Do you remember high school? The judgment, the staring, the criticism, the clicks. Imagine all of that with braces. Sadly, snap judgments based on appearance don’t disappear just because you’re an adult. In fact, the way people perceive you can effect whether you get a job, how much money you make, and even how people respond when meeting you. Braces would have been tough in high school, but maybe correcting your crowding, gaping or irregular bite just isn’t worth the stigma no matter what your age. Thanks to Invisalign clear braces, you don’t have to choose between a beautiful smile and making a great impression. In Virginia Beach, VA, Dr. Carol Morgan and her outstanding team at the Hampton Roads Center for Cosmetic Dentistry are here to correct any smile concerns invisibly. Don’t let put off your perfect smile, call to schedule an Invisalign or other cosmetic dentistry consultation.

How Braces Work

Braces apply pressure to your teeth to shift them in the soft, gum tissue until they align. This is not an easy task. Think about walking through water at the beach. The deeper you get, the more difficult it is to move through the water. As braces work to shift your teeth into place, the gums resist the motion, but gradually and with enough pressure the teeth are able to move. Traditional braces are comprised of brackets that attach to your teeth, and are connected to the surrounding teeth with wires that provide the resistance to shift the teeth into place.

How Invisalign is Different

Imagine you’re walking through the water again. As you push into the waves, they push back, and you work harder and harder to move forward. Now, imagine you stop walking and start swimming. You are still working to move through the water, there is still resistance, but it’s easier. Innovations in orthodontics have made it possible for teeth straightening to feel more like swimming and less like walking into the waves.

One of the many bite correcting options on the market is Invisalign. Invisalign is a clear braces system. Rather than use the pull of your teeth against each other to move them into place, Invisalign uses customized alignment trays to put pressure on your teeth moving them into alignment over time. Because your teeth are not moving against the gums and pulling against your other teeth, there is less resistance. Many patients who tried traditional braces, but were unable to complete their treatment because they found it too painful have experienced much more success using Invisalign.

Invisalign also takes less time, requires less frequent dental visits, and best of all your lifestyle isn’t impacted while you were them. Most patients are able to completely correct their smile in about year simply by wearing their alignment trays and replacing them with new ones every two weeks. Periodic checkups will be necessary to ensure your teeth are progressing as planned, but you will need about half the number of visits you would need with traditional braces. This is much more convenient for adults with busy schedules. Finally, not only does Invisalign straighten your teeth virtually invisibly, your alignment trays are removable. That means you can eat what you want simply remove Invisalign during meals. If you have a big event or a family photo session, remove Invisalign and replace after.

What to do Now

If you’ve been unhappy with your crooked teeth for years, if your teenager has extremely sensitive teeth and gums or feelings, or if you just want a faster, gentler way to perfect your smile, Invisalign clear braces might be your best option. Dr. Morgan and the knowledgeable team at Hampton Roads Center for Cosmetic Dentistry are here to help every step of the way. Call to schedule a consultation today. Our conveniently located Virginia Beach, VA practice invites patients from our neighboring communities including Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Portsmouth to come see the difference a picture-perfect smile can make.