Invisalign® Treatment

Dr. Cara and team enjoy providing and utilizing the Invisalign® treatment system in Atlanta for patients that want to straighten out their smiles but don’t want to use traditional braces.

We have found that for some patients, straighter teeth aren’t just about appearance, but are also about one’s ability to properly clean their teeth thus leaving them with a healthier smile overall. When the teeth in your mouth are not lining up properly, oral problems can occur (not just aesthetically). Some issues that one could be experiencing due to the alignment of your teeth are: TMJ dysfunction, decay and cavities due to an inability to properly clean all the surfaces of your teeth, gum disease or inflammation. With Invisalign® treatment we can straighten your smile and help prevent these and other issues one might experience. Some reasons one might choose Invisalign® over traditional braces are:

• Faster Treatment Time: Those that find that they are eligible for Invisalign® also enjoy a faster treatment time than regular braces.
• Aesthetics: Due to the clear aligners (that are similar to clear retainers), it is nearly impossible to see that you are wearing them by others.
• Comfort Level: Our clear aligners are not harsh on the surrounding tissue of the inside of your mouth. There are no metal brackets or wires that cut into your mouth or lips in turn reducing pain that one could experience with braces.
• Ease of Treatment: Patients that choose to use Invisalign® treatment over traditional braces enjoy not having food restrictions for the duration of the treatments, as you take the aligners out every time you eat. This also allows patients the opportunity to floss in between meals, something that many patients with braces have a difficult time with. If you have an overbite, underbite, crowded teeth, crooked teeth or even gapped teeth, you may be a candidate for Invisalign® treatment. The only way to know for sure is to come in and see our dentist so that he can give you an in-person assessment of your specific needs.

Once it has been determined that Invisalign® treatment is right for you, Dr. Murphy will create a digital scan of your mouth so that we can make your series of custom aligners. This series consists of new aligners that you will wear for 1 to 2 weeks each (depending on your specific case and how your teeth need to move). As you go through these aligners you will see that your teeth are discreetly and gently being guided into alignment. As with anything that isn’t a permanent fixture, the success of the aligners does depend on you ensuring that you wear them the recommended amount of time each day. Most patients can complete their treatment plan between 6 and 14 months. Sometimes the time is extended for patients with more complicated alignment issues. This would be something that would be reviewed with you at the beginning of your treatment.

Once you have completed your treatment plan you are then given a set of retainers that you wear as directed by the dentist. Some patients use their retainer as a tray for bleaching their teeth as well. As this retainer is made specifically for your newly, perfectly aligned teeth, patients enjoy whitening treatments on newly straightened teeth as their tooth surfaces are now evenly accessible for more evenly distributed bleaching products.

We are happy to help patients achieve their smile goals. Invisalign® treatment is definitely a very popular and effective way to achieve a beautiful, healthy looking smile.