Crowns vs Bridges: How Are They Different?
If you have one or more missing teeth, replacing them is a good idea, but your options can be confusing. In this post, we discuss two popular forms of tooth replacement: crowns and bridges.
Straighten Your Teeth Without Anyone Knowing
It’s difficult to overstate the impact that feeling good about your smile can have on your life. When you smile more, people perceive you as being more open and friendlier. When you like your smile more, you feel more confident. Those two things work together to give you a boost—maybe you’ll ask for a promotion at work or accept an invitation to a social event you may have avoided if you felt uncomfortable about your teeth.
However, Dr. Stephen Hiroshige and his staff have met plenty of patients who are unwilling to get the smile they want because they don’t want to get braces. Whether you perceive braces as a treatment for teenagers, you don’t feel like you have the time for the numerous office visits they require, or you simply don’t like the way they look, we have good news: You can get straighter teeth with Invisalign®, and no one will know. Our compassionate and caring team can guide you through the process.
An easy process
When you get Invisalign clear aligners, you undergo a fairly simple process. First, you come in for a consultation, and Dr. Hiroshige discusses your specific smile issues, as well as whether or how Invisalign can help, and then our staff takes images of your mouth. Those images are used to create your aligners.
Next, you receive your aligners and wear them. You come in for regular checkups during the time you wear your aligners to make sure they’re working and fitting comfortably, and so we can answer any questions you may have.
The last step is to enjoy your newly straightened smile!
How Invisalign works
The images we take during your initial visit are used to create your customized trays. Every week or two, depending on your specific issue, you receive a new set of aligners and begin wearing them. The trays slowly, but gently, push your teeth into their new positions.
Since they are moving your teeth, you may feel some mild discomfort when you first start wearing a new set of aligners, but it shouldn’t last long. If your aligners are significantly uncomfortable, we encourage you to bring it up during your checkups.
It’s fast!
It may surprise you to learn that Invisalign is usually faster than traditional braces. It depends on how your teeth are initially misaligned, but most people end up wearing aligners for around six months. Dr. Hiroshige can offer more specific guidance during your consultation.
“Invis” = Invisible
Of course your aligners aren’t literally invisible, but they are clear and not noticeable. They are also customized to fit your teeth perfectly. The clear material combined with the close fit means that, unless someone looks very closely, they are unlikely to even realize you’re wearing them.
Want to know more?
Invisalign isn’t for every patient, but aligners can help correct many more smile problems than most people realize. If you have questions, schedule a consultation today! We’re always happy to discuss your individual circumstances and help you get the smile you’ve always wanted.
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