If you are ready to invest in your smile, Dr. Scott Runnels is here to help. Runnels Orthodontics located in Destin, Inlet Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, is equipped with professionally trained staff, top of the line technology, and the best orthodontic products available. Dr. Runnels offers Invisalign and Invisalign Teen to help you get that smile you have always wanted. Invisalign can help with a multitude of problems including an overbite, underbite, gap teeth, crowded teeth, crossbite, open bite, and crooked teeth. But what most people want to know is, how long does Invisalign take to work for me?
Invisalign are clear, plastic-teeth aligners that are used as dental braces to adjust the alignment of teeth. Invisalign treatment works by wearing a series of aligners that will move and straighten your teeth over time. Each aligner is custom made to fit your specific needs and designed to reach your desired outcome. Invisalign can only be administered by a certified Invisalign-trained doctor.
Invisalign treatment includes:
When you are considering your options for orthodontic care, it is important to know the differences between Invisalign and traditional metal braces. Invisalign, as the name suggests, are clear and are hard to notice that you are even wearing them. It offers more precise movement of teeth than traditional braces, and the aligners are removable so you can eat, brush, and floss just like you normally would. Invisalign aligners are more comfortable than metal braces and do not irritate your gums and mouth. Invisalign also saves you time with fewer check-up appointments.
Other benefits of Invisalign:
Traditional metal braces are adhered to your teeth and cannot be removed and may require wearing rubber-bands. You must avoid eating certain foods that are sticky, chewy, or too hard because it could cause damage to your braces.
Your first step is to set up an appointment to see if you are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment. If you are, a 3-D scan will be taken of your teeth and sent to the Invisalign laboratories where they will custom make your aligners. The aligners are designed to move your teeth a millimeter at a time until you have achieved your desired new smile. The Invisalign aligners are removable so you can eat whatever foods you want, brush and floss.
Each person has their own unique set of circumstances, so it is hard to give a definitive answer, however, most treatment length times are 12 months.
Just like Invisalign, Invisalign Teen uses a series of clear, plastic aligners to move and straighten your teeth. After a 3-D scan, your treatment plan is created using 3-D technology and a team of clinicians manufactures your custom-made aligners. These aligners are specifically made for teenagers, allowing permanent teeth room to grow and expand.
Invisalign Teen has Blue Dot Wear Indicator that lets you know when it is time to put on a new set of aligners, which is about every two weeks. Invisalign Teen are removable for important events in a teen’s life like senior pictures, prom, and graduation.
As with adults, each individual case is unique and may require more or less time than average, however, it usually takes between a year and 18 months to complete the Invisalign Teen treatment if the aligners are worn 20 to 22 hours per day.
Today everyone has such a busy lifestyle, it is hard to schedule in-person visits on a consistent basis. Digital Monitoring offers convenience and quality right from your smartphone app. The app is equipped for you to scan your teeth and send the results to your doctor, reducing the amount of in-person appointments required.
To use Digital Monitoring, you scan your smile using the app on your smartphone, usually once a week, and the scan is sent to your doctor. You place the cheek retractor in your mouth to expose your teeth for the scan and hold your device about 10 centimeters away from your mouth. The cheek retractor has special indicators that show the doctor how far your teeth have moved. After your scan has been analyzed, you will be sent recommendations for the upcoming week.
Using the Digital Monitoring app can be a great alternative to in-person appointments for people who want to use the Invisalign treatment. Digital monitoring is great for people who:
If you have had a dental impression before you know how uncomfortable and messy of a process it is. You can avoid all that inconvenience with iTero digital impression.
An iTero Scanner is a hand-held wand that scans your teeth, and it takes less than five minutes. The scan is put on a nearby screen that you and your doctor can review together, so you can understand the treatment plan more clearly.
The biggest complaint about traditional dental impressions is that it is uncomfortable! It takes up to five minutes for the mold to set, which is a long time to have a large tray in your mouth filled with sticky, gooey paste, leaving you gagging and salivating. The iTero Scanner is simpler, cleaner, and more effective so you can relax during the scan.
When your Invisalign treatment is complete, it is recommended that you wear a retainer. The retainer prevents your teeth from moving back to where they were before Invisalign. Your jawbone softens during your Invisalign treatment to enable your teeth to move, it will take about a year for your jawbone to deposit new bone and stabilize your teeth. After wearing your retainer full-time for about three months, you can wear your retainer at night when you sleep thereafter.
As you grow older, your teeth naturally shift forward. Your teeth also move through everyday activities such as chewing, biting, swallowing, and speaking. It is important to wear your retainer to avoid your teeth shifting back to where they started before Invisalign treatment. Runnels Retainers differ from traditional retainers in that they are invisible and do not have the exposed metal wires. Runnels Retainers are custom made per patient using 3-D imaging for a perfect fit. It is more comfortable than a traditional retainer, and you get 12 sets of Runnels Retainers to take home with you.
Most people think that they need a referral from their dentist to schedule an orthodontist exam. However, that is not true, and you can call and schedule your own appointment.
Sometimes tooth extraction is necessary for the best results from your Invisalign treatment, but removing teeth is not always needed.
The complete treatment process varies upon the complexities of each patient. Generally, it takes eight to 30 months to complete an Invisalign treatment.
Regular check-ups and cleanings with your family dentist are recommended throughout the entire Invisalign treatment.
When a child’s permanent teeth start coming in, it is a good time to schedule an orthodontic screening, usually around the age of seven. Although most orthodontic treatments start between the ages of 11 and 15, it is good to make sure everything checks out okay, and sometimes early intervention is necessary.
Your mouth does not grow bigger as you age, in fact, once the molars come in, the space in your mouth actually gets smaller and does not give any room for teeth to straighten. If you have crooked teeth or crowded teeth, it is best to make an appointment to get evaluated.
It is hard to give an estimate of treatment cost until after your evaluation. Each person’s smile is unique and may require more or less treatment than others. The exact treatment cost for you or your child and all your financial options will be reviewed in detail at the initial appointment. Several financing options are available, and we will review your insurance policy and make a claim on your behalf.
Returning back to work or school after an orthodontic appointment is recommended. The discomfort from the treatment is very minimal and should not interfere with daily activities.
To help reduce the risk of cavities, it is best to brush after every meal or at least four times a day. Carrying a travel toothbrush with you is a good idea so you can have the ability to brush your teeth on the go.
You are never too old for Invisalign or braces. Over 25 percent of orthodontic patients are adults. Your smile directly affects your self-esteem, your health, and your confidence. It is very important that you have a great smile no matter what your age.
If you are ready for your new smile, schedule your appointment today with Dr. Scott Runnels at Runnels Orthodontics. We have three convenient locations in Destin, Inlet Beach, and Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. We offer a full line of orthodontic care including Invisalign, Runnels Retainers, Carriere Distalizer, traditional braces, ceramic braces, lingual braces, PROPEL, teeth whitening, sports mouth guards, laser gum sculpting, and S.M.A.R.T. Analysis. We strive to make the lives of our patients better by providing high quality, efficient, and compassionate service from our highly trained and professional staff.
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