Invisalign® & Clear Aligners

Invisalign® & Clear Aligners

You may be contemplating scheduling an appointment with an orthodontist if your teeth are not straight or if you notice gaps or spaces between teeth. However, many patients we’ve worked with in the past are hesitant to wear traditional metal braces and prefer an alternative that is more under the radar. Fortunately, Invisalign® is a realistic alternative that does not require you to visit an orthodontist.

Discreetly straighten crooked teeth with Invisalign!

These soft, nearly transparent aligner trays are practically invisible to the human eye and can be used to deal with various teeth straightening issues. As the leading Invisalign® dentist in Greenville, Dr. Kavin Thipthamai and his team can create a treatment plan catered to your specific needs.

If you have an underbite, overbite, or misaligned teeth, this may be a big concern to you. Allow us to assist you with straightening your teeth. Invisalign is a transparent, removable aligner that straightens your teeth without the need for braces or wires.

Dr. Kavin Thipthamai has undergone Invisalign advanced training and can collaborate with you to develop a treatment plan. In addition to our general dental practice, we provide Invisalign and other cosmetic dentistry procedures.

Correct Your Smile and Bite with Invisalign at Bijou Dental Spa

You can quickly correct your smile and bite at the same time using orthodontic treatments like Invisalign. At Bijou Dental Spa, we provide free consultations so you can see if Invisalign is right for you. Reach out to our dental office today to schedule your consultation and learn more about how Invisalign can benefit you! The cosmetic dentists at Bijou Dental Spa also provide the following cosmetic dental treatments to patients in Greenville and the surrounding areas: Veneers, Smile Makeovers, and Teeth Whitening.

Why Choose Us?

At Bijou Dental Spa, we are very proud of the experience we provide because we treat every appointment as a relaxing spa visit, complete with DoTerra essential oil aromatherapy, warm neck wraps, and serene spa music. We have chosen to make dentistry feel like a special treat that you don’t have to do but GET to do!

If this sounds like an amazing experience to you schedule your visit with us online!

Frequently Asked Invisalign Questions

Invisalign® is an orthodontic treatment option that corrects teeth that are misaligned, overlapped, gapped teeth, and other types of misalignment issues. Whereas traditional braces adds pressure on teeth using wires and metal brackets, Invisalign® utilizes a series of transparent, plastic aligner trays. Aligners are expected to be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day and should only be discarded while eating, brushing, or flossing your teeth. Many Invisalign® patients often remove their aligners on special occasions. As long as you adhere to wearing your aligners for at least 20 hours per day,  Invisalign® will straighten your teeth.

You may qualify for Invisalign® if you are struggling with:

  • Crooked teeth
  • Overlapping teeth
  • Gaps in your smile
  • Overbite
  • Crossbite
  • Underbite
  • Open bite

Please note that Invisalign® may not be for everyone. Traditional braces could be appropriate for more serious bite-related problems. We will examine your teeth thoroughly to decide if you need Invisalign® or traditional braces. Invisalign® features smooth, transparent aligners that are virtually invisible.

Teens and adults are growing more interested in Invisalign. It has many significant benefits over conventional braces, including:

  • Comfort: Metal wires and brackets can cause discomfort to your cheeks, gums, and lips. Braces are far more uncomfortable to wear than flat Invisalign® retainers.
  • Shorter Timeline: While the treatment duration varies for each patient, Invisalign® will usually realign the bite in around a year. Braces will take upwards of 18 to 24 months to complete.
  • Aesthetics: Aligners are composed of specialized SmartTrack® material that is almost invisible. As a result, you will never feel self-conscious during treatment. You will really look healthier before and after treatment with Invisalign!
  • Predictability: During the preparation period, treatment is digitally laid out. Patients can get a sneak peek of how their teeth will look and be reassured in their decision to use Invisalign® for straightening their teeth.
  • Better Health: Straight teeth are easier to brush than crooked, overlapping, or misaligned teeth. Dental hygiene is essential to your overall health. As a result, you will be able to sustain a healthy oral hygiene regimen and experience improved oral health after your treatment.
  • No Dietary Restrictions: Braces make it difficult to consume certain foods, which can trigger wires and brackets to break. Seeing as Invisalign® aligners are removable, you can drink anything you like during care.  You can also integrate Invisalign® with other cosmetic dentistry techniques for an even more drastic transition, such as teeth whitening, dental fillings, or bonding.

An initial appointment is the first stage of your treatment. We will capture 3-D photos of your smile with a scanner and use them to plan your treatment. Dr. Thipthamai can plan your teeth’s gradual activity to ensure proper outcomes. She will then send your smile scans to the Invisalign® lab, where they will be used to construct your customized aligners.

Many patients will progress from one set of Invisalign® aligners to the next every few weeks, and they will need anywhere between 18 and 30 aligners. You must schedule follow-up appointments with our office during treatment to track your progress and make changes if necessary.

Orthodontic treatments are used to improve and restore smiles. However, they can also address an overbite or underbite. Therefore, orthodontic treatments like Invisalign contribute to a balanced bite and dental health. Here, we will look at what overbites and underbites are and how Invisalign treatments address these issues.

A slight overbite is normal. However, when the upper teeth shroud the lower front teeth, causing them to be invisible, the upper jaw is not correctly aligned. In other words, it comes too far forward. Severe overbites are also sometimes referred to as “deep bites.”

Conversely, underbites are better understood by picturing a healthy bite. For example, the upper jaw should gently rest on the lower jaw, with the front teeth coming slightly forward over the lower ones. However, patients with an underbite experience the lower jaw coming forward versus the upper jaw. This “underbite” causes an uneven smile, issues eating and speaking, and unnecessary wear and tear on the teeth. Underbites can even be the source of jaw pain.

The benefits of orthodontic treatments like Invisalign extend beyond the cosmetic realm. In other words, they also have the power to remedy overbites and underbites. For example, Invisalign uses clear trays to align your teeth and straighten your smile. In some cases, straightening the teeth using Invisalign trays will be enough to correct simple overbites and underbites.

However, some overbites and underbites are more complex. In this case, an experienced orthodontist can plan your Invisalign treatment with tooth and jaw movements that help correct an overbite or underbite. For example, some orthodontists may use interarch bands with Invisalign. Interarch bands are small elastics that put pressure on the jaw to spur movement. Orthodontists can connect interarch bands with small hooks attaching to the teeth or through cutting hooks in the Invisalign trays.

It is important to remember that to receive the most effective treatment, Invisalign trays must be worn a minimum of 22 hours a day. In addition, elastic bands must be replaced after eating. As you wear your trays, your teeth will slowly correct, and your jaw will reposition, correcting your overbite or underbite. When the orthodontic treatment is complete, your beautiful smile will be restored, and you will speak and eat with ease.