Do you wish you had straighter teeth but the thought of having to get braces makes you think twice? It may be time to look into Invisalign®. These clear aligners can move your teeth into a more aesthetically pleasing position without brackets or wires for a flawless smile. Ryan Zhuoran Zhao, DDS, PhD, and his team at Harmony Smile Dental offer Invisalign to give you the smile you’ve been dreaming of. To learn more, call the office in Sunnyvale, California at (408) 738-1000, today or request an appointment online.

Invaslign Q & A

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an innovative teeth straightening system that gently moves your teeth into a straighter position without brackets or wires. The system consists of clear aligners that sit right below your gum line and hug your teeth so no one knows you’re wearing them.

Unlike braces, your Invisalign clear aligners are removable, so you don’t need to change how you brush your teeth or how you eat.

Am I a good candidate for Invisalign?

Dr. Zhao determines if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign after a comprehensive examination. You may be surprised to learn that Invisalign can fix many common smile flaws, including:

Overbite or underbite
Gaps or overcrowding
Open bite or crossbite

You can also use Invisalign to simply give you straighter teeth, even after you’ve gone through braces.

How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign is made from a special thermoplastic that has the ability to move your teeth gently and efficiently. Dr. Zhao takes a digital image of your teeth and then designs a plan for how he’s going to move your teeth into position. This plan is then used to create your aligner set.

Each aligner set is designed to move your teeth as outlined by Dr. Zhao. To get the best results, he recommends you wear your aligners for up to 22 hours a day. He also provides recommendations on when you should change to your new set of aligners, which is generally every 1-2 weeks but individualized based on your specific oral health needs.

How long does it take to get straighter teeth?

Every patient is different, but because of the innovative technology, Invisalign can move your teeth a lot faster than braces. Most people can achieve their smile goals within 12 to 18 months.

After you’ve completed your Invisalign, Dr. Zhao provides you with your custom-designed Vivera® retainer, which helps keep your teeth in place. Initially, Dr. Zhao recommends you wear your retainer full-time to prevent shifting of your teeth. Then, as your teeth settle into their new position, you can move to wearing your retainer at night.

To learn more about Invisalign and how they can give you the smile you want, call at (408) 738-1000 Harmony Smile Dental today, or request an appointment online.