Dr. Michael Sharp is a certified Invisalign provider. Invisalign invisible braces gradually move your teeth through a series of custom-made, removable aligners.

They are becoming a very popular way to straighten teeth, especially for adults. Not only will people not be able to tell that you're wearing braces, but they eliminate the discomfort of wires and brackets, and they move the teeth much more efficiently so that you're done in about half the time of conventional braces. Here's how they work: After a careful examination in which we determine if you're a suitable candidate for Invisalign, we begin by taking an impression of your teeth. This impression is scanned into a sophisticated computer. The computer then plans your tooth movements and manufactures a series of aligners. A photograph of an aligner is shown to the left.

When you put in the first pair of aligners, you will notice that they don't quite fit. They put slight pressure on your teeth to move them slightly in the proper directions to make them straighter. After two weeks, the aligners will feel loose, because your teeth have moved to their new positions. Then you snap in a new set, and they move your teeth a little more. In 6 to 12 months, the process is complete.

Cleaning your teeth is simple. You simply remove the aligners and brush and floss normally. To eat, you also remove the aligners.

There are several advantages to Invisalign over conventional braces:

1. It is much faster. Typical treatment times are 6 to 12 months, as opposed to two to three years for conventional braces.
2. They are invisible at a normal talking distance. People generally will not even notice you are wearing the aligners.
3. They are much more comfortable. There are no uncomfortable wires and brackets in your mouth.
4. It is removable for good hygiene. Just take out the aligner and you can brush and floss normally.
5. There are no dietary restrictions during treatment.
6. Dental cleanings are quicker and easier than with traditional orthodontics.

There are some disadvantages to Invisalign

1. Because they are removable, you have to wear them faithfully.
2. Not all cases of misaligned teeth are correctable with Invisalign. Dr. Sharp can tell you if they are a treatment option for you.
3. They are sometimes not particularly well suited for teenagers. Besides compliance issues with some teens, they don't work well when any teeth aren't fully erupted.

Call our office today for your personalized Invisalign invisible braces consultation.