Invisalign in Wilmington

Get A Straighter Smile

With Invisalign Clear Aligners

If you’re interested in a brace-free method of straightening your teeth, Invisalign in Wilmington from Dr. Ben Friberg may be right for you. At Thrive Family Dental, we specialize in Invisalign treatment in both Porters Neck and Wilmington.

Get more information below, or contact us now to schedule your FREE Invisalign Consultation.

what is invisalign?

Invisalign is a method of orthodontic correction that uses clear, plastic tooth “aligners” that look similar to a retainer, or a night guard that may be used to help with teeth grinding. Each aligner is built out of durable plastic, and is designed by Dr. Friberg to gently correct the position of your teeth.
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By using multiple sets of Invisalign aligners, your teeth and bite can be shifted to fix issues like crooked or crowded teeth, overbites and underbites, and a wide variety of other orthodontic problems.

The invisalign Process

To begin the process, our dentist in Wilmington will perform a comprehensive oral exam and determine if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. If you’re approved, he will use our iTero intraoral scanner to scan your teeth and make a 3D model of your mouth. Then, this model will be sent to Invisalign, and Dr. Friberg will work with Invisalign to develop your treatment plan.
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In a few weeks, you’ll come back to our office to pick up your first several sets of aligners. You’ll wear each set for at least 20 hours per day, and you will typically swap to your next provided set of aligners about every 2 weeks.
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Every 4-6 weeks or so, you’ll come back to our office for a quick oral exam, and to get your next sets of aligners from Dr. Friberg. This same basic process will continue until your treatment is complete.

The Benefits Of invisalign

Compared to braces, Invisalign has a number of great advantages. First, it’s completely invisible and does not affect your speech or appearance when worn. That means nobody has to know you’re straightening your teeth unless you want them to know!
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In addition, Invisalign is removable, which makes it easier to brush and floss. This also means that you don’t have to worry about any dietary restrictions during your treatment. You can continue eating your favorite foods.
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Finally, Invisalign is more comfortable than braces. There are no metal bits to poke your mouth, and your aligners will shift your teeth more gradually and gently, ensuring your treatment is as comfortable as possible.

am i a good Candidate for Invisalign?

As long as your teeth and gums are healthy and you have minor-to-moderate orthodontic problems, Invisalign may be a good choice for you. However, it’s important to note that Invisalign is not meant to treat serious orthodontic problems with your bite or teeth. If you have major bite issues or extremely crooked teeth, you may require treatment with traditional metal braces.
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To find out if you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, just contact Thrive Family Dental online or give us a call at (910) 240-4797 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Ben Friberg stop by our office in person at 8115 Market Street, Wilmington, NC 28411.

How Do I Care For My

Invisalign Retainers? 

To achieve the desired results of your orthodontic treatment, you want to take good care of your Invisalign retainers so they don’t become stained, riddled with bacteria, or get damaged. It is important to remember to take your retainers out every time you clean your teeth, eat, or consume hot liquids. 
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The reason you need to take your aligners out to drink hot liquids is that high temperatures can warp the mold of your Invisalign. If the shape of your aligners changes, they won’t fit securely around your teeth and will be ineffective at shifting your teeth. 
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Rinse the aligners out every time you take them out and before putting them back in. Food and coffee can trap food particles in your aligners which can lead to bacteria in the aligners and can cause cavities. 
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Drinks like coffee and wine cause also stain your aligners and your teeth so thoroughly brush your teeth and floss before putting your aligners back in. Store them in their Invisalign case when not in use. 
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To clean your Invisalign, gently brush the aligners with a soft-bristle toothbrush and denture cleaning solution. You should routinely soak them in Invisalign cleaning crystals solution or denture cleaning solution. Avoid soaking them in mouthwash which can stain the aligners.

How Long Does It Take For

Invisalign To Work? 

Invisalign works by exerting gentle pressure onto your teeth to gradually shift them into their proper alignment. You will receive a new set of aligners typically every 1-2 weeks. Every time you receive a new set of aligners, you can witness Invisalign working in real-time. You should be able to notice a difference in your teeth within the first 4-6 weeks.
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Each set of aligners is progressively tighter than the previous one, meaning your teeth are incrementally becoming straighter. How long the entire treatment lasts depends on each individual’s goals, the severity of their teeth alignment or bite, and how long they wear their aligners every day.
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For minor crowding, your treatment could be as short as 6 months. However, most people can expect to wear Invisalign for 12-18 months. More severe malocclusions may require the assistance of Invisalign attachments and elastics as well as longer treatment.

Will My Teeth Shift Back

after i am done with my invisalign treatment?

To achieve effective and lasting results, you must wear your aligners for at least 22 hours a day to prevent your teeth from shifting back. After you have completed your Invisalign treatment, you will be given a retainer to wear to prevent your teeth from gradually regressing into their old crooked alignment.
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Wearing a retainer is an important aspect of any orthodontic treatment. Your teeth go through a lot of wear and tear each day. You use your teeth to chew, speak, and bite and this causes your teeth to move, especially when Invisalign causes bone resorption (the disappearance or softening of your jaw bone that allows the teeth to shift). 
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Think of your retainer as a training device for your teeth. Your retainer is training your newly straightened teeth to stay in their place instead of reverting to their old alignment. You will need to wear your retainer for 22 hours a day but for how long depends on each individual. 
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It can take an average of 9-12 months for your jaw bone to be stable enough to stop shifting. At Thrive Family Dental, Wilmington cosmetic dentist Dr. Friberg will give you specific instructions regarding your retainer and how long you will need to wear it. For more information, contact us.