More adults than ever before are choosing to undergo adult orthodontic treatment. Some because their teeth have shifted since childhood, others because they never got the orthodontic care they needed growing up. Either way, orthodontic treatment as an adult is still highly effective in giving you a great smile and correcting issues that can lead to jaw strain, uneven wear on teeth, TMJ disorder, and cavities caused by crowded teeth that are hard to clean.
If this sounds familiar but you shudder at the thought of having a mouth full of metal brackets and wires, choosing Invisalign clear aligners may be right for you. Clear aligner treatments are used almost exclusively for adults; in fact, around 97.5% of adults who decide to undergo orthodontic treatment choose clear aligners.
Read on to get important details about how Invisalign works, its benefits, how treatment differs from traditional metal braces, and where to find the best dentist in Los Gatos for Invisalign.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign clear aligners are made for those who want straighter teeth and better oral hygiene, without the restrictive and uncomfortable metal brackets and wires of traditional braces. The Invisalign series is custom-made to help your teeth gradually move as you work through a series of aligners, each one nudging your teeth a little closer to their final position. As an adult, Invisalign offers a discreet and more comfortable treatment option with the same end results as conventional braces.
Who is a Good Candidate for Invisalign Clear Aligners?
Not everyone who wants Invisalign is a good fit for it, and knowing that upfront can save a lot of time and disappointment. First, it’s important to understand what Invisalign can and cannot do. Invisalign works well for:
- Misaligned bites, including overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites
- Crowded teeth
- Gaps between teeth
- Teeth that are slightly rotated
However, there are some cases that are too complex for successful clear aligner treatment. Those include:
- Teeth that are severely rotated
- Teeth that have not erupted completely
- Severe misalignment of the bite or jaw
- Severe dental crowding
Additionally, if you use tobacco products, have active gum disease, missing teeth, or can’t commit to wearing aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day and following a strict oral hygiene routine, Invisalign may not be right for you.
How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?
Most adults finish treatment somewhere between 12 and 18 months, and many patients start to notice their teeth shifting within just a few weeks of starting. For people with only minor alignment issues, the process can move faster. Mild cases can be completed in as little as six months. The great news is that advances in Invisalign's technology have made both treatment time and outcomes more predictable at each stage of the process.
The single biggest variable in how fast you complete treatment is you. Switching to a new set of aligners every two weeks keeps treatment moving forward, and skipping or delaying those swaps is one of the most common reasons adults end up in treatment longer than their provider originally estimated.
Life With Invisalign: What to Eat, How to Keep Aligners Clean, and When it’s Safe to Take Them Out
The biggest adjustment for most adults is removing their aligners before eating anything, because food can damage the plastic and slow down treatment. Another big adjustment is that water is the only beverage safe to drink while the aligners are in. Hot drinks like coffee and tea can warp them, and sugary drinks can seep underneath the tray and cause tooth decay. Cleaning your teeth after every meal is also important, because brushing before you put your aligners back in keeps food particles from getting trapped between your teeth and the tray, which can stain the plastic and create the kind of bacterial environment that causes cavities or tooth discoloration.
Finding the Best Invisalign Dentist in Los Gatos for Adult Orthodontic Treatment
For most adults, Invisalign is the most practical and least disruptive way to straighten teeth and correct a misaligned bite. At Smiles Los Gatos, we provide patient-centered care focused on giving you a smile you’re proud to show off and a mouth with healthy alignment, free from uneven enamel wear, jaw strain, and crowding that is hard to keep clean.
Whether you’ve been thinking about Invisalign treatment for a while or are just now considering it, Dr. Bliss Zin and her team are ready to guide you through every step.
Ready to get straighter, easier to clean teeth with adult Invisalign from the best dentist in Los Gatos?