Quick and discreet ways to improve your smile
Have you always wanted straighter teeth but thought you’d have to suffer through a season of metal braces to do so? By utilizing the latest corrective technology by Invisalign® and Six Month Smiles®, we are able to offer you two discreet, embarrassment-free options. Both are clear and hardly noticeable to the naked eye, making it simple to correct your tooth alignment without the hassle of having metal brackets on your teeth. Crooked teeth are a common dental concern that we treat at Williamsburg Center for Dental Health.
Dr. Stacey Hall is a Williamsburg Invisalign provider and also offers Six Month Smiles as cosmetic dental treatments in Williamsburg, VA. These ortho treatment options can offer key benefits when considered appropriate for your needs:
- Comfortable aligners and appliances: both Invisalign and Six Month Smiles are less bulky and more comfortable than traditional metal braces.
- Discreet treatment: using custom fit clear aligners, these options will be barely noticeable and no one has to know you are wearing “braces”. They are much more discrete than other orthodontic treatment methods that use metal brackets and wires.
- No diet restrictions: briefly remove clear aligners to enjoy your favorite foods and beverages.
- Easy and thorough oral hygiene: the removable aligners make it easy to receive routine dental care and to brush and floss all surfaces daily.
Clear Aligners: How Do They Work?
The treatment process using clear aligners begins with a consultation and exam, often including digital diagnostics for treatment planning. Dr. Hall will use your dental impressions and specialized CAD/CAM software. He will create a personalized treatment plan designed to address your unique needs.
We’ll create a set of aligners for you, and once they’re ready, you’ll come in for the placement of the first set. Typically, we’ll have you change out the aligners every 2-3 weeks, depending on your treatment plan. We will place your first aligner(s) and go over how to care for them. This will help you maintain your dental health and a schedule for changing aligners. Checkups to monitor your progress are typically every 6-8 weeks. If you have worn your aligners for 22 hours per day and there is noticeable progress, we will give you a new set during each checkup.
Invisalign®
Invisalign® braces are clear acrylic trays that gradually reposition your teeth. We’ll take impressions of your teeth and create a customized corrective plan using the Invisalign® software. You should wear the trays as directed and switch them out every two weeks. Then, you can watch your smile transform.
Invisalign® braces are invisible, removable, fast and affordable. We recommend that patients wear aligners for22 hours per day. Treatment averages 12 to 18 months, which is about half the time of traditional braces. While Invisalign® takes longer to achieve the desired result, it has the potential to tackle orthodontic problems that Six Month Smiles® cannot.
Six Month Smiles®
Six Month Smiles® offers many of the same advantages of Invisalign® but uses slightly different technology, which is able to create results even more quickly. With Six Month Smiles®, you can correct a variety of alignment issues and create your dream smile in just six months!
Six Month Smiles® braces are clear or tooth-colored brackets and wires that use low force to straighten just the teeth that show when you smile. This does not make any significant changes to your bite, which allows you to correct crooked, crowded, or widely spaced teeth inconspicuously – in just six months. We generally use this treatment for less severe alignment issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have further questions about treatment with Invisalign® and Six Month Smiles®? Continue reading to learn more and find answers to commonly asked questions.
What can you not do with Invisalign?
Patients with Invisalign should avoid eating or drinking with aligners. Patients should also be sure to brush and clean their aligners daily. It is important to keep your aligners clean for your oral health.
What disqualifies you from getting Invisalign?
Patients who have dental implants, bridges, or TMJ are not good candidates for Invisalign treatment. Patients with other oral conditions or restorations may also not be qualified for Invisalign.
Should I wear my Invisalign at night?
You should wear Invisalign for 20-22 hours per day. This means that you should remove aligners to eat but wear them at night and to sleep. Failure to wear Invisalign aligners for 20-22 hours daily may result in discomfort and extended treatment time.
What is the difference between Invisalign and 6 Month Smiles?
The main difference between Invisalign align and six-month smiles are the length of treatment time and the method of treatment. Six-month smiles use brackets, while Invisalign uses clear aligners. Six-month smiles treatment is typically a shorter treatment time than Invisalign.
How do Six Month Smiles work?
Six-month smiles treat teeth by using brackets and wires attached to their surfaces. This method has aligned teeth quickly and effectively.
What is the difference between Six Month Smiles and regular braces?
The main difference between six-month smiles and regular braces is that six-month smiles work at a much faster pace. They also have clear brackets and elastics, making them far less noticeable than metal brackets and wires.