Patients undergo orthodontic treatment to correct misaligned and crooked teeth. Our dentist in Memorial, Houston, Dr. Le, is dedicated to helping you find the right orthodontic treatments so that you can have the beautiful smile you desire. Our treatment options include braces, Invisalign and other options to help you achieve the final result as soon as possible. Bunker Hill Dentistry is located on Katy Fwy and is convenient for patients in Memorial, Spring Branch West, The Villages of Houston and other nearby locations in Houston. Invisalign – The Clear Way To Straighten Teeth Invisalign aligner trays are removable for eating and drinking. Invisalign treatment can be faster than traditional braces. Invisalign can be less costly and more affordable than traditional metal braces. Straightening your teeth with Invisalign involves fewer appointments with our dentist. The aligners are nearly invisible when worn. The Invisalign trays are custom designed for your teeth. Our dentist offers complimentary consultations for Invisalign or other cosmetic treatment. Invisalign helps straighten the teeth of adults and adolescents without drawing unwanted attention to the mouth. It is FDA approved to treat overbites, underbites, crossbites, open bites and gaps between the teeth. The clear aligners are considered by many individuals to be the best choice for teeth straightening due to the durability and comfort of the material as well as the speed in which teeth are moved and straightened. We’ve put together the largest collection of before and after Invisalign photos so you can get a glimpse of its capabilities. The Invisalign aligner trays are manufactured using detailed 3D images of your teeth, and each tray is designed to move your teeth accurately toward their optimal positions. Each tray is worn a minimum of 22 hours per day for about two weeks before the individual switches to the next tray in the series. If the clear aligning trays are worn less than 22 hours per day, treatment time may increase. Our doctor will schedule monthly periodic follow-up appointments to check the progress of your teeth to make sure your treatment is progressing as expected and to answer your questions about your progress. Everyone knows that having straight teeth helps improve your smile and your self-esteem. It may even help you during job interviews due to your improved appearance. However, many adults and parents of teenagers may be concerned about the cost of treatments. Thankfully, Invisalign is typically much more affordable than traditional braces. The average of cost treatment ranges from $3,000 to $5,000. However, the exact cost depends on the number of trays you need and the length of your treatment. Our dentist can answer your questions about the overall cost of your Invisalign treatment and explain all the available ways to pay for treatment, including dental insurance, cash payment plans and paying with an FSA or HSA account. Invisalign vs Braces Comparing Invisalign to braces is not apples to apples. Invisalign is intended for mild to moderate cases of misalignment such as gaps between teeth, crooked teeth, underbite, overbite, and crossbite. Braces, on the other hand, can be used to treat severe and/or complex misalignment issues, as well as deal with teeth that are too short or round for Invisalign aligners to get a good grip on them. Both are effective at straightening teeth but, in cases where both options are available, you will want to consider the cost, the length of treatment, and the ease (or difficulty) of maintenance. Invisalign vs DIY Orthodontic Options As a dental practice whose core responsibilities include promoting oral health and preventing disease, we conclude that Invisalign offers better orthodontic outcomes than at-home orthodontic solutions. One of the most popular DIY options is Smile Direct Club. See 5 reasons why Invisalign is better than Smile Direct Club. Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign? Invisalign is a widely applicable treatment, but it’s more suitable for some patients than others. Typically, Invisalign is an appropriate treatment for fixing mild to moderate teeth alignment issues, including: crooked teeth gap teeth crowded teeth protruding teeth overlapping teeth open bite some instances of crossbite, underbite, and overbite Major orthodontic problems require work on the jaw itself, something that can’t be achieved through Invisalign. Other than your specific orthodontic case, motivation is the most crucial quality for a candidate because inconsistent wear is the most common reason Invisalign treatments fail. Aligners must be worn 22 hours every day, with the two hours of rest allotted for eating, drinking, brushing, and flossing. After Invisalign treatment is complete, patients then need to