Invisalign® Express
Alignment problems affect a surprising number of Americans. Many adults are unhappy with the health, function, or appearance of their smile because of crooked teeth or a misaligned bite.
Invisalign® offers adults a comfortable and discreet way to correct malocclusion problems. Invisalign® uses clear plastic aligners to shift the teeth to bring them into proper alignment.
Invisalign® treatment offers many advantages over traditional braces, but it is still a lengthy process. However, some patients may be candidates for Invisalign® Express. This system is faster than traditional Invisalign®.
Here, patients can learn more about Invisalign® Express, a treatment that is offered at our Nashville, TN practice, Gulch Dental Studio.
How Long Does Invisalign® Express Treatment Take?
Throughout Invisalign® treatment, patients progress through a series of aligner trays. Typically, patients will wear each set of aligners for two weeks before switching to the next set.
During the average Invisalign® treatment, patients will progress through 25 or more sets of aligners, which means that patients can expect a traditional Invisalign® treatment to last for about a year. Invisalign® Express offers patients a much shorter treatment timeline.
There are two Invisalign® Express systems available. Patients may either use the Express 5 system or the Express 10 system. Patients that undergo the Express 5 system will progress through five sets of aligners, while patients of the Express 10 system will go through 10 sets of aligners.
As with traditional Invisalign® treatment, each set of aligners is worn for about two weeks, which means the length of Invisalign® Express treatment is just 10 to 20 weeks, depending on which system is used.
Am I a Candidate?
Because Invisalign® Express is worn for such a short period of time, the amount of movement that can be achieved is minimal. A tooth can only be rotated by about four degrees during Invisalign® Express treatment, and the tooth can only be tipped by around 2mm or less.
Since minimal adjustments can be made in the short treatment timespan, patient candidacy is limited. Those who may be ideal candidates for Invisalign® Express treatment include:
- Patients who only need to shift the teeth by a small degree
- Patients with only a few teeth that require movement
- Patients who have previously undergone braces treatment and are experiencing some regression
A personal evaluation is the only way to know for sure if a patient is an ideal candidate for Invisalign® Express. Our dentists can examine the teeth and take digital images to create the most appropriate Invisalign® treatment for each patient.
Follow-up Care
Just as with braces or traditional Invisalign®, follow-up care is vital to ensuring the long-term success of Invisalign® Express. Even though the teeth are moved by just a small degree during Invisalign® Express treatment, they can shift back into their old position in the months following treatment. To prevent this regression, Invisalign® Express patients will need to wear a retainer when treatment is complete.
Contact Us
If crooked teeth have your smile just a little off, you may be an ideal candidate for Invisalign® Express treatment. To learn more about this treatment, contact us at your earliest convenience. You can set up a consultation with one of the experienced dentists at Gulch Dental Studio by calling (615) 334-0184.
