Smile Confidently With Invisalign
Invisalign is a series of removable orthodontic aligners, made from clear material, that can straighten teeth just like braces do – only without the metal brackets and wires.
They work by gently applying controlled pressure to your teeth in different areas of your mouth, during different parts of your treatment.
Invisalign is a great orthodontic treatment option for children, teens and adults who'd prefer a lower profile option in terms of aesthetics, and the convenience of removable aligners.
Because they are transparent, Invisalign aligners have a discreet appearance. And because they're removable, you can eat all of your favourite foods, and easily brush, floss and maintain your oral health just like you normally would.
Your Platinum Invisalign Provider in Salmon Arm
Dr. Broadwell has met the rigorous standards set out by Align Technologies to become a Platinum Invisalign Provider. With nearly 1000 patients treated with Invisalign under his belt, he is passionate about the aesthetic and oral health benefits that Invisalign can provide.
Meet Dr. BroadwellInvisalign Options for All Ages
Invisalign offers the following unique treatment options for children, teens, and adults.
Book ConsultationInvisalign First
Invisalign First is a phase one orthodontic treatment option designed especially for the growing smiles of children between the ages of six and 10.
Invisalign Teen
For teens who are concerned about the aesthetics of metal braces, Invisalign aligners may be an ideal orthodontic treatment option.
Invisalign for Adults
Many of our adult patients choose Invisalign to straighten their teeth because they find it fits in seamlessly with their day-to-day lives.
Flexible Payment Plans & Financing Options
At Shuswap Orthodontics, we believe that finances should never be a barrier to essential health care. To help our patients manage the cost of orthodontic treatment, we offer flexible payment plans and convenient financing with LendCare.
Features of Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign has a number of great features that can help make your orthodontic treatment go more smoothly.
Smooth Construction
Invisalign aligners are made completely of smooth material, meaning you'll experience no irritation or discomfort from metal wires or brackets.
The aligners are made with USP Class VI medical-grade, high-molecular-weight polyurethane resins that are BPA free.
Low-Profile Aesthetics
For those with aesthetic concerns when it comes to orthodontic treatment, Invisalign can be a great choice.
Invisalign aligners are made of a clear, lightweight material, and are nearly invisible when worn. The casual observer may not even notice you're wearing them!
Removable Aligners
Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you can take them out before each meal, so that you can enjoy all your favourite foods without limitation.
You can also take the aligners out to brush and floss your teeth, so your oral hygiene routine will be unaffected.
No Adjustment Appointments Needed
Invisalign aligners don't need to be adjusted like braces do. Instead, you just switch from one set of aligners to the next in the series as prescribed by your orthodontist.
You'll still need to visit us for checkups to assess your progress, but you'll definitely save time on those adjustment appointments!
Digital Impressions with iTero
Dr. Broadwell uses the iTero 3D scanner to take digital impressions of your smile – and show you your projected results – in preparation for Invisalign treatment.
iTero impressions are minimally nonintrusive and don't require any goopy impression material like physical impressions do.
The Invisalign Treatment Process
Wondering how it all works? Find out what to expect during your orthodontic treatment with Invisalign.
Initial Consultation
At your initial consultation, we will perform an exam and imaging to diagnose your orthodontic condition and design a custom treatment plan just for you. We will also address any questions or concerns you may have about the practical and financial aspects of your Invisalign treatment.
The Treatment Plan
With reference to your exam and digital scan, your orthodontist will develop a comprehensive Invisalign treatment plan that charts the precise movements of your teeth at each stage, as well as the approximate duration of your treatment. Based on this plan, your Invisalign aligners will be made by Invisalign at a lab using 3D printing technology.
Wearing Your Aligners
For the duration of your treatment, you'll wear your aligners every day, only removing them for a total of about two hours a day, to eat, or to brush and floss your teeth. Approximately every other week or so, you'll change from one aligner to the next in the series. Gradually, you'll see your new smile realized as your teeth shift into their prescribed positions.
Appointments With Us
Throughout your Invisalign treatment process, you'll visit our office periodically for a checkup. During these appointments, your orthodontist will assess your progress and make adjustments to your treatment plan as needed. Please also feel free to use these appointments to ask us any questions you may have about your Invisalign treatment.
Enjoy & Maintain
You've made it to the end of treatment – congratulations! It's time to enjoy your straighter, healthier smile. At your final Invisalign appointment with your orthodontist, we'll review the progress your smile has made. Your orthodontist will prescribe retainers to maintain your teeth in their current positions.
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Questions About Invisalign? We've Got Answers.
If you're considering Invisalign, there's a lot to learn – and you probably have all sorts of questions. Get started by reading our Invisalign FAQs to learn more about this orthodontic treatment.
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What is Invisalign?
Invisalign orthodontic treatment is a series of clear, custom aligners that straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets.
Using advanced 3D computer imaging technology, we will create a treatment plan based on your unique smile.
Your Invisalign aligners will then be manufactured to fit your teeth precisely during each stage of the treatment process.
- What are the primary features of Invisalign?
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How does Invisalign work?
Your Invisalign treatment will come in a series clear plastic aligners. Each aligner in the series is designed to move your teeth in tiny increments. You will wear each aligner for about two weeks (or as prescribed by your orthodontist) before replacing it with the next one in the series, which will pick up where the last one left off.
This process will continue until your teeth are in their prescribed, corrected positions.
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How much does Invisalign cost?
The cost of Invisalign orthodontic treatment will depend on the severity of your case and and how many aligners you'll need in your series to resolve it. The more severe or complex the misalignment is, the more aligners you'll need to correct it, and the more your treatment will cost.
