Invisalign in Kent, WA

Invisalign was created for individuals that want straighter teeth without having to wear traditional metal braces. This treatment option involves wearing clear, plastic aligners to gradually shift the teeth into the proper position and alignment. Since the system’s inception, it has helped over 5 million people transform their smiles. Invisalign is available locally with Dr. Amrita Majumdar at Kent Station Family Dentistry.

How Invisalign Works

Invisalign is intended to treat teeth that are crooked, crowded, widely spaced or otherwise misaligned. As an Invisalign patient, you will wear a series of custom-crafted, removable upper and lower aligners that put gentle pressure to shift your teeth into the desired position. The aligners are created and distributed in a specific sequence based on the position and alignment of your teeth at the beginning of treatment and where your teeth should be at the end of treatment. Week by week, your teeth will shift a little bit until they have reached the final position (as determined by Dr. Amrita). The total treatment time and number of aligners varies by patient, but you can expect to wear approximately 18 to 30 sets of aligners and complete treatment in a year.

Invisalign aligners are made from a clear plastic material and are very comfortable to wear; there are no wire brackets or wires to scratch and poke the insides of your cheeks or gums. The aligners are removable for eating and drinking, so you can eat whatever you want during the course of treatment. They are very discreet, so virtually no one will be able to tell you are undergoing orthodontic treatment. Invisalign is ideal if you are in school or work in an office and do not want to attract attention by wearing traditional metal braces.

The Treatment Process

The first step to a more beautiful smile with Invisalign is a consultation with Dr. Amrita. During this appointment, he will examine the current position and alignment of your teeth, ask you about your treatment goals and explain what Invisalign can do for you. If you decide to move forward with Invisalign treatment, Dr. Amrita will capture digital images of your teeth that will be used to create a road map for your treatment. He can also show you a preview of what your teeth will look like after you complete treatment.

The digital images, along with X-rays and impressions, will then be sent to the laboratory that creates your sets of aligners. The lab technicians will create a three-dimension model of your teeth and map out the movement of your teeth, step by step. Based on that information, your aligners will be constructed from top-quality materials and carefully customized to fit the unique contours of your gumline and mouth.

Once your first set of aligners is ready, you should wear them for at least 20 to 22 hours per day, for approximately two weeks before swapping them out for the next set of aligners in your sequence. Each aligner is made so that your teeth are slightly straighter than the previous aligner. You will check in with Dr. Amrita periodically so he can monitor your progress.

Once you have finished with your final set of aligners, you may be fitted for a retainer to help maintain your new tooth position/alignment.

Learn More about Invisalign

For more information about treatment with Invisalign, please call 253-850-1600 or email us at Kent Station Family Dentistry today.