Many people think a gap between teeth is appealing — like Lauren Bacall’s. But gaps leave large areas in which food and bacteria can become trapped, leading to plaque build-up and eventual decay.
Until recently, the primary way to remove gaps was to get metal braces, the wire-and-bracket construction that led to the term “metal mouth” as a derogative. Then came Invisalign® — with its clear, almost invisible trays and shortened treatment time, which can correct most mild-to-moderate problems that metal braces can — and orthodontia shifted.
At the dental office of Shara Miller DDS, our expert team of dental providers is proud to offer Invisalign to our patients in South Beach, Miami, Florida, and Midtown, New York City, New York, who have a variety of orthodontic needs. Is this the right treatment for you if you have gapped teeth? Here are the experts’ take on this matter.
Like metal braces, Invisalign and other clear aligners move your teeth gradually, using gentle pressure to slightly reposition your teeth and slowly straighten them over time.
Invisalign offers an aesthetic alternative to traditional braces. The aligners are virtually invisible and made from a patented, transparent, medical-grade thermoplastic called SmarTrack™. They’re custom-fabricated to wrap snugly around your teeth, ensuring comfort and improved aesthetics.
The Invisalign lab creates your aligners using Dr. Miller’s digital scans of your mouth, which detail your teeth that need to move, and in what order. On average, you wear each set of aligners for 1-2 weeks before advancing to the next set, which adds a little additional pressure to keep the teeth moving. The total number of aligners you wear depends on your specific needs.
Unlike fixed traditional braces, you can remove your aligners when you eat and when you brush your teeth (and clean the aligners). However, for best results, you need to wear them 20-22 hours per day or as prescribed by your dentist/orthodontist.
Adding to the good news, you’re not limited to the foods you can eat when you use Invisalign, as you remove them before eating. No longer do you have to worry about snapping a wire when you chew something hard or getting something sticky stuck under a bracket where the brush and floss don’t always reach.
Absolutely, it’s right for the job. The aligners shift teeth into their correct positions in your mouth. That means they can coax the gapped teeth to move toward each other, eliminating the problem area.
They can also correct mild-to-moderate overbites, underbites, or crossbites, ensuring that the teeth are properly aligned and fully functional.
If you’re concerned about gapped teeth, contact the office of Shara Miller DDS, to learn more about Invisalign and what it can do for your smile. To schedule a consultation, contact us by calling either of our offices, or book on the website today.