Concerns about cost are completely understandable. We offer dental financing via LendCare Canada, and flexible, no-interest payment plans.
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How many sets of aligners will I need?
The answer to this question will depend on the nature and severity of your misalignment. Each case is different.
Based on a detailed evaluation of your bite during your initial consultation, your orthodontist will give you an accurate estimate of how long your treatment will last.
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How long does Invisalign treatment take?
Your orthodontist will determine the approximate duration of your Invisalign treatment based on your specific needs.
Factors that may affect the duration of your treatment include the nature and severity of the misalignment of your teeth or jaw. This determines the amount of movement that will be required to correct the problem, and how many aligners you'll need to go through to accomplish this.
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What are Invisalign aligners made of?
Invisalign aligners are made with USP Class VI medical-grade, high-molecular-weight polyurethane resins that are BPA-free.
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Can adults use Invisalign?
Yes! Almost anyone with healthy teeth and gums is a potential candidate for Invisalign.
Many adults these days are opting to undergo orthodontic treatment with Invisalign aligners because of their discreet look, and the convenience of being able to remove them to eat, and to brush and floss.
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Can teenagers use Invisalign?
Yes! Teens certainly can be candidates for Invisalign. In fact, Invisalign offers Invisalign Teen, a product line that is designed to meet the unique needs of teenagers.
Invisalign Teen aligners have two primary features that make them distinct from standard Invisalign aligners. They have compliance indicators on them (tiny blue dots that fade away after the aligners have been worn consistently for two weeks) to help teens keep track of their treatment and when the aligners need to be changed out.
They also come with eruption tabs for tweens and younger teens whose adult teeth are still in the process of growing in. These provide space for second molars and prevent them from growing crooked.
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Can children use Invisalign?
Yes, Invisalign has a product line called Invisalign First that case be used on kids as young as 7 in some cases.
Compared to standard Invisalign aligners, Invisalign First aligners have a smaller construction to fit baby teeth. It also has an Eruption Compensation feature that allows the aligns to accommodate baby teeth falling out and adult teeth growing in seamlessly.
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How will Invisalign fit my lifestyle?
Like any orthodontic treatment, Invisalign takes a bit of getting used to at first. But we believe you'll find that find that it fits very comfortably into your daily routines.
Invisalign aligners can be removed whenever you need to eat, drink, brush and floss. That means no dietary restrictions, and you can can maintain your normal oral hygiene routine.
And because the aligners are made of a lightweight, clear plastic, they are almost invisible when worn, meaning your orthodontic treatment won't be that apparent to anyone but you.
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How often do I have to visit the orthodontist with Invisalign?
You'll need to visit the orthodontist every 12 weeks during your Invisalign treatment for a checkup, so that your orthodontist can assess your progress. If any refinements or adjustments are needed for your treatment, they may require some extra visits.
Invisalign aligners don't require any adjustments or tightening – you just switch to a new set of aligners as prescribed by your orthodontist – so you won't need to visit us for these types of appointments during your treatment.
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How often do I have to change my Invisalign aligners?
When you first start treatment, your orthodontist will tell you exactly how often you should switch out your aligners. The frequency varies a bit among patients, but it's normally every two weeks or so.
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Are there any food or drink restrictions?
You can remove your aligners to eat, so there aren't really any dietary restrictions while you're undergoing Invisalign treatment.
We recommend you take your aligners out to drink any beverages other than water (things like pop, coffee, juice, Slurpees, etc.) to avoid staining, and so that surgars and acids don't get trapped between the aligners and your teeth.
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How do I clean my aligners?
There are a few different steps involved when it comes to keeping your Invisalign clear aligners clean.
You'll want to rinse them off each time you take them out of your mouth to wash away dry saliva and plaque that may be beginning to develop.
You should also clean you aligners thoroughly each day. Use a soft toothbrush, clear anti-bacterial soap or toothpaste, and cool water to clean them. Brush your aligners gently so as not to scratch them, and then rinse off the soap. Then you're done!
In addition to cleaning the aligners themselves, you should make sure your mouth is nice and clean before you put them back in. This means brushing and flossing after each meal to ensure that no food particles get stuck between your teeth and the aligners, leading to bad breath, and possibly cavities and gum disease.
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How do I store my aligners?
You should store your Invisalign aligners in the case they come with any time they're not in your mouth or soaking in cleaning solution. This will keep them safe and clean until it's time to put them back in.
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Can I play sports with Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are removable so you can play sports without worrying about damaging them.
However, keep in mind that in order to keep treatment on track, Invisalign aligners must be kept in for a minimum of 22 hours a day (or as prescribed by your orthodontist), so plan your time carefully.
It's important to invest in a sports mouthguard to protect your teeth during orthodontic treatment in general. Orthodontic treatment causes your teeth to loosen slightly as they shift into their new positions, and this can make them more susceptible to damage than they normally are.
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Can I play my woodwind or brass instrument with Invisalign?
Yes! Simply remove your aligners to play your instrument, and pop them back in when you're done.
Keep in mind that you must keep your Invisalign aligners in for about 22 hours a day (or as prescribed by your orthodontist), so be sure to plan your practice time carefully.
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Invisalign vs. braces: which is right for me?
Invisalign and braces are both effective orthodontic treatment options, but there are differences between them that may affect their suitability for different individuals.
Factors to consider when choosing between Invisalign and braces include aesthetics, your personal preferences and lifestyle, cost, and the nature and severity of your misalignment. You can learn more here.
Your orthodontist will assess your specific case and recommend the best treatment option for your needs.