Invisalign in San Tan Valley, AZ

Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom-made aligners to move teeth gradually into better alignment. The aligners are removable and far less noticeable than traditional metal braces, which makes them a popular option for adults and older teenagers who want to straighten their teeth without the appearance of fixed brackets and wires.

• Clear aligners are far less noticeable than metal braces
• Removable for eating, brushing and flossing
• No brackets or wires to irritate cheeks and lips
• Each set worn in sequence to move teeth gradually
• Suitability assessed before any commitment

The appearance is the reason most people ask about them. Clear aligners are considerably less noticeable than metal brackets, which makes orthodontic treatment far more palatable for adults who would not consider fixed braces. Being removable is the practical advantage. You take them out to eat, so there are no food restrictions, and you take them out to brush and floss, so oral hygiene during treatment is normal rather than an obstacle course around wires. Keeping teeth clean during orthodontic treatment is a genuine challenge with fixed braces. There is also comfort. Without brackets and wires there is nothing to rub against the inside of your cheeks and lips, and no emergency appointments for a poking wire.

Not every case suits clear aligners. The first step is an assessment of how your teeth are positioned and what needs to move, and an honest answer about whether aligners can achieve it — some bite corrections are better handled by fixed braces or by an orthodontic specialist, and we will say so. If aligners are appropriate, scans and records are taken and a sequence of aligners is produced. You wear each set for the prescribed period before moving to the next, with each set moving the teeth slightly further. They need to be worn for the great majority of each day to work — success depends heavily on actually wearing them, which is the trade-off for being removable. Progress is checked at intervals through treatment. Afterward, a retainer is needed to hold the result; teeth drift back toward their original positions without one, and that applies to every form of orthodontics.