Hillcrest Invisalign experts

For teens and adults who want the same results traditional braces provide, but with more freedom and flexibility, Invisalign could be the answer! Cowan & Whitaker Orthodontics is your trusted expert straightening smiles for patients of all ages in Northport, Tuscaloosa, Taylorville, Hillcrest, Moundville, and surrounding communities.

What is involved in Hillcrest Invisalign treatment?

By using a series of clear, removable aligners, the Invisalign system aligns your teeth and improves your oral health. When used as directed, Invisalign has been proven to be just as effective as traditional braces at treating many of the most common orthodontic problems.

These trays are designed to be switched out every 1-2 weeks to keep up with the teeth as they move into their desired new positions. We will use x-rays and digital impressions to create a precise 3D image of the teeth at your initial consultation. We will use this to build an aligner designed just for your smile. The trays are constructed of a smooth, comfortable material that fits firmly over your teeth.

Hillcrest Invisalign

What are the benefits of choosing Hillcrest Invisalign treatment?

Besides being nearly invisible, one of the biggest benefits of Invisalign aligners is their removability. Invisalign aligners are designed to be removed before eating or drinking anything other than water. This means you’ll never have to worry about food getting stuck in brackets or wires. They should also be removed before brushing and flossing. This makes it’s much easier to maintain a good oral hygiene routine because you can access your teeth more easily. Keeping your teeth clean and healthy is especially important when you’re having orthodontic treatment.

Since you can remove your aligners, you don’t have to worry about any food restrictions. This is pretty significant because food restrictions are often the biggest learning curve with traditional braces. With Invisalign, you can eat all of your favorite foods while working on your straighter smile. Aligners do need to be removed before you eat to avoid staining, and they should be cleaned and rinsed out with warm water at least once or twice a day.

With Invisalign aligners, there are no pesky wires to poke out and irritate your mouth, and there aren’t any adjustment appointments, either. Invisalign wearers are still expected to attend follow-up visits about every 6-8 weeks so that Dr. Cowan can be sure that your teeth are making good progress.

How does the Hillcrest Invisalign system work?

The Invisalign system is pretty straightforward. You’ll wear each aligner for about two weeks, and should only be removed to eat, drink, brush, or floss. As the aligners are replaced with the next one in the series, your teeth will be moving gradually, until they reach their new and improved positions.

During your visits with Cowan & Whitaker Orthodontics, we will check to make sure treatment is progressing as planned. You must change the aligners on time and wear them as directed. This is the most important part of the success of your smile with Hillcrest Invisalign. Your trays will be custom designed to fit your unique dental needs. They will need to be changed often to keep up with the shifting of the teeth as they begin to straighten. Not changing aligners as scheduled or skipping your appointments can quickly undo any progress that we have made.

Keep in mind that every patient will respond to orthodontic treatment differently. Since Invisalign works in a slightly different and less invasive way than braces to straighten your teeth, it’s hard to say for sure how long each patient will have to wear their aligners before they see significant results. The average is somewhere between 6 and 18 months, this can vary widely from case to case. Treatment time depends in large part on patient compliance.

The average treatment time is estimated based on patients following the recommended guidelines. This means wearing aligners for at least 20-22 hours every single day during the entire treatment. Straying from this schedule even a little bit can add extra time to your overall treatment. Invisalign can only work if patients stick to the program.

To learn more about Invisalign, or to find out if you are a good candidate for the Invisalign aligners, please contact us to schedule a free consultation.