Invisalign and Teeth Whitening: A Hand-in-Hand Solution for the Perfect Smile

Everyone wants the perfect smile, and for many people, that means having white, straight teeth. Unfortunately, tooth stains and teeth crookedness – also called malocclusions – can’t be treated at home. Furthermore, without proper dental care and an experienced dentist, getting traditional braces can sometimes even lead to more tooth stains, trading in one problem for another.

Even slightly misaligned or crooked teeth need to be treated eventually because they affect your facial structure, your confidence, and even your oral health. Slight crookedness can eventually turn into severe crookedness, which can keep you from properly cleaning your teeth and raise your risk of developing gum disease or cavities.

Thankfully, with our Invisalign treatment in Weddington near Waxhaw, NC, you can straighten your teeth without worrying about teeth stains and other complications that traditional braces can cause. Invisalign has quickly grown in popularity and is considered the fastest and safest way to get straight teeth.

Our Weddington dentists, Dr. Zuleika and Dr. Andrew, use Invisalign to gently adjust the position of your teeth. If your teeth were stained beforehand, our dentists can also provide you with a teeth whitening treatment afterwards for the perfect smile makeover. 

At Serene Dental Spa, we want you to be confident in your smile and know what your options are to reach your smile goals. Read on to learn more about how Invisalign and teeth whitening work hand-in-hand to give you the perfect smile.

Why Do People Combine Invisalign With Teeth Whitening?

Invisalign is a clear, removable orthodontic treatment that helps correct orthodontic issues, such as overlapped teeth, underbites, crossbites, overjets, rotated teeth, and more. However, orthodontic treatments don’t take care of underlying dental issues, nor do they address teeth stains. That’s why your dentist will need to examine your teeth and discuss your smile goals with you so you can get on the right track to straight and white teeth. 

It’s true that braces aren’t the only way to fix minor teeth crookedness. Some people choose to get veneers – another cosmetic dental treatment – to hide misshapen teeth or tooth gaps. However, if you want to whiten your teeth, you’ll need to get a teeth bleaching treatment before you get veneers. This will help your dentist choose the right color for your veneers to match the rest of your teeth after you bleach them.

With Invisalign, however, you typically don’t have to worry about the timeline of when you get your teeth whitened. Many people choose to whiten their teeth either before or after an Invisalign treatment. Regardless, it’s still a good idea to consult with your dentist about your long term dental goals so they can take the proper steps in keeping your teeth healthy and white.

Invisalign Explained

Invisalign uses clear aligners to correct minor to moderate teeth crookedness. The aligners are made out of a flexible thermoplastic material, which is much less noticeable than the brackets and wires you get with conventional braces. The aligner trays also fit securely over your teeth with little to no discomfort.

The Invisalign Process: How Does It Work?

The Invisalign process is easy and straightforward. It begins with going to your dentist office and ends with getting your aligner trays. This all happens in two visits. Here’s how your Invisalign appointment will go:

• When you first walk into your dentist appointment, your dentist will perform a full mouth X-ray. This will help them find the right Invisalign option.
• After your dentist finds the right Invisalign option for you, they will take a few 3D digital impressions of your teeth to create a suitable treatment plan. This treatment plan will determine the duration of your Invisalign treatment and the number of times you will need to come in for a new tray set.
• After your treatment plan has been created, the digital impressions of your teeth will be sent to the Invisalign lab to design your customized aligner trays.
• Once your Invisalign trays are ready, your dentist will test fit them on you, and you can start wearing them immediately.

How Do I Wear Clear Aligners?

After your Invisalign trays have been created in the laboratory, your dentist will make sure they fit properly and make adjustments where necessary. Once this has been done, you will need to start wearing your clear aligners every day for at least 20 – 22 hours each day.

The aligner trays should feel snug when you put them on. Each time you put them on after removing them, you will slide your aligners over your teeth like a mouthguard until they feel secure. At the very beginning of your treatment plan, you will wear them for two weeks before switching to the next set of aligners. Because clear aligners are removable, you can remove them briefly whenever you want to eat, brush, and floss your teeth.

Because Invisalign is designed to fit perfectly over your teeth, you may feel concerned if they start to feel loose. However, this is a good sign that the teeth alignment process is working. If you notice your aligner trays have started becoming loose, you will need to let your dentist know so they can give you your next set of aligner trays.

Orthodontic Conditions Treated By Invisalign

Invisalign is used to treat several orthodontic issues, including crowding, tooth misalignments, and other mild bite issues like:

• Gap teeth
• Crowded teeth
• Some crossbite, underbite, and overbite issues

Can I Combine Invisalign With Teeth Whitening?

It’s common for patients to ask if they can bleach or whiten their teeth while using Invisalign. Unfortunately, applying whitening or bleaching gel in the aligner trays is not ideal. The trays are specifically made for your teeth, and any sort of substance that creates additional space between your teeth and the trays can make the teeth straightening process take longer.

However, if you look in the mirror after your Invisalign treatment and feel like your teeth aren’t white enough, you can easily and quickly whiten your teeth with an in-office teeth bleaching treatment after your orthodontic treatment. Because our Weddington dental office uses Sinsational Smile, you can expect to see your teeth lighten by up to 5 shades within 20 minutes. Unlike the Invisalign process, our teeth whitening services in Weddington near Waxhaw, NC are incredibly quick.

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Top Benefits of Getting Clear Aligners

Using Invisalign to treat certain orthodontic issues doesn’t just make it easier for you to avoid teeth stains. It also comes with a load of other benefits. 

Effective and Easy Treatment Plan

Invisalign is a more effective treatment solution compared to traditional braces because it adjusts the position of your teeth without the hassle of trapped food and extra trips to the dentist to tighten brackets. Overall, clear aligners give you the perfect smile without interrupting your life.

No Food Restrictions

Traditional braces will require you to avoid certain foods, especially if you like to eat sticky, crunchy, and hard foods. Thankfully, with Invisalign, you don’t have to worry about food restrictions. You can eat anything you want as long as you remove your aligner trays beforehand and rinse your mouth thoroughly before putting them back on.

Shorter Treatment Time

Most Invisalign treatments take a year and a half to two years to straighten teeth. In many cases, Invisalign is much faster at straightening teeth than traditional braces, which can take up to 5 years.

Less Noticeable

Many people prefer Invisalign because it is far less noticeable than traditional braces. The clear aligner trays are virtually invisible and don’t require brackets and wires.

Better for Your Dental Health

Invisalign ensures your dental health stays in good condition. Because it fixes gaps in your teeth, it becomes much easier to clean your teeth effectively. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about the stains or plaque build-up that come with using traditional braces.

The Best Way to Whiten Teeth after Getting Invisalign in Weddington Near Waxhaw, NC 

When you get your dental care from us, we’ll help you determine if it’s better to get a teeth bleaching treatment before or after getting Invisalign. For any dental procedure, it’s important to get a dentist’s opinion so you can figure out how to achieve your smile goals as quickly and thoroughly as possible. With our long list of comprehensive dental services and our in-house dental savings plan, you can get the perfect smile makeover at an affordable price.

Our dental team at Serene Dental Spa is ready to walk you through your teeth straightening and teeth whitening journey. Schedule an appointment with us today, and let’s create the perfect treatment plan for you!