When we hear the words "Orthodontics", we all traditionally think of a teenager with a mouth full of metal. Maybe even some head gear and frizzy hair. However, Invisalign is making those stereotypes a thing of the past.

How does Invisalign work? It all begins with an Invisalign certified dentist. They will take impressions of your teeth and send them to Align Technologies in California. From there Align will actually take an MRI of your impression to create a 3D computer model of your teeth. They then send your 3D computer model to their studios in Costa Rica.

Align’s studio in Costa Rica is state of the art. Every employee involved in the development of your aligners holds a college degree and is supervised by one of Align’s talented orthodontists. They develop a treatment plan just for you, and then send the results to your dentist. Your dentist critiques the treatment plan and makes any necessary changes, then gives Align the green light. Using a computer simulation, they will manufacture a series of clear aligners that will move your teeth to the desired positions over a period of time.

So you’re probably asking, does this really work? It does, and the results are fantastic In most cases, Invisalign is preferable to the standard metal orthodontia. Typically, treatment time with Invisalign is 12-18 months. Typical treatment time with standard braces is 18-24 months. Invisalign is also proven to not cause root resorption, a problem that can occur with adult patients wearing metal braces. Invisalign is also gentler, so you’ll have a minimal amount of discomfort.

You might be thinking, "I’m too old to wear braces". My friend, you could not be more wrong. Invisalign is geared toward adults in the professional world. Our oldest Invisalign patient is 72 Your aligners are made of thin, clear plastic, making them virtually invisible.

On the opposite side, you may be thinking "I’m too young for Invisalign". That’s probably not true. Invisalign was designed for teenagers and adults who have all of their permanent teeth. So, your senior portraits can be beautiful, and you can still wear your aligners

"I don’t have time to go back and forth to the dentist ". Well, great Then Invisalign is definitely for you Most patients only have to return to the dentist every six weeks to pick up their new aligners. You will wear each aligner for two weeks, taking it out only to eat and brush. Invisalign will quickly become a second nature habit to you

"I can’t afford it and my insurance won’t cover it " There are many flexible payment options, some which will even give you 18 months interest free If you have orthodontic coverage as part of your dental insurance plan, they do not make a distinction between Invisalign and traditional orthodontics, so they will indeed cover some of your cost.

You should also be aware that crooked, crowded teeth can lead to periodontal disease, which is being linked to heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and low birth weight babies. For more information on Invisalign, please visit www.allaboutsmiles.org. The first 27 people to respond to this article will receive a FREE smile consultation.