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Have Questions About Invisalign? We Have Answers!

If you have crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, your dentist may suggest Invisalign treatment in Cuyahoga Falls, OH. Invisalign is an effective tool that can straighten your teeth, align your bite, and help improve your confidence in your smile.

Do you have questions about Invisalign? The professionals at State Valley Dental can help! Below are some of the most commonly asked questions about this effective treatment for tooth misalignment, overbite, underbite, and similar dental problems.

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a brand of clear aligners. Clear aligners are made from durable clear plastic that fits over your teeth. To ensure your clear aligners fit, the dentist will make impressions of your teeth and send them to a lab. Over time, you’ll be given several sets of aligners. Each new set of aligners fits slightly differently to shift your teeth to a new position.

What Does Invisalign Look Like?

Invisalign aligners are made from clear plastic. When you’re wearing Invisalign, people will see your teeth more than they see your aligners. It’s important to maintain your aligners, because they can become stained. Rinsing them regularly and removing them for meals will help your aligners stay clear and difficult to see.

Do You Need to Limit Your Diet With Invisalign?

Unlike braces, which can be damaged by hard or sticky foods, Invisalign can be removed for meals. You do not need to limit your diet if you have Invisalign aligners.

How Long Does Invisalign Take to Work?

Patients usually wear Invisalign for 12 to 18 months. Every patient is different. How long Invisalign takes for you depends on the severity of your condition, whether you wear Invisalign as often as you should, and other factors.

Is Invisalign Uncomfortable?

While you may feel discomfort when you switch to a new set of aligners, Invisalign is comfortable for patients once they are used to their aligners.

Who Needs Invisalign?

You may benefit from Invisalign if you have a mild to moderate tooth misalignment. Your dentist in Cuyahoga Falls, OH will assess your tooth alignment problems and let you know if you could benefit from Invisalign. Call today to get started with a consultation.

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Common Myths About Dental Implants Debunked

Dental implants have now been available for several decades. In Cuyahoga Falls, OH dental implantshave become one of the most popular treatment options. While dental implants are widely heard of, not everyone knows what they should about them. In fact, there are many common myths about dental implants that remain. Here is a list of them, debunked!

The Process is Painful

The process of getting dental implants involves a surgical procedure, which many people think means that getting dental implants is painful. However, just as you wouldn’t undergo any surgery without anesthesia, there is anesthesia with dental implants. Patients don’t feel anything, and the process is relatively pain-free. Most patients report feeling minimal discomfort during and after the procedure. Any post-operative pain can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain medications.

Dental Implants Are Obvious

On the contrary, dental implants look natural, even close-up. Over the years, the manufacturing of dental implants has improved to the point that hardly anyone would be able to tell that you have them. In fact, you may already know someone with dental implants and you think that all of their teeth are natural!

Dental Implants Can Cause Health Issues

Another pervasive myth is that dental implants can cause health problems or be rejected by the body. Dental implants are made from biocompatible materials like titanium, which are well-tolerated by the body. Rejection is extremely rare, and most complications are minor and manageable with proper dental care.

The Procedure Is Lengthy and Inconvenient

It’s true that a person can’t go into their dentist’s office and come out in an hour with dental implants. But, while the dental implant process involves several steps and can take a few months to complete, it’s a systematic approach that ensures the best results. The healing time is crucial for the implant to integrate with the jawbone properly, ensuring its stability and longevity. Dental implants are certainly less convenient than trying to deal with missing teeth, and they resolve a myriad of problems associated with the loss of adult teeth.

Millions of people are successfully living with dental implants. Shouldn’t you be one of them? Contact your Cuyahoga Falls, OH dentist today to learn more about this exciting restorative dental treatment!

3 Things to Know About Maintaining Implants

If you’re missing a tooth, your dentist may recommend dental implants to fill the gap and restore your smile. Dental implants are a very popular type of prosthetic tooth because they look natural and they function much like your other natural teeth.

Once your dental implant is installed, your dentist in Cuyahoga Falls, OH, at State Valley Dental will tell you what you need to know about maintaining your dental implant. Taking good care of your implant can help you maintain a beautiful, healthy smile. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Dental Implants Need Regular Brushing

Dental implants need to be brushed regularly, just like your natural teeth. To brush your dental implants, you’ll use a non-abrasive toothpaste. Watch out for toothpaste designed for smokers, stain-removing toothpaste, products containing activated charcoal or baking soda, and toothpaste that says they’re made for whitening or brightening your smile. These toothpastes can scratch up your dental implant, causing permanent damage to the surface of the crown.

2. You’ll Visit Your Dentist Twice Annually

Continue to visit the dentist twice annually after your implants are installed. During your visits, the dentist will inspect your implants for signs of damage, and if they are damaged, your dentist will recommend repairs or replacement, depending on the problem.

During your visits with the dentist, you’ll also be given an opportunity to ask questions about how to maintain your dental implants. Your dentist will show you how to brush and floss around your implants to ensure that they’re well cared for.

3. Know the Signs of a Problem

Once your dental implant is installed, it’s important to know the signs of a problem. If your dental implant starts to fail, here’s what you can expect:

  • Pain around the site of the implant
  • Swelling or discomfort around the implant
  • Gum recession around the implant
  • Implant is loose

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, this could be a sign that your dental implant is failing. If this happens, it’s time to see the dentist.