Invisalign makes it easy to straighten your teeth without metal bands, brackets, or wires.
Invisible. Removable. Comfortable.
Invisalign is a virtually invisible solution for straightening your teeth – so you can smile DURING, as well as after treatment.
In fact, no one will know you’re wearing them unless you tell them. By using a series of clear removable aligners, Invisalign straightens your teeth right before your eyes.
Invisalign is comfortable to wear and it doesn’t require you to change your busy lifestyle. You visit your dentist every month or two to check your progression. Average treatment time is about a year, but varies depending on how much movement is needed. Because aligners are removable, you can continue to eat your favourite foods while brushing and flossing normally to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
We offer a no-charge consultation and discussion about the possibilities for you between the hours of 10am – 2pm. (Consultations outside of these hours will incur a usual consultation fee).
FAQs.
How does Invisalign work?
Essentially you wear a series of clear, virtually invisible aligners on your teeth. The aligners look similar to a retainer you might have seen people have after braces, or a bleaching tray. These are custom designed by us using CAD/CAM software after taking a 3D scan of your mouth and teeth. The aligners are then 3D printed using cutting-edge technology.
Each aligner is worn for around 1 – 2 weeks, each making slight, gentle modifications to the position of your teeth. The aligners are essentially worn ALL the time. They are removed for eating and cleaning your teeth only.
Some movements require a small “handle” or “attachment” be placed on your tooth. These are tooth coloured and usually pretty hard to spot. They get removed at the end of treatment.
Does it hurt to have braces or Invisalign?
As someone who’s had both braces and Invisalign, I can tell you honestly that with both there is some discomfort, mostly at the start of treatment.
Invisalign is a little more gentle (in my experience).
Moving teeth is a bit like push starting a car – it takes a fair amount of force to get things going, but once they’re moving, things move fairly easily.
It is generally not “painful”, but things can feel a bit bruised or uncomfortable for short periods of time.
What is involved in getting my teeth straightened? Am I too old for Invisalign?
These days we treat many adults with clear aligners. Gone are the days of metal train tracks and looking like a teenager (well, not gone, they still work really well, and we still do lots of them – there’s just now another option!)
Aligners are thin, clear, and made of 3D printed plastic. They clip down over your teeth, and you can take them out to eat, drink and clean your teeth. The best part is they are virtually invisible – nobody needs to know you’re having work done (although, it is such cool technology that often people show them off!)
We use a 3D scanner to scan your teeth, and take a bunch of photos. We then digitally plan your teeth movement using specialised software. We can show you using the software what we are hoping to achieve, and make sure you are happy with the intended outcome. The aligners are then 3D printed, and you begin the journey!
Teeth are always moving throughout life, and in general there is a slow drift towards the front of your mouth. This often means that the front teeth start to get a bit crowded with time, even if you’ve had your teeth straightened in the past. We have a couple of different options to keep your teeth straight once you’ve finished treatment.
The other great thing about aligners is that you can use them as bleaching trays, so you can both whiten and straighten your teeth at the same time.
We have successfully treated over 300 patients with Invisalign, including many adults. Our oldest so far were a couple in their 80s. It’s definitely never too late to do something nice for yourself!