transition to retainers. Not sure if you’re a good candidate? We can help! We’ve found good candidates share one or more of these eight criteria: 8 Criteria for Determining Invisalign Candidacy Keep in mind that, no matter what you read, only a consultation with a dental professional can tell you for sure if Invisalign is right for you. Why Bunker Hill Dentistry? Dr. Le and his wife and office manager Ann Le Specialists – Your procedure will be carried out by Dr. Le, a dentist experienced in both cosmetic and general procedures. Serene setting – Our office is designed to provide a calm, relaxing environment to help put your mind at ease during treatment. Take a tour. Client satisfaction – We have one mission – total client satisfaction. “Care, Comfort, Convenience” is our guarantee to every client. More about Bunker Hill Dentistry. Reception room at Bunker Hill Dentistry State of the art – We utilize the most advanced technology such as the i-CAT 3D x-ray machine, All-On-4® implants and an anesthesia-delivery wand, for faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment. Conveniently located – Located in Memorial, just a short drive from Houston’s city center. Find us on the map. Invisalign for Adults With the advancements in oral hygiene and oral hygiene products, adults are keeping their teeth longer, and as they get older, they may feel self-conscious about their crooked or gapped teeth. Invisalign for adults offers a nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth without dramatically changing your lifestyle or drawing unwanted attention to your mouth. Invisalign clear aligners are completely removable, which means you can remove them for eating and drinking as well as for social gatherings and job interviews. This means that only you and our dentist in Houston will know that you are receiving teeth straightening treatments. Invisalign for Teenagers Invisalign for teenagers offers a great way to straighten teeth without affecting the appearance, diet or your ability to play your favorite sports. Many teenagers can be self-conscious when it comes to straightening their teeth because they think it involves having a mouth full of silver-colored metal. Invisalign’s clear aligning trays are virtually invisible, which means no one has to know you are straightening your teeth, and since they are invisible, you can still enjoy your favorite foods, like popcorn, caramel and energy drinks. Just remember to remove the trays prior to eating and drinking everything except water. When you are finished eating and/or drinking, simply brush and floss your teeth thoroughly and reinsert the trays. Invisalign Treatment Process The Invisalign treatment process starts with an initial consultation. During the consultation, our doctor will evaluate your teeth and bite to determine if Invisalign would be right for you. Dr. Le will also answer all of your questions regarding Invisalign and the treatment process. If you are a good candidate for Invisalign, we will use a 3D dental imaging device to take detailed pictures of your teeth and to create a detailed treatment plan. The 3D imaging device allows us to map the current positions of your teeth and the expected movement of your teeth during the teeth straightening process. Then, we will send the images along with our treatment plan to the laboratory so that your custom clear aligning trays can be manufactured. We will also take a series of photos as well as impressions and bite registration of your teeth as part of the treatment protocol. The clear aligners are manufactured out of Invisalign’s SmartTrack material that is guaranteed to be more comfortable and durable than other types of aligner trays. Once you receive your trays, our doctor will give you instructions on how to insert and remove them as well as your daily care of them. See the Invisalign procedure in more detail with our 8-point step-by-step guide. Commitment – The Key to Invisalign Success When it comes to achieving straight teeth with Invisalign, dedication and cooperation with your treatment program is needed. For best results and the fastest possible treatment, you should strive to wear your trays any time you are not eating or drinking or between 20 to 22 hours a day. Wearing your aligners less than 20 hours a day can result in longer treatment times. Read our Invisalign care guide to get the most from your Invisalign treatment. Schedule An Appointment Not been to Bunker Hill Dentistry before? To help you prepare for your first visit, read our new patient information page. Learn More About Invisalign 1. Am I a Good Candidate for Invisalign? 1.1. Can Children Wear Invisalign? 1.2. Invisalign vs Braces: Which Is Most Effective at Straightening Teeth? 