Clear Braces (Invisalign) in The Woodlands, TX

Invisalign®, or clear braces, are an alternative to the more traditional metal bracket braces. They are a series of clear plastic aligners that are virtually invisible when worn. The aligners are designed to move the teeth into a correct position over time and are easy to remove while eating and cleaning your teeth. While they are removable, they should only be removed for brief periods. They are only meant to be removed when brushing and flossing your teeth and eating. And when the aligners are taken off, they should be stored appropriately to avoid losing or damaging them. We at Dental Specialists & Implant Center at The Woodlands recommend these aligners because they use no wires or brackets, which means no uncomfortable tightening appointments and no mouth irritation from poor-fitting wires. 

Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces

Invisalign is a series of clear aligners that gradually move teeth into the desired position. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks, then replaced with the next in the series to continue your treatment. This is unlike metal braces that must be tightened every six to eight weeks to adjust progress.  

The aligners are comfortable and smooth to the touch. They are removable to allow normal eating and brushing your teeth. There are no diet or lifestyle restrictions with Invisalign. These are major advantages over traditional braces whose metal brackets and wires could scratch soft tissues in the mouth and need special brushes to clean it. These brackets and wires are also fixed to the teeth, limiting what food you can eat to keep the braces working properly.