Your smile is one of the first features people notice about you. Who doesn’t want a beautifully straight white smile that lights up a room? Columbia, SC, cosmetic dentist Dr. Adam Hahn can provide the smile you’ve dreamed about using various cosmetic dentistry techniques and technology, including Invisalign® Clear Braces.

Though Invisalign® was first introduced many decades ago, it has evolved in recent years to become the number-one choice for teeth straightening without traditional metal braces. Many people simply cannot deal with the discomfort associated with metal braces, and they cannot invest the time for adjustments and tightening that metal braces require. If you want straighter teeth without everything that traditional braces entail, Invisalign® may be your best solution.

Getting Started

Unless your teeth are extremely crooked, misshapen, or uneven, you should be a good candidate for Invisalign®. After a comprehensive examination to ensure your oral health is in good shape and to see the extent of your problem areas, Dr. Hahn and his team can discuss Invisalign® candidacy with you.

We can get started immediately if you’re a good candidate and can commit to the financial investment that Invisalign® is. Our front desk team will review the cost of Invisalign®, and we can check your insurance coverage to see if dental insurance will pay for all or part of your orthodontic treatment plan.

The Invisalign® Process

We will determine if you’re a good candidate by taking x-rays and examining your mouth, teeth, and gums. If we determine that Invisalign® can result in your desired smile, we will take impressions of your teeth and send them to the lab.

The lab then constructs each set of aligners for your teeth-straightening journey. Our innovative technology lets you see how your teeth will gradually shift over time, so you can see your teeth straightening journey before it even begins. You’ll see what your teeth after Invisalign® will look like before you put in your first set of aligners.

Invisalign® works much the same way as traditional braces; instead of using brackets and wires to move teeth, Invisalign® uses clear plastic aligners. Each set of aligners applies light pressure to your teeth to gradually help them shift into a straighter position.

Once you receive a new set of aligners from the lab, you will wear each set for about two weeks or whatever Dr. Hahn recommends. You must

wear the aligners for at least 22 hours each day to get the desired result and only remove them to eat, drink, or brush your teeth. After eating, brush your teeth to prevent bacteria and plaque from building up on the aligners.

After two weeks, you will move on to the next set of aligners. About every six weeks or so, you will visit our office so we can check your progress. Most patients only take six to 24 months to complete their Invisalign® treatment. After you complete your treatment, you must wear a retainer to prevent your teeth from shifting.

What Invisalign® Can Fix

Invisalign® is indicated to fix teeth that have:

  • Crossbite
  • Overbite
  • Open bite (where your upper and lower teeth don’t meet)
  • Underbite
  • Crowding of teeth
  • Gaps between teeth
  • Crooked teeth

Benefits of Invisalign®

Invisalign® clear aligners do not require the frequent maintenance visits that metal braces require. Our patients with busy schedules are thrilled that there are only occasional appointments throughout the teeth straightening process.

Additional benefits of clear braces:

  • Easy to clean
  • Discreet (No one will know you are wearing them unless you mention it)
  • Portable for those who travel
  • Comfortable
  • Affordablev

If you’ve needed braces for months or years but don’t think metal braces are an option, Invisalign® is the “OG” of clear aligners systems and has earned that top spot by being tried and true all these decades.

Call Us For A Consultation

Please call Invisalign® dentist Dr. Adam Hahn at (803) 781-9090 to set up an initial consultation. You may also fill out our online contact form, and one of our team members will reach out soon to assist with scheduling or answer any questions you may have.