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Orthodontics Q&A

What is orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a dental subspecialty that diagnoses and treats alignment problems with your teeth and/or jaw.

At Whole Body Dental, the team offers orthodontic treatment with Invisalign. Invisalign is a cutting-edge system that straightens your teeth and jaw with removable, plastic aligners. The aligners don’t contain ingredients like gluten, latex, or metal, so treatment is safe for people with allergies and those who are pregnant.

What types of alignment problems can orthodontics treat?

At Whole Body Dental, the team uses orthodontics to treat various alignment problems, including:

  • Crooked teeth
  • Crowding
  • Overlapping teeth
  • Spaces between teeth
  • Misaligned jaw

The team also uses orthodontics to treat bite problems, including overbite, underbite, and crossbite. 

What does treatment with orthodontics involve?

At Whole Body Dental, orthodontics treatment begins with a review of your dental records, an oral exam, and a series of digital X-rays.

If the team identifies any alignment problems, such as crooked teeth or crowding, you qualify for treatment. Your provider captures digital scans of your mouth and uploads them to a computer program. They then use the program to develop a custom care plan, mapping out the exact movements of your teeth and jaw.

Your provider sends the digital plan to an Invisalign lab after finalizing it. Then, the lab creates a set of custom orthodontic aligners.

When your aligners are finished, a week or two later, you return to Whole Body Dental. The team has you try on your Invisalign aligners and makes adjustments, ensuring a perfect fit.

Every three weeks, you visit the team for regular checkups. At each orthodontic visit, the team monitors your progress and adjusts your treatment plan. They also provide you with a new set of Invisalign aligners.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

The time that orthodontic treatment takes depends on various factors, including your age, the alignment problems addressed, and your commitment to the team’s care plan. Most people finish Invisalign treatment in 12-18 months*, but it may take longer. To ensure positive results, wear your aligners 20-22 hours each day, only removing them to brush and floss or eat.

To see if you can benefit from orthodontics, call Whole Body Dental or book online today.

*Individual results may vary.