ENCINITAS — Have you ever wondered if you could easily realign your crooked lower teeth without braces? Many adults have not considered the esthetic or health benefits of re-alignment. For adults who desire straighter, healthier teeth but don’t want braces, Dr. Mark Galli can determine if Invisalign is right for you.
Approximately 74% of American adults have crooked or misaligned teeth. Many do not realize that misaligned teeth can actually affect your ability to keep your teeth clean. This can increase inflammation in your gums and body, weakening your immune system and increasing your susceptibility for other infections.
Invisalign is a clear and comfortable alternative to braces. The Invisalign system uses removable, clear plastic aligners that are virtually unnoticeable in the mouth to gently and gradually straighten teeth and help keep gums healthier.
Invisalign typically straightens the teeth in less time than braces. Though every case is different, Dr. Galli said his patients typically use Invisalign for 12 to 14 months in order to achieve their desired results.
Invisalign is great for patients who have crowded teeth, spaces between the teeth or poorly aligned teeth.
“The most common adult Invisalign patient is someone who had braces when they were younger, but their teeth have crowded again, and they want them back to where they used to be without going through braces or a long treatment,” Dr. Galli said.
Dr. Galli offers complimentary consultations for those interested in Invisalign. If you decide to start, he takes impressions and photographs of the teeth and sends them to the Invisalign laboratory whose technicians create a computer simulation of your case. Once approved by you and Dr. Galli, the aligners are then fabricated.
A patient will wear upper and lower aligners for 20-22 hours per day, only removing them to eat or clean their teeth. Usually, after two to four weeks, the patient returns to Dr. Galli’s office where he will check progress and give the next set of aligners. Usually, the doctor is comfortable giving the patient more than one set at a time, preventing extra appointments.
Dr. Galli supervises the entire treatment. After completion, he always recommends a retainer to help maintain the results. It is also a clear, nearly indistinguishable, passive aligner. After a while, the retainer may only have to be worn at night.
“Many people don’t realize that straightening their teeth can help both the hygienist and themselves keep their mouth cleaner,” Dr. Galli said.
Crooked teeth make it more difficult to remove plaque and bacteria from the crowded areas. Bacteria that is not properly removed will multiply and trigger periodontal disease, which begins as gum inflammation. If left untreated, gum inflammation can cause chronic infection, receding gums and eventually tooth loss.
More severe periodontal problems can even lead to increased risk for heart disease, strokes and other illnesses, so Dr. Galli will evaluate the health of your gums as part of your care.
According to Dr. Galli, a cleaner mouth is a healthier mouth, and a healthy mouth can improve a body’s overall health. Invisalign may be a great place to start.
To schedule an appointment, call 760-943-1449 and visit gallidds.com for more information.
