A Clear Alternative to Braces
Invisalign® treatment from Dr. Laurent and the team at Laurent Orthodontics can give you beautiful, straight teeth without braces.
The Invisalign Process
The Invisalign system is made of clear, lightweight plastic aligners that fit over your teeth and are designed to straighten your smile. They’re removable, making it easier to eat, drink, brush and floss.
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by Dr. Laurent.
Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. Invisalign is much more comfortable than traditional metal bracket braces and can give you stunning results.
At your initial consultation at Laurent Orthodontics, we'll take digital scans and X-rays to create a 3D image of your mouth. We make your first set of custom-fitted aligners from these images, and then you begin the process of straightening your teeth.
Your first step is to visit our Sonoma office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners - as few as 12 or as many as 48.
Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually - week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you'll be smiling like you never have before!
You’ll probably wear Invisalign aligners for 9–15 months, and will typically use 18–30 sets during your treatment.
You wear the trays for about 22 hours a day but can remove them for brushing your teeth and eating. Based on your individual needs, and the treatment plan put in place by Dr. Laurent, you’ll wear several sets of trays throughout your orthodontic treatment. You’ll even start to notice a change in just a few months!
Invisalign takes a modern approach to straightening teeth. It uses a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. These aligner trays are made of smooth, comfortable and virtually invisible plastic that you wear over your teeth.
Wearing the aligners will gently move your teeth into place little by little, based on the exact movements Dr. Laurent plans for you.
With Invisalign treatment at Laurent Orthodontics, there are no metal brackets to attach and no wires to tighten. You just pop in a new set of aligners about every two weeks, until your treatment is complete.
At Laurent Orthodontics, you’ll get a great smile without a treatment that gets in the way of your daily life. The best part about the whole process is that most people won’t even know you’re straightening your teeth.
This nearly-invisible option to straighten your teeth is truly changing the way people see orthodontic treatment.
Dr. Laurent has a lot of experience treating patients with Invisalign, and we’re excited to offer this technology to our Sonoma braces patients.
Differences Between Invisalign & Braces
Unlike traditional braces, smooth plastic Invisalign aligners don't have metal components that can irritate your mouth.
Because they’re removed when you eat, you won't have to watch what you eat like you would when wearing braces – bring on the popcorn and peanuts.
In fact, the aligners must be removed for eating and for drinking anything other than water. You need to make sure you’re willing to do that before you decide on Invisalign clear braces.
To prevent staining, you’ll need to clean your teeth before putting the aligners back on after each time you eat.
Of course, brushing and flossing are much easier than with traditional braces, since you don’t have to work around any brackets and wires.
Talk to Us About Invisalign
It’s important to wear your aligners for at least 22 hours each day, as recommended by Dr. Laurent so they can do their job and straighten your teeth. But, with Invisalign, you can remove your aligners for special occasions.
Like with traditional braces, you’ll generally need to wear a retainer after Invisalign treatment to maintain your new alignment—and your confident new smile.
Dr. Laurent may not recommend Invisalign for some more complex alignment or bite issues, or for those who have bridgework. Dr. Laurent can advise you about what options are best for you.
Schedule your free consultation with Dr. Laurent at our Sonoma office to learn if Invisalign is right for you.