If you want straight teeth but don’t want metal braces in your mouth for years we have a solution – Invisalign Clear Aligners, which will straighten your teeth in half the time of traditional braces! Anyone who suffered through the pain and embarrassment of metal braces will wish they’d instead chosen the comfortable, removable, and invisible Invisalign® aligners instead. Dr. Mary Swift and Dr. Morgan Petty of Dallas Laser Dentistry is an Invisalign® Gold Providers, a level that is normally reserved for orthodontists and has done hundreds of Invisalign® cases from simple to complex. Drs. Swift and Petty also uses Invisalign® cosmetically to help patients achieve the beautiful, healthy smile they have always wanted with a series of removable aligners that safely and comfortably move the teeth into a better position. The aligners are worn for about 22 hours each day and are removed primarily to eat, brush, and floss.
Invisalign® is primarily used when your teeth are crowded, particularly lower front teeth. This crowding makes it very difficult to properly clean the teeth and remove the bacteria, which can lead to gingivitis and then periodontitis – gum disease. Gum disease has been proven to significantly increase the risk of heart disease and stroke. By straightening those teeth you’ll increase your chances of living longer, plus look great for the rest of your life!
Best Candidate for Invisalign® Orthodontics
Dr. Swift and Dr. Petty have treated patients ranging from teenagers to 85 years old with Invisalign®. It can be used to help patients with a variety of issues – widely spaced teeth, an overbite, an underbite, overly crowded teeth, or a crossbite. Patients must be willing to commit to wearing the aligners at all times unless they are eating, brushing their teeth, or flossing. Patients will also need to return to Dallas Laser Dentistry every 4-6 weeks during their Invisalign treatment so Dr. Swift or Dr. Petty can check their progress and make adjustments as needed.
What to expect with Invisalign® Orthodontics?
The first step after deciding to move ahead with Invisalign® is having a digital 3-D laser scan of your mouth using our Itero scanner so your custom aligners can be made. We’ll also take some other photos and panoramic x-rays of your entire mouth. After starting treatment, you will need to wear your aligners as much as possible, removing them only to eat, brush, and floss. Each set of aligners will be worn for about one week – each set brings your teeth closer to their final position. Most patients go through 18 – 30 sets of aligners in about 4.5 – 8 months before their teeth are properly aligned, but the number of aligners and the total time will vary for each patient. After completion of treatment, you should expect to wear a retainer each night to prevent your teeth from drifting and undoing the treatment.
Invisalign® Orthodontics Videos
Invisalign FAQS
Many patients come into Dallas Laser Dentistry to get a complete Smile Makeover. For some patients Invisalign® is the first step in their total Smile Makeover treatment plan, as just like a house, a good foundation with the teeth in proper alignment will make any cosmetic work last much longer.
However, for some patients Invisalign® braces by themselves along with some whitening may be all they need to get the smile they desire!
While most people think that braces are only for children and teenagers, Invisalign® is perfect for adults who had braces as teenagers but never wore their retainer. It’s also great for adults whose parents couldn’t afford to give them braces but who now want to have their teeth straightened.
Dr. Swift has treated teenagers and adults of just about every age – all the way up to 85 years old!
When you return to Dallas Laser Dentistry to pick up your first set of aligners, Dr. Swift and her staff will go over how to care for your Invisalign® aligners. When not in use, the aligners should be placed in a container that will be provided. At least weekly they need to soak for a couple of hours in a cleaning solution. Dr. Swift and staff will also go over a few of their own cleaning tips that have helped many of their patients keep their aligners in their best condition.
Once you’ve completed treatment and achieved your perfectly aligned smile, it’s important to maintain your results. Invisalign® offers Vivera® custom made retainers to wear each evening, the first one of which we provide at no charge. Using the same imaging technology, Vivera® retainers are 30% stronger than other clear retainers and are both durable and effective at keeping your teeth in place. Vivera® can also benefit patients who had traditional wire braces if they need a great retainer.
