Braces are bonded brackets, archwires and elastic bands that move crowded or spaced teeth into the proper position for appearance and function.

Over a period of time, teeth will shift if constant, gentle pressure is applied. Brackets are bonded to the front surface of each tooth and wires are attached to the brackets with elastic bands. The slight tension on the wire is gently transferred to the bracket through the elastic band.

Today's orthodontic treatment is faster, comfortable and more fashionable than ever for children, teens and adults.

Translucent "clear" braces and tooth-colored ceramic brackets provide a very aesthetic alternative to traditional metal braces.

Today's clear braces provide the same quality of treatment as metal braces but are simply less noticeable.

Invisalign Teen is the only clear orthodontic aligner therapy designed to address the unique concerns of treating non-adult comprehensive patients. Because aligners are removable, patients can continue to eat their favorite foods and brush and floss normally to help keep teeth and gums healthy.

Invisalign Teen has all the features of Invisalign Full, plus:

• Compliance indicators track the patient's approximate wear time and help provide reassurance for parents that the teen is being compliant.
• Six free individual replacement aligners are included with Invisalign Teen to replace lost or broken aligners.
• Many teens present for treatment with erupting permanent dentition, so Invisalign Teen has been engineered with a feature to help prevent supra eruption of the second molars.

Invisalign^® corrects many orthodontic issues without the hassles of traditional braces. This means no unattractive metal wire, no uncomfortable glued-on brackets and no annoying rubber bands that can leave your mouth sore. Invisalign^® uses a series of clear and custom-fit removable aligners; we are able to straighten your teeth in no time. In most cases, Invisalign^® treatment takes about a year.

Did we mention Invisalign^® is removable?

Because the aligners used in the Invisalign^® treatment process are removable, you can eat the foods you love to eat (steak, corn and bubble-gum don't mix well with traditional braces). Additionally, when you need to brush and floss, you don't have to buy special tooth brushes and flossers designed to fit between the wires and brackets of braces. The full course of treatment involves changing the Invisalign^® aligners approximately every two weeks, moving your teeth into straighter position step-by-step, until you have a more beautiful smile.

How much is Invisalign?

It's a common misconception; patents think that Invisalign is more expensive than regular braces, but in the majority of cases pricing is about the same. If you are interested in learning more about the cost of Invisalign, you can call the office and book a free consultation.

What do aligners look like?

Aligners are clear and nearly invisible. If you've ever seen clear teeth-whitening trays, that should give you a good idea of what the aligners look like. Invisalign^® aligners are custom-made to fit and move your teeth.

Will the treatment be painful?

Each time you change to a new aligner, there may be some temporary discomfort while your teeth adjust to their new position. This is completely normal, and is a good sign that the treatment is working.

Will wearing Invisalign^® aligners affect my speech?

Some people are affected more than others, but most adjust in a short period of time to the feeling of the aligners and do not have permanent changes in their speech.

How often will I have to wear my aligners?

Invisalign^® only works while you're wearing the aligners. It's recommended that you wear your aligners full-time, day and night, except to eat, brush, and floss your teeth.

What happens after treatment to prevent my teeth from moving again?

This varies person to person and depends on the outcome of the treatment. Some patients might need a positioner, or conventional retainer. Other patients might need a clear plastic retainer.

Having crooked, crowded or gapped teeth can be embarrassing, sometimes painful and often uncomfortable. Generally speaking, when you speak to a dentist, he or she may recommend treating your orthodontic problem with years of uncomfortable and unattractive metal braces. This is the biggest distraction for patients to fix their teeth and enjoy a perfectly aligned smile but here at Dental Health of San Francisco, we want you to know there is a modern way to straighten teeth and even correct misaligned bites without the use of traditional braces. We use Invisalign^®!

If you have gapped teeth, an overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite or overly crowded teeth, Invisalign^® may work for you! Call us at (415) 889-0968 or request an appointment online to come into the San Francisco dental office of Dental Health of San Francisco. We would love to be able to discuss an Invisalign^® plan specific to you and get you well on your way to a beautiful straight smile!

Most patients don't know this, but you can use at-home whitening solution in your Invisalign^® aligners to whiten your teeth at the same time you are straightening them! The Invisalign^® aligners are already custom-fitted to your teeth which will allow the whitening solution to evenly spread along the surfaces of your teeth much better than the "boil-and-fit" trays that most home whitening kits provide. Just don't forget to rinse off the whitening solution after the recommended application time.

As with every dental procedure, the current condition of your teeth will play a role in determining just how long treatment will take.

For best results, we recommend you wear your Invisalign^® aligners for 20-22 hours per day throughout the entire treatment process. In most cases, adults can experience full treatment and a straight smile in as little as one year. For teens, the length of treatment is comparable to that of traditional braces.

The total time you wear your Invisalign^® aligners will seem to fly by since you will be able to see your smile literally transform every time you change to the next set of aligners.

The total cost of Invisalign^® treatment is similar to that of traditional braces. Many dental insurance plans cover Invisalign^® treatment just as they would with regular metal braces. Every unique case has many different factors that can all affect total treatment cost so it's extremely difficult to put a price tag on custom treatment plans.

Dental Health of San Francisco can do all the leg-work for you and will check with your dental insurance provider to see just how much they will cover.

Call our office at (415) 889-0968 or request an appointment and come in to be evaluated. Only then will we be able to quote an Invisalign^® treatment plan, work with your insurance and talk about available payment options. We will make sure there is no guessing and you know how much your specific treatment will be. Most patients are amazed at just how affordable and easy it is to obtain a straighter smile!