Invisalign® advanced, comfortable, and discreet orthodontic treatment without the braces
Led by father and son, Drs Gary and Scott Pearl, our family at Pearl Dental Care in Hamden, Connecticut, is proud to serve your family with treatment as comfortable and convenient as it is precise, safe, and effective. Invisalign® represents just one of our advanced alternatives to conventional dental treatments. It presents a removable and discreet way to straighten the teeth and correct bite issues without braces.
Treatment for many patients
Since Invisalign® made its debut in the late 1990s, more than 10 million smiles have been improved with this series of aligner trays. The trays are oral appliances that are customized to fit patients’ mouths. They are made from advanced, transparent, and smooth plastic. When worn as directed for at least 20 to 22 hours daily, aligners place consistent pressure on the teeth to gradually reposition them. Braces also place constant force on the teeth; however, they are made mainly from silver-colored metal brackets and wires. Unlike Invisalign®, braces are fixed, which means only your dentist can remove them.
Invisalign® has made continual improvements through the decades. While it still effectively addresses minor crowding and spacing issues, today’s Invisalign® is also designed to treat more complex concerns. These conditions include:
- Overbite, the upper teeth extend too far out
- Underbite, the lower teeth jut out farther than the upper teeth
- Crossbite, some upper teeth are positioned behind their lower counterparts
- Open bite, upper and lower teeth do not make contact when you close your mouth
If Invisalign® is appropriate for you, our dentists use specialized software to create a 3-dimensional model of your mouth. This model also simulates the entire treatment process. So, we can show you exactly how your teeth will be realigned. This model is also used to create the aligner trays. Remove the trays just for eating and cleaning. Around every two weeks, the current tray will be discarded. You will begin to wear the next tray in the series. Each aligner is associated with a different phase in the treatment process. It is vital to wear the trays in the correct order for this reason.
Actual Patients Before and After Stories for Invisalign
A Well-aligned Smile
The ‘Before’ image shows our patient who had a deep bite and a lower right premolar that was sticking out. Her smile remained hidden due to her less-than-aligned teeth. However, advanced technologies in the form of Invisalign clear aligners enabled us to correct the appearance of her teeth while being as discreet as possible, as the aligners are almost invisible. The procedure didn’t take as much time as traditional braces normally take. The ‘After’ image shows the patient’s improved bite and the better-positioned premolar. A more attractive smile is the result!
No more gaps!
A large gap between the two upper front teeth detracted from this patient’s smile, as is visible in the ‘Before’ image. We could successfully address the spacing issue with clear aligners from Invisalign. The gap is no more, as is evident in the ‘After’ image, and the patient is quite thankful for the improved smile and the confidence boost he got as a result.
With proper wear, Invisalign® can help you to achieve your dream smile in, on average, around 12 months for our cases. We can also help you to keep these stunning results with Vivera® retainers. Custom retainers prevent the common problem of treated teeth from shifting back to their “pre-corrective” positions. Generally, our patients in North Haven, East Haven, Woodbridge, Cheshire, Wallingford, and throughout New Haven County appreciate the ease, transparency, and comfort of Invisalign® treatment. Call (203) 285-8245 to schedule your appointment at Pearl Dental Care in Hamden.
Frequently asked questions about Invisalign
How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign effectively uses a series of unique clear aligners. These aligners gradually and gently shift teeth into their desired position. They are created specifically for every patient utilizing cutting-edge 3D imaging technology.
Is Invisalign suitable for everyone who has misaligned teeth?
While Invisalign treats many orthodontic issues, it may not be the best option for everyone. It is best to consult with an experienced Invisalign provider like Dr. Scott Pearl of Pearl Dental Care to determine if it is the right treatment option for you.
What are the benefits of Invisalign over more traditional orthodontics, like metal braces?
One of the main benefits of Invisalign is that the aligners are virtually invisible, making them a much more discreet option for men, women, and teenagers who are self-conscious about wearing braces. They also offer the convenience of being removable, allowing for easier eating and better oral hygiene maintenance.
How often do I need to wear my Invisalign aligners to get the desired results?
For best results, it is recommended that you wear your Invisalign aligners for over 20 hours per day. They should be worn at all other times; you take them off when eating or brushing your teeth.
Do I need to make any dietary changes while undergoing Invisalign treatment?
Unlike traditional braces, which restrict certain foods because they can damage the wires and brackets, you can continue to eat what you like during your Invisalign treatment. However, it is strongly recommended that you remove your aligners when eating to avoid damaging or staining the trays.
How long does Invisalign treatment take to complete?
The length of Invisalign treatment varies from patient to patient, depending on the severity of their orthodontic issues. On average, treatment through our team at Pearl Dental Care can take anywhere from six to 18 months.
After my Invisalign treatment, will I still need to wear a retainer?
Yes, to keep your newly straightened teeth, you must wear a retainer after completing your Invisalign treatment. Depending on your specific case we might suggest a clear removable retainer for nighttime wear or a fixed lingual retainer.
Invisalign® at Pearl Dental Care
What is Invisalign®?
Hi, I’m Dr. Scott Pearl at Pearl Dental Care in Hamden, CT, and I’d like to go over Invisalign® and other clear aligner orthodontic therapies.
Invisalign® is great because we can treat various cases.
We can use Invisalign® to improve the patients’ bite, make it easier for them to clean their teeth if the teeth are straighter with less crowding, and cosmetically make improvements to give them a straighter, more aligned smile.
What are the benefits of Invisalign®?
The patient should wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily for the fastest movement.
They take them out to eat, and they can keep them in for clear liquids, but if they’re drinking anything like coffee or soda, they should take the aligners out and then brush their teeth before putting them back in.
Each aligner moves the teeth a bit, and we can make some pretty dramatic changes over the course of the whole series.
People can have a straighter smile, improve their bite, close spaces that they might not like, and have a much easier time brushing and flossing their teeth.
The process of Invisalign® at Pearl Dental Care
What is the treatment process?
Invisalign®’s process is taking photos and digital scans of the patient’s teeth, and we use that to develop a treatment plan.
After we devise a plan on the computer, we figure out how we want the teeth to move and how many trays the patient will be wearing.
We order the aligners, and then about two or three weeks later, we have the patient back in the office, and we give the patient their first set of aligners.
Most cases require attachments or little tooth-colored buttons on the teeth, which help hold the trays and move the teeth better.
How long does the treatment process take?
Most cases that we do take anywhere from just a few months for a simple case to maybe a year or a little more.
After Invisalign is completed, patients wear retainers at night, which can usually be clear.
Invisalign®-type retainers are made to last longer, and they wear them at night when sleeping.
In other cases where we want to make sure, for instance, space doesn’t open up between the teeth, we may bond a thin wire behind the teeth to permanently stay there to keep the teeth from moving.
