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ARTISTIC - HI-TECH - PASSIONATE

GREEN LAKE DENTISTRY

Invisalign
Frequently Asked Questions

Got a question that isn't covered here? Just call our office or e-mail us at:
anthony@greenlake-dentistry.com.

You can also schedule and FREE CONSULTATION appointment and we can answer questions that apply
to your personal desires and needs.

What's Invisalign?
Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces.

Invisalign uses a series of clear removable aligners (pictured below) to straighten your teeth without metal
wires or brackets.

Invisalign has been proven effective in clinical research and in orthodontic practices nationwide. In fact,
over 70% of all U.S. orthodontists are certified to treat patients with invisalign.

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How does Invisalign work? You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat,
drink, brush, and floss.

As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move - little by little, week by week
- until they have straightened to the final virtual ClinCheck position that you and Dr. Alpan agreed upon
before treatment began.

You'll visit our office about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned.

Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is
between 18 and 30, but both will vary for each patient.

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How are Invisalign aligners made? State of the art computer technology plays a vital role in the process.
In fact, Align Technology's high-volume, customized manufacturing process is the first of its kind in the
world. The diagrams below show how invisalign aligners are made.

First we take impressions of your teeth.

We send invisalign your impressions which are used to make plaster models of your teeth.

Using advanced imaging technology, invisalign transforms your plaster models into a highly accurate 3-D
digital image.

ClinCheck® - a computerized movie – is created depicting the movement of your teeth from the
beginning to their final position.

Using the Internet, we review your ClinCheck file with you for your approval. If necessary, adjustments to
the depicted plan can be made.

From your approved ClinCheck file, invisalign uses laser scanning to build a set of actual models that
reflect each stage of your treatment plan.

Your customized set of aligners is made from these models. It is sent to us and we give them to you. You
wear each aligner for about two weeks.

After wearing all of your aligners in the series, you get the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.

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Why get Invisalign? Invisalign can help you get the great smile you've always wanted because it's...

Invisible, so no one can tell your straightening your teeth. So now you can smile more during treatment as
well as after.
Removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are
no problem.
Comfortable, because it has no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. Without brackets and
wires, you will spend less time in our office getting adjustments for broken brackets and bent or broken
wires.
Sports Friendly, so you can participate in sports without braces and wires injuring the inside of your mouth
if someone or something hits your face.
Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how
your teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

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Will my child's teeth straighten as they grow? The space available for teeth in the mouth does not increase
with age; therefore, there won't be any opportunity for your child's teeth to straighten without
orthodontic treatment. The fact is, after the molars erupt (usually in the sixth year), the space in the mouth
actually gets smaller as the child grows older. If your child has crowded teeth, it's best to come in for a
FREE ORTHODONTIC CONSULTATION sooner (age 7) rather than later.

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Do we still need to see our family dentist? Yes, you still need to see your family (general) dentist for check-
ups and cleanings. Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment with invisalign aligners will be able to
remove the aligners in order to brush, floss and use the Waterpik to flush out the food particles and
plague (bacterial colonies that form on the teeth and in the spaces between the teeth and gums).

Even so, you must visit your family dentist every 3-6 months to make sure you are not developing caries
(tooth decay) or tartar (calcium) deposits on your teeth and between the teeth and gums. Your family
dentist will tell you how often to come in for check-ups. The better your oral hygiene is, and the less sugar
you eat, the less checkups you will need.

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What foods do I have to avoid? Fortunately, you do not have to avoid any foods with invisalign treatment.

You will remove the invisalign aligner before you eat. Place the aligner in the plastic container you
receive from us to protect it from breakage, being discarded by the waitress or being chewed up by your
pet dog or cat.

After you eat, brush and floss your teeth and replace the invisalign aligner. If you don’t have your brush
and floss with you, swish and swallow the food particles remaining in your mouth and then replace your
aligner.

With invisalign treatment, you will not have to avoid any foods because there will be no fixed brackets,
bands or wires to loosen, break or bend. If your teeth are sensitive from being moved, you may feel more
comfortable eating soft foods at times.

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How long will treatment last? There are a number of factors that determine how long your invisalign
treatment will take. It usually takes from 6 to 18 months but during that entire time most people will not
notice you are under treatment.

Treatment is getting faster, easier and more comfortable for the patient all the time.

Invisalign aligners are used to straighten your teeth gradually, not overnight, so a little patience is
needed. Just remember, any discomfort you may feel will be brief.

Your beautiful, healthy smile, however, will last a lifetime.

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Will a retainer be necessary? Wearing a retainer after invisalign treatment is an important step, because it
keeps the teeth stable after the active orthodontic tooth movement treatment is complete. Without
retainers, your teeth would return to their old "crooked ways." If you want your teeth to remain in their
ideal positions for the rest of your life, it would be best to wear a retainer that long. Some retainers can be
put in permanently.

The ideal retainer is made of a clear plastic removable material that fits on your teeth like a glove on your
hand that can be worn at home and while you are sleeping. It would look like the invisalign aligner but
would be a harder material.

Retainers are the cheapest form of insurance around. If you lose your retainer, it is cheaper to replace it
IMMEDIATELY than to do your orthodontic treatment over again. As the saying goes, "If you don't use it,
you lose it." If you don’t use the retainer you lose all the time, effort and money you spent on your
orthodontic treatment. The corollary to this saying is, "If you lose it, you can't use it." It is in your best interest
to get a new retainer IMMEDIATELY, if you lose it, so you won't have to do your orthodontic treatment
again.

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How do I schedule an initial consultation? You may call us immediately at the office telephone number at
the bottom of every page on our website.

You may also click on Contact Us. There you will find the phone, fax, email address and map of our office
location.

Before you come in for your FREE CONSULTATION, please click on the New Patient Information form and
the New Patient Health Questionnaire below that applies to you, print them and fill them out in the
comfort and convenience of your home. Please bring these forms to our office on your first appointment.

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How much is the initial consultation? Your initial consultation is FREE, because we consider it to be an
important first step in your orthodontic health and a great opportunity to welcome you into our family.

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Here you'll find the answers to the most
commonly asked questions about
Invisalign - the removable, clear plastic
aligners.

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lake
Dentists In Seattle
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