Chicago Invisalign

Gone are the days of a mouth full of uncomfortable metal brackets. With modern technology you can now straighten your teeth comfortably and without anyone knowing, using Invisalign. Not even your closest friends are likely to notice you are wearing braces.

Are You a Candidate for Invisalign?

You'll begin with an examination, including x-rays. Dr. Lopez will look at everything from the health of your mouth to the shape of your tooth roots. If it is determined that Invisalign invisible braces will work for you, she will discuss the pros and cons of Invisalign, and the other options available to you.

There are three basic options for you if your teeth are crooked.

• Conventional wire-and-bracket braces
• Invisible braces
• Porcelain veneers

And there are two brands of invisible braces - Invisalign®, and ClearCorrect®.

And the nice thing about going to Dr. Lopez to have your teeth straightened is that she is one of very few dentists who is skilled at all three methods. She has had training to place conventional braces. She is certified to provide both Invisalign and ClearCorrect invisiable braces. And she is known widely for her beautiful porcelain veneers.

The Invisalign Procedure

If you want to go ahead with Invisalign or ClearCorrect invisible braces, we start by taking detailed impressions of your teeth. Dr. Lopez then plans out your tooth movements. This information, along with a three-dimensional scan of the impressions, is fed into a sophisticated computer that then manufactures a set of clear aligners, similar to what is pictured above.

When you receive your first set of aligners they will intentionally not fit. That is because they are designed to gently move your teeth into a correct position. After two weeks the aligners will fit naturally and it is time for the next pair. The aligners work much faster than traditional braces because of the accuracy of the computer technology that designs them. Typical treatment times are six months to a year, about half the time of conventional braces.

Advantages of Invisible Braces

• They are much more comfortable.
• They work much faster, completing in six to twelve months as opposed to two to three years.
• They truly are invisible. No one will know you are wearing them.
• They are removable, which enables you to brush and floss normally.
• They allow you to eat anything you want without the fear of food getting trapped. Simply remove them to eat and replace them as soon as you are done.

Disadvantages of Invisible Braces

• They are removable, so it is up to the patient to comply with the necessary amount of time to keep them in. This can be a problem sometimes with children and teenagers.
• They are more expensive than traditional braces.

Clear Correct

While Dr. Lopez is certified to provide both Invisalign and ClearCorrect, she tends to recommend Clear Correct for two reasons. First they give her greater flexibility in treatment. It is much easier to make adjustments to the course of treatment as it progresses, to accommodate slight variations in how your mouth responds to the treatment. Second, ClearCorrect doesn't spend as much money on marketing and they charge lower lab fees. Dr. Lopez passes those savings on to you, which makes it more popular with patients.

If you would like to find out if you are a candidate for either Invisalign or ClearCorrect invisible braces, we would be happy to set up a complimentary consultation for you. You will get ten to fifteen minutes with Dr. Lopez to ask whatever questions you would like, to see if this treatment is right for you. Not every case of crooked teeth can be corrected with these techniques, but they can all be corrected with one or the other of these techniques. Visit our request an appointment page, or call us a (773) 904-8400.

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