Invisalign in San Francisco

Everyone in the Embarcadero area of San Francisco wants to have straight teeth they can be proud to show off. The truth is that many people don’t have naturally even, straight or healthy teeth because of genetics, trauma or other reasons, and need some intervention to make them that way. Braces have traditionally been the most common option, but there’s a new procedure taking over: Invisalign.

Invisalign is quickly becoming the preferred method of straightening teeth. Braces can be uncomfortable, and it’s easy to be self-conscious about the appearance of them on the teeth. With Invisalign, San Francisco and Embarcadero patients can enjoy their teeth slowly straightening with custom aligners specifically molded to fit their smile. Getting straighter teeth over a certain period of time, without any interference or irritation, is completely achievable when patients get Invisalign.

Why Do San Francisco Patients Choose Invisalign?

Not having straight teeth can put a damper on more than just a person’s self-confidence. Many times, a person who doesn’t have straight teeth may be looked over for a job opportunity they would have gotten if they had perfectly straight teeth. This isn’t always the case, but San Francisco and Embarcadero residents are highly motivated when it comes to their careers and don’t want to take any chances. A person’s teeth may have been misaligned since early childhood, or trauma may have occurred at some point, causing the teeth to shift out of place. Regardless of the reason, Invisalign is one of the top solutions to having straighter teeth and helping patients get on the road to success.

How Does Invisalign Work Exactly?

Invisalign uses clear USP Class VI medical-grade, high-molecular-weight, polyurethane resins, which are BPA-free and can go in the mouth without any worry. Once Dr. Skoulas takes a mold of the patient’s mouth, she will use the mold to form several customized trays for the patient to take home and use as directed.

It’s recommended for patients in the Embarcadero area of San Francisco to wear the customized trays for at least 22 hours each day. The reason is that the Invisalign trays work the same way as traditional braces in the sense that they slowly shift the teeth into the perfect position over time. The more the trays are worn, the quicker the process will be and the less likely it is that the teeth will shift back to their old position.

As the teeth slowly begin shifting, patients will need to use different trays provided. These new trays will feel tighter each time, which is exactly what needs to happen for the teeth to continue to shift into the proper place.

When this process is compared to traditional braces, there’s really no match for convenience or effectiveness. Patients that choose braces would have to wear them 24/7, limit what they eat, deal with the unsightliness and discomfort and more. These are just some of the reasons why patients choose to get Invisalign over traditional braces.

Main Benefits Of Invisalign

Several benefits of Invisalign have already been mentioned, but they are worth repeating. The advantages for San Francisco and Embarcadero patients using Invisalign include:

Determining The Best Candidates For Invisalign

Invisalign sounds great and brings plenty of benefits, but how do patients in the Embarcadero area of San Francisco know if they are good candidates? Dr. Skoulas start with a complete evaluation of a patient’s teeth, taking into consideration these factors:

How The Process Works For Invisalign Patients

When patients of the Embarcadero area of San Francisco visit our practice to learn more about Invisalign, Dr. Skoulas will take the time to answer all questions and clearly outline the process. Once it’s determined the patient is a good candidate for Invisalign, Dr. Skoulas will take images, impressions, and x-rays of the teeth to create the perfect plan. She will then give every patient a virtual representation of what their smile will look like once treatments are completed, set realistic expectations of the timeline and what needs to happen in between.

Once Dr. Skoulas finishes creating the patient’s Invisalign aligners, they can begin wearing them immediately. It’s recommended only to remove the aligners when eating and brushing the teeth. Patients will need to change out the aligners about every two weeks as the teeth begin shifting. Checkups with Dr. Skoulas will need to occur around every six weeks to ensure the teeth are moving as they are supposed to in order to achieve the desired smile.

Most San Francisco and Embarcadero patients can expect to wear the Invisalign aligners for at least one year. After the treatments are completed,  will conduct another full evaluation of the teeth to determine whether a retainer would be beneficial to maintain the straight teeth alignment.

The Results Are Up To The Patient

Most San Francisco and Embarcadero patients want to know what kind of results they can expect to receive with Invisalign, and how long the results will last. These patients are sometimes surprised when Dr. Skoulas says their habits will play a large role in the results. When Dr. Skoulas makes a  complete initial evaluation of the patient’s oral situation, she can estimate a timeframe and expected results. However, those results depend mostly on the patient wearing the aligners as directed. Patients who wear the aligners as directed experience great results at the end of the treatment.

