference in your smile every time you change aligners! You will be scheduled for checkups every six weeks or so at San Bruno Dental Medicine so we can monitor your progress.
• Convenient: Simply wear your aligners throughout the day, removing them to eat. This allows you to eat foods you love without the worry of particles getting stuck in wires and brackets.
• Easily removable: You will continue to brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. Your Invisalign™ aligners can simply be brushed and rinsed in lukewarm water.
• Adaptable to your active lifestyle: Since Invisalign™ aligners are nearly invisible; most people won’t even notice you’re wearing them. You don’t have to worry about the discomfort of metal braces and wires that can poke and irritate your mouth, and if you’re involved in contact sports, Invisalign™ aligners are easily removed, enabling you to wear a protective mouth guard if necessary.

How long does the entire process take?
It’s difficult to say exactly how long you will need to wear your Invisalign™ aligners since everyone is unique. Contact the San Bruno General Cosmetic Dentist for a free consultation to evaluate your individual situation. Generally speaking though, Invisalign™ treatment usually takes about a year for adults. For teens, the length of treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces, with less discomfort and the added advantage of seeing the improvement every time you change aligners!

Once your Invisalign treatment has successfully realigned your teeth, the next important step in your orthodontic treatment is the retention phase. Whether you’ve gone through Invisalign treatment or not, teeth are continually moving to some degree and it may not always be perceptible. This means that you will need to wear some type of orthodontic retainer after your Invisalign treatment is completed.

Wearing retainers after the completion of your Invisalign treatment should be considered an essential element of the overall treatment. If you do not wear the retainer provided by your San Bruno Invisalign Dentist, it is likely that your teeth will begin to drift. You may be surprised to learn that going without a retainer for even a relatively short period of time can give teeth enough of an opportunity to shift to cause another misalignment.

There are certain teeth alignment problems that need to be retained longer than others. Problems such as open bites, gaps between teeth, twisted or rotated teeth (especially upper and lower front teeth) have a high tendency to relapse or move back to their original position. Therefore, retention is more critical in these kinds of cases. Your Invisalign dentist is the best person to judge what is appropriate in your situation.

There are essentially two types of retainers: fixed and removable. As the names imply, these terms refer to the fact that the retainer is either permanently attached to your teeth or is removable. Each has its own distinct advantages and disadvantages. Your San Bruno Invisalign Dentist can discuss both these options with you and help you make the decision as to which will be most beneficial to your situation.

Now that you’ve completed the Invisalign treatment successfully it makes sense to consider the retention phase as an ongoing and necessary part of your treatment. You’ve already made an investment in a beautiful, even smile. By conscientiously using your retainer you are simply protecting your investment.

I recently spoke to you about veneers, focusing mostly on porcelain veneers. Many patients are curious about Lumineers as an alternative to porcelain veneers, so today I’d like I’ll address the advantages of using Lumineers.

How are Lumineers different from traditional veneers?
Lumineers is a trade name that refers to an ultra-thin, highly translucent material that replicates the natural appearance of enamel. Traditional veneers are much thicker and require grinding of your original tooth structure. The ultra-thin material used in Lumineers means that little or no adjustment to the original tooth is necessary. With proper care and oral hygiene, Lumineers will last for as long as 20 years.

Is it painful to have Lumineers applied?
Lumineers are a pain-free way to reshape and permanently whiten your teeth. Because of the ultra-thin material, most patients will get a perfect fit with no alteration necessary. Once the procedure is completed, there is no post-procedure discomfort or sensitivity. Lumineers will look natural and feel comfortable from the moment they are placed.

Will Lumineers eliminate the need for braces?
In many cases, yes! Your San Bruno Cosmetic Dentist will be able to evaluate your teeth and decide whether orthodontics is necessary. If you do not have a severe problem, Lumineers can reshape the appearance of your teeth, making them look more even.

What’s involved with a Lumineers procedure?
On the first visit, we create a precise mold. Then we’ll discuss the shade of white that suits you best. The mold is then used to create your own custom fit set of Lumineers. During your second visit to our San Bruno, CA Dental Office, your Lumineers are painlessly applied without shots or drilling of sensitive tooth structure.

Can my Lumineers be removed?
Lumineers are completely reversible because there’s no grinding down of healthy tooth structure in most cases. Your natural teeth are still intact and strong, and now your smile is bright and beautiful!