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Parents want the best for their teens and often ask us about the perks of Invisalign Teen clear aligners compared to traditional braces. Invisalign treatment is a style of braces that skips the usual metal and wires, and uses a clear, thermoplastic material to create removable aligners instead.

Aligners are custom-made for each patient and replaced every two weeks to attain gradually straighter teeth.

Is Invisalign treatment as effective?

As long as your child wears the aligners as directed, the answer is yes: they are just as effective as traditional braces. A small blue spot on the back of each aligner will fade after two weeks of proper wear. This enables Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow to tell whether the child is wearing the aligners.

Can Invisalign aligners be removed?

The recommended amount of time to wear Invisalign aligners is at least 20 hours a day. They can be removed for up to four hours per day to eat, brush teeth, play sports, or play musical instruments. This makes brushing and flossing easier and helps maintain good oral hygiene!

How long does treatment take and what is the cost?

Each patient is different. Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow can determine how many months your child may expect to wear the series of aligners after a consultation.

Typically, your teen will wear Invisalign clear aligners about as long as traditional braces The cost is also similar to that of other traditional braces; however, there is no set fee. The cost will depend on your child’s unique orthodontic needs.

Overall Success

Invisalign Teen treatment has had remarkable success, and patients love having straighter teeth without the embarrassment of metal braces. As your son or daughter becomes more confident, the patient will actually be more likely to keep up with the treatment and complete it sooner.

Speak with Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow today to learn more about the benefits of Invisalign Teen treatment. Give our Santa Cruz, Aptos, or Watsonville, CA office a call!

The Donald P. Connolly, DDS team knows that oral hygiene is important, whether you have braces on your teeth or not. But if you are a person who wears braces, caring for your teeth and gums can become somewhat challenging. Without daily oral hygiene practices, you may become prone to cavities and tooth decay during your time in braces.

Naturally, you know that brushing your teeth each morning and night, as well as after you eat, will help keep your mouth healthy and clean during the months you wear braces. But flossing is also an important part of your hygiene routine. Flossing with braces can be tricky, but it’s not impossible. Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow, your general dentist, or your dental hygienist can help you become more comfortable and adept at flossing your teeth during the months you wear braces.

Flossing Tips for Those with Braces

• Use Tools Provided by Our Office. A floss threader is a small, plastic needle that will help you floss between the wires and your teeth. Thread a 12-to-18-inch piece of floss onto the needle, and use the needle to get the floss easily behind the wires.
• Flossing Under the Wires. Once the floss is behind the wires, use your hands to manipulate the floss. Move it up and down along the wires to remove food particles.
• Flossing Between Your Teeth. Floss between your teeth as you normally would without braces. Move the floss up and down between your teeth, using a clean section of floss for each tooth.
• After You Finish Flossing. Your orthodontist may have suggested that you use a water pik or proxy brush after you finish brushing. Either of these tools will help remove any loosened food particles to ensure that your teeth and braces are clean.

Continue Good Oral Hygiene Habits

Good oral hygiene habits you use while wearing braces will help you achieve the beautiful smile you and the Donald P. Connolly, DDS team have been working toward. Once your braces are off, it may be tempting to slack off on the brushing and flossing. Don’t let yourself fall into any habits that will have a negative impact on your oral health or the attractive smile you waited for throughout the months you wore braces. See your general dentist for regular cleanings, and continue to brush and floss your teeth each day.

A great smile can go a long way. Scientific research suggests that people who smile are perceived as more attractive and confident than those who don’t flash their pearly whites. When it comes time to invest in orthodontics to improve your beautiful smile, choosing the best option can be daunting. Comparing Invisalign to traditional braces is a great way to determine what orthodontics make most sense for your unique smile.

How is Invisalign different?

Unlike traditional braces, in which brackets are affixed onto each tooth and connected by wires Invisalign corrects orthodontic problems using a set of clear trays. These trays are specially formed to fit your teeth, allowing you to wear them 24/7.

Aesthetics

One of the primary advantages of Invisalign is that the clear trays are nearly invisible. Particularly for adults self-conscious about appearing professional with traditional braces, Invisalign can correct orthodontic issues without capturing the notice of others. Their nearly invisible appearance is one of the topmost reasons that orthodontic patients choose Invisalign.

Complexity of the Orthodontic Problem

Invisalign works well for people who have relatively minor problems, such as crooked teeth or small gaps between teeth. For more complex problems, particularly issues with bite or vertical problems (i.e., one tooth being significantly higher than another), traditional braces may be better at pulling teeth into alignment.

Eating and Drinking

Invisalign trays are removable, meaning that you cannot eat or drink while wearing them. Unlike traditional braces, however, you are not limited in the foods you may eat. Chewy, sticky, or hard foods may be eaten, provided that you brush your teeth before reinserting the Invisalign trays.

In the end, only you can weigh the pros and cons of Invisalign versus traditional braces. Consult with Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow to understand how these orthodontic interventions may work for your unique situation.

ClearCorrect has become a preferred and favorite treatment for those that have to wear braces. ClearCorrect offers patients the opportunity to straighten teeth with clear aligners instead of metal braces. The clear aligners will be replaced about every two weeks until your teeth have reached the desired goal set by Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow.

How to Start

You can start this process by having Dr. Don Connolly and Dr. Stanley Sokolow look at your teeth and see if you will be good candidate for this type of treatment. If you are a good match then a set of impressions will be taken right away of your teeth as well as photos and X-rays. These will all be sent off to have your first set of aligners made.

ClearCorrect is able to create 3D designs of your teeth on a computer system to create the exact fit of your specific aligners. The whole treatment plan is completed with this modern technology so that you are able to have the best possible treatment available.

Why choose ClearCorrect?

• ClearCorrect is now one of the most desired treatment plans available. Most patients become self-conscience while wearing braces, but since these are offered in clear aligner’s patients can smile proudly because they are virtually invisible.

• They also offer the convenience of being able to remove the aligners while eating, brushing and flossing as well as playing sports. For teens this is a big plus because it takes away the chance of the braces hurting the mouth if they are hit in the face.

• They can speed up the treatment time if worn as directed, and are usually comparable to the cost of traditional braces as well other treatment options.

Overall Success

With all the benefits that ClearCorrect offers to patients they are quickly becoming one of the most sought after treatments. Patients enjoy the option of removing them to eat as well as when they brush and floss. It’s definitely worth a visit to our Santa Cruz, Aptos, or Watsonville, CA office to see if you are a good candidate for this treatment.