Invisalign – Bowie, MD

How Does Invisalign Work?

The first step of the Invisalign process is to schedule your initial consultation by contacting our office. During this appointment, we determine if Invisalign is the right treatment for your particular situation. We’ll then develop a customized treatment plan to walk you through so you know exactly what to expect from the process, such as the cost and how long you’ll be wearing your clear aligners for. After taking a series of digital impressions, we’ll send the information off to our Invisalign laboratory to craft your aligners from.

When they’re made, we will call you back for another appointment show you how to use and maintain your trays. Towards the end of your treatment, we’ll discuss retainer options with you as well to make sure that your newly aligned teeth don’t gradually shift back into their original positions.

What Problems Can Invisalign Fix?

Invisalign treatment can be used to fix a variety of orthodontic issues. Patients suffering from the following mild to moderate problems are usually great candidates for clear aligners.

Crowded Teeth

Having overlapping and crowded teeth may seem like a strictly cosmetic issue, but it can also put your oral health at risk by creating hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. Plaque, food debris, and bacteria can accumulate in these crevices and cause decay and gum disease.

Learn More About Crowded Teeth

Gaps Between Teeth

Unevenly spaced teeth can cause similar problems as crowded teeth by creating easily accessible hideouts for harmful oral substances in your mouth. Not to mention, gaps in your smile can also make you feel self conscious about letting your grin show.

Bite Misalignment

Whether you suffer from overbite, underbite, or crossbite, these misalignment issues can open the door for more serious problems such as TMD and teeth grinding. These can cause excessive wear-and-tear on your teeth and expose the more vulnerable structures underneath your enamel.

Benefits of Invisalign

Invisalign provides a unique, customizable way to straighten teeth. Instead of cementing and tightening brackets and wires to the teeth, sets of personal aligners are created for each patient. These aligners, unlike regular braces, are completely clear and aesthetically pleasing. They will not cause any unwarranted attention and are practically invisible when being worn.

Invisalign trays are also removable, so you won’t have to worry about dietary restrictions while undergoing treatment with Invisalign. You can continue eating your favorite meals without having to worry about damaging the aligners. The removable sets will also allow brush your teeth without having to maneuver around cumbersome brackets and wires, making it difficult to remove plaque and food debris.

iTero Digital Scanning With Invisalign

Ambiance Dental Spa is committed to using the latest technology to provide the most comfortable, effective care possible. So, for treatment planning during Invisalign cases, the iTero Scanner is an invaluable tool. With it, your dentist is able to capture digital scans of your mouth without the need for those messy, uncomfortable bite-down impressions that have always been used in the past. Digital scanning with Invisalign in Bowie greatly reduces the amount of time it takes to recreate a model of your teeth and oral structures, and because it is totally digital, the overall process is far more comfortable for you as well.

The iTero Scanner is a small, handheld tool your dentist uses to capture a comprehensive, digital recreation of your smile. This image is transferred instantly to an Invisalign lab where your series of aligners are created according to your specific treatment plan.

The benefits of the iTero Scanner with Bowie Invisalign are significant. They include:

• Digital scans are captured more quickly than with traditional bite-down impressions.
• Digital images are easily transferred and stored.
• More comfortable for the patient compared to bite-down impressions.
• iTero can be used for creating retainers to wear after the Invisalign treatment.
• The Invisalign Outcome Simulator allows us to show you your potential results before we even begin.

Of all digital scanners, Ambiance Dental Spa prefers the iTero Scanner system. Its market-leader performance ensures that our patients always enjoy the very best care achievable today.

Understanding the Cost of Invisalign

Are you worried that a faster, more discreet way of straightening your teeth is beyond your financial reach? Invisalign in Bowie is more affordable than you think! The exact cost can vary and will depend on different factors that our team will examine during your initial consultation. If you are ready to learn more about the cost of dental implants, keep reading below or contact Ambiance Dental Spa today!

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Scheduling Your Orthodontic Consultation

We'd love to help you improve the beauty of your smile with either of these two excellent alternatives to traditional orthodontics. Contact our dental office today if you have any questions for our team, or if you’re ready to schedule a consultation so that we can determine if Six Month Smiles or Invisalign is right for your unique case. Ambiance Dental Spa is located in Bowie, MD, and we also serve the areas of Lanham, Goddard, Glenn Dale, Crofton, Greenbelt, and beyond.

Invisalign FAQs

Tired of dealing with crooked or overcrowded teeth? Maybe that gap in your smile is keeping you from greater opportunities at work? Or is it your poorly aligned bite that has you feeling more self-conscious than before? No matter the problem, Invisalign is a great way to realign your smile and give you the improved aesthetic and oral health you deserve. At Ambiance Dental Spa, our team understands there are many questions you have about moving forward with treatment, which is why we are inviting you to review the following commonly asked questions about Invisalign. Should you wish to inquire more about this available service or schedule an appointment, contact a member of our team today!

What should I do if I accidentally damage or lose an aligner?

It’s important that you keep your clear aligners in a protective case to avoid losing or damaging them during treatment. However, we understand that accidents happen. Should this happen to you, make sure you keep your most recent set. Why? Because there is a possibility that you will need to wear these trays until new ones are created. But before you do, make sure to call and schedule an appointment with us. Our team will evaluate the current status of your smile and decide if you need new trays or if you can move onto the next set in the series.

Will my dental insurance cover the cost of treatment?

Knowing how your dental insurance will handle any or all of your treatment is necessary before agreeing to move forward with Invisalign. They will likely agree to cover a portion of orthodontic care but how much is dependent upon your plan. Should you need assistance getting the answers you need to make a decision about your dental care, don’t be afraid to ask a member of our team. We will be happy to assist in working on your behalf with your insurance company. We will also identify alternative financing options to help you stay within your budget.

How often will I be expected to see the dentist while wearing Invisalign?

Unlike traditional braces that require you to see your dentist every few weeks to have your wire tightened, replaced, or adjusted, your visits with your Invisalign dentist will be roughly every 4-6 weeks. The good news is that these appointments will only last a short time, as there is no wire to adjust. Your dentist will simply examine your smile to make sure everything is progressing as it should.

How should I clean my aligners?

The best way to clean your aligners is either using the Invisalign Cleaning Crystals system or using a soft-bristled toothbrush, clear soap, and lukewarm water. The latter option is obviously more cost-effective and will safely remove anything harmful on your trays that you do not want to return to your teeth. You’ll need to make sure never to use hot water, as this can warp the plastic. Also, make sure before you reinsert your aligners that you rinse them off. If preparing to insert your trays after eating, rinse out your mouth or brush your teeth, if you are able, as this will keep food particles and bacteria from transferring onto your trays.

Will I need to wear a retainer?

Yes, after you’ve finished treatment with Invisalign, you will need to wear a retainer. These oral appliances make it possible to keep your teeth in place instead of letting them shift back into their original position. There are many different types of retainers available, but your dentist will determine which one is right for your smile. Initially, you may need to wear it full time, however, after several months, you may be allowed to wear it only at night while sleeping.