But what happens after the treatment has ended? Dr. Skoulas almost always recommends San Francisco and Embarcadero patients wear a retainer to avoid a relapse and have the teeth shift back to their original misaligned position. This relapse can happen immediately at the conclusion of the Invisalign treatment and will slowly continue for many years. Simply wearing a retainer can help maintain the beautiful results for many years. After spending the time and effort to align the teeth properly, wearing a retainer is usually welcomed to maintain the results. And the good news is most patients should only have to wear a retainer for their top teeth and may just have to wear it at night.

Are There Any Restrictions With Invisalign?

Everyone has hobbies they enjoy. As such, another question patient’s in the Embarcadero area of San Francisco have is whether Invisalign will get in the way of the things they enjoy doing. Activities like playing sports can still be done as patients get Invisalign treatments. However, Invisalign is not a substitute for a traditional mouthguard that’s used for contact sports. Anyone who plays sports requiring a mouthguard can remove the Invisalign trays during the event.

Even hobbies like playing musical instruments don’t have to be restricted with Invisalign. Simply remove the trays while playing the instruments and put them back in afterward. If it seems like a hassle to have to remove the trays for these activities, think about the inconvenience of traditional braces. Patients would have to alter the way they go about their activities, get a specially-made mouthguard to compensate for the braces, or avoid participating in the activity completely. Invisalign allows people to continue doing the things they enjoy, while still getting straighter teeth along the way.

Patients also want to know how their eating and drinking habits have to change with Invisalign. When it comes to eating, it’s highly recommended to remove the trays beforehand. The pressure on the trays when chewing can crack them. Not to mention the possibility of food particles getting stuck between the teeth and the trays. If food particles get trapped for an extended amount of time, decay and bad breath could occur.

Drinking water is never an issue with the Invisalign aligners. However, dark drinks like coffee, soda or wine can stain the aligners as well as the teeth. Drinks with a high sugar content also present a risk of cavities, since the sugar can get trapped between the teeth and the aligners. Hot tea or coffee could also cause the aligners to warp and require a replacement. For these reasons, it may be best for patients to remove the aligners if drinking anything other than water and brush the teeth before inserting the aligners again.

San Francisco Patients Love Working With Us

As great and effective as Invisalign is, it’s even better when patients work with a dentist they trust and enjoy visiting in the Bay Area. Patients in the Embarcadero area of San Francisco who visit our practice always have wonderful things to say about us, whether it’s our compassion, caring personality or gentle demeanor.

Dr. Skoulas knows how important a great smile is for patients. It can be a major self-esteem and self-confidence booster knowing their teeth are straight and healthy, and Dr. Skoulas will do everything she can to turn the vision into a reality for their patients.

Aside from the results, Dr. Skoulas creates for her patients; she also understands the general perception many people have about going to the dentist. She wants every patient to feel comfortable and will go out of her way to treat every patient as an individual to help them feel relaxed. Every dental station is equipped with Spotify and Netflix for patients to relax as Dr. Skoulas works, and she will make other accommodations as needed.

The availability Dr. Skoulas offers to her San Francisco and Embarcadero patients is also unmatched. Not many dentists will be available 24 hours a day or be willing to come in early, late or on the weekends to accommodate their patient’s busy schedule. Dr. Skoulas understands the pressures and demands of a busy lifestyle and want to help reduce some stress from their patients’ lives and ensure they have great oral health along the way.

First Step To Get A Healthy And Happy Smile

San Francisco and Embarcadero patients who desire a healthy and happy smile can start by taking the first step and calling our office. We are always thrilled to work with new patients who are ready to transform their smile, and we love hearing familiar voices who want to see us again.

You’ll feel right at home as soon as you walk into our office and are greeted by our friendly staff. Comfort is our number one priority for you as you wait to see Dr. Skoulas. She will learn more about your desires, concerns and treatment options. After your examination, Dr. Skoulas will determine whether Invisalign is right for you and will go over the entire process in detail, including cost information, so there are no surprises, and the proper expectations are set.

We look forward to the opportunity to work with you and watch your smile flourish without interfering with any of your normal daily routines. Contact us at our San Francisco office at (415) 757-0110 today to schedule your consultation Dr. Skoulas and take the first step to having a happy and healthy smile.