Invisalign®
Invisalign®
Invisalign® incorporates removable, clear, mouthguard-like aligners to properly straighten your teeth. Patients can easily slide the aligners over their lower and upper teeth as well as remove them at any time including special or business events.
Invisalign® Benefits
Invisalign aligners are practically invisible, and do not draw attention to the mouth; it is extremely hard to identify whether or not someone is wearing them. In addition, Invisalign offers many other benefits including:
- They are not painful
- No dietary restrictions
- Easy to maintain over time
- Little-to-no impact on daily life
- They are cosmetically appealing
- Greater flexibility than traditional braces because aligners can be removed at any time
Who’s A Good Candidate For Invisalign®?
While it’s tempting to tell everyone they can avoid the embarrassment and hassle of traditional braces and use Invisalign, not everyone is a good candidate for the clear acrylic aligners. The severity or changes you want to make is the main determinant of eligibility. If the issues are too severe, such as a large overbite or serious jaw alignment problems, advanced orthodontic procedures are needed to shift the jaw. However, your aligners can handle moderate changes including crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites or crossbites.

Age and discipline are additional factors to consider when deciding on Invisalign. Candidates such as teenagers and adults are ideal since their teeth are finished growing. If a younger patient requires early intervention the problems are likely too severe for Invisalign aligners. Additionally, aligners are removable but must be worn at least 22 hours a day to be effective. Patients need to have the dedication and diligence about wearing the aligner trays to achieve a great smile.
The Invisalign® Treatment
After a consultation to determine patient eligibility, Clear Lake Dental Care will work on a unique treatment plan. This plan includes a schedule for a series of Invisalign® trays that are unique to each patient and will perfectly align their teeth. Each tray will cater to specific teeth readjustments and once the aligners are set in place, they gradually shift the targeted teeth. Approximately every two weeks you will receive a new set of aligner trays to continue the teeth straightening process. The length of treatment is specific to each patient and depends on the severity of your case. However, the average case takes about 12 months for adults.

Experts In The Field
Metal braces have been straightening people’s teeth for decades. While traditional braces do a fine job, they draw a lot of unwanted attention to your teeth because of the metal brackets covering your smile. With Invisalign®, you will have an orthodontic treatment performed with clear aligners that won’t be distracting to your smile. Be sure to give us a call at 832-479-4676 and ask us about any Invisalign® related questions you may have!
While Invisalign is able to move your teeth without the same pain and anxiety metal braces can cause, some people do experience temporary discomfort. This slight discomfort usually lasts for a few days at the beginning of each new stage of treatment. This sense of discomfort is normal and patients typically describe it as a feeling of pressure. This is a great sign that Invisalign is working, as it moves your teeth to their final destination. Most patients explain that the discomfort typically goes away in a couple of days.
Invisalign® aligners are made out of a strong, clear thermoplastic material, which is customized to fit each patient’s mouth and progressively move the teeth. The aligners are virtually undetectable when worn and may appear similar to custom teeth whitening trays.
Through the use of their patented thermoplastic design, Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force. Invisalign is not only able to control the applied force, but also the timing of the force. During each new stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move. As we map out your unique Invisalign treatment plan we will determine these movements.
Invisalign Chewies are soft chewing devices about the size of a thick pen. They are made of soft spongy plastic, a styrene copolymer. Chewies are used to help the patient eliminate the air space between their Invisalign aligner trays and their teeth. The Chewie provides a comfortable, easy way to deliver the uniform force to seat the Invisalign aligners properly. Chewies are usually only necessary when you first switch to a new set of aligner trays. Because the new set is meant to move your teeth from where the last set left off, they may not fit as precisely at first. Biting on the Chewie will fully set your new aligner trays.Invisalign makes these simple tools in different varieties: white unscented, purple with grape flavor, yellow with pineapple flavor, green with mint flavor, and pink with bubblegum flavor.
Chewies are used twice a day, or whenever you take out your aligners (such as when eating) and put them back in. You move the chewie from one side of your mouth to the other, biting down on it in each place, to fully seat the aligner trays. The chewie is small enough to fit into your Invisalign case, making it easy to carry with you throughout the day.
No, you must not chew anything with your aligner trays on. This can damage the aligners, impacting their ability to move your teeth. Also, food will get in the trays. The only thing you can do with your aligner trays in your mouth is to drink clear water.

Dedicated To Patient Satisfaction
Our staff does an amazing job at working with our patients because they will treat you the way that you want to be treated. Not only is our staff kind, but they are also extremely experienced and know what they are doing when they are on the job! Our job is to make you feel comfortable and feel right at home in our office!
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We wish to give you the smile that you’ve always dreamed about, even in seemingly hopeless situations. Your smile can be realized at Clear Lake Dental Care!
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