2. How Does the Invisalign Procedure Work? 2.1. What Are Invisalign Attachments Made From? 3. Post-Treatment Tips & Caring for Invisalign Aligners 3.1. What Is Safe to Drink with Invisalign? 3.2. Does Invisalign Cause Cavities? 3.3. Can You Wear Invisalign with Crowns? 3.4. Can You Whiten Teeth with Invisalign? 4. Invisalign Before & After Pictures 5. Invisalign vs Smile Direct Club Braces – The Most Traditional & Popular Path to Straight Teeth Braces are often covered by dental insurance plans. Braces are the most common treatment for straightening teeth. Metal, ceramic and clear braces can help correct extremely bad over, under and crossbites. Our dentist can help you choose the right braces for your teeth straightening needs. There are multiple types of traditional braces available, including metal, ceramic and clear. Traditional braces can be used as part of our hybrid teeth straightening program. Traditional braces can be used on adults and teenagers. Traditional metal, ceramic and clear braces are a time-tested way to straighten the teeth of children and adults. This type of teeth straightening treatment involves gluing metal brackets onto the teeth and connecting them with wires. Traditional braces can either be manually adjusted by our dentist or self-ligating, which means the wires adjust themselves. Treatment times can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months, depending on the severity of the bite misalignments. Braces correct severely crooked and misaligned teeth as well as bad bites. Once the braces are in place, an oral hygiene routine must be maintained in order to prevent cavities. This usually involves brushing in the morning and evening as well as after meals and snacking. Sticky, chewy and extremely sweet foods should be avoided, and items like steak and other meats may need to be cut into small pieces in order to avoid breaking the brackets and wires during the treatment process. Braces are considered extremely affordable with an average cost that ranges between $3,000 and $7,000. Treatment can be paid for via dental insurance, a payment plan or through an HSA or FSA account. If you are unsure if your dental plan will cover braces or you need more information on our payment methods, feel free to contact our dentist. Clear Braces Metal braces are not the only the only type of braces available. Find out more about the 6 orthodontic alternatives to metal braces. One of the alternatives are clear braces. Their primary advantage over metal braces is that they are less noticeable on the teeth. These braces are great for teenagers that do not want a mouth full of metal and for adults with severe bite misalignments and crooked teeth who don’t necessarily want people staring at their mouths during interviews, business meetings and social gatherings. Ceramic Braces Ceramic braces are another alternative to traditional metal braces. The brackets for these braces are made out of ceramic and tooth-colored or clear so that they are less noticeable. Many adults prefer these braces because not only are the brackets white, most wires have a white coating as well! Braces for Adults Our dentist provides braces for adults with severely crooked, twisted or misaligned teeth and who have bad bites. With adults keeping their teeth longer due to great oral hygiene and regular dental visits, the need for adult braces has never been higher. This is why we offer metal, ceramic and clear braces for adults who may be past the traditional age for braces but still want to improve their smiles. Braces for Teenagers and Children The best time to correct bad bite and misaligned teeth is shortly after all the adult teeth have in. Since the jaw bones and teeth are still growing, bite problems and crooked and gapped teeth are easier to remedy with orthodontic appliances, including braces, and treatment times may not be as long. We offer traditional metal braces, clear braces and ceramic braces for children and teenagers. Our Hybrid Approach to Orthodontics For older teenagers and young adults who wish to straighten their severely crooked or misaligned teeth and correct their bad bites, our hybrid approach to teeth straightening may be an option. This approach utilizes traditional braces at the beginning of treatment in order to correct severe bite problems and malocclusions. Once the teeth have reached a certain phase in treatment, our dentist may recommend Invisalign to finish the teeth straightening process. This allows teenagers and adults to wear traditional braces for less time and still achieve the same results. To learn more about braces and Invisalign and to schedule an initial consultation with our dentist in Houston, call us today at 832-834-5281. Schedule An Appointment Not been to Bunker Hill Dentistry before? To help you prepare for your first visit, read our new patient information page.
