

Invisalign
Life Is Better with Straight, Healthy Teeth!
Your smile is your most important feature. It’s the first thing people notice, and it speaks volumes about your health and confidence. However, a beautiful smile isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s also a vital aspect of your overall wellness.
Hello, I’m Dr. Mike Gallagher, DDS and I have been practicing General & Cosmetic Dentistry since 1987. I am a certified provider of Invisalign Clear Aligners and have had the privilege of providing the Invisalign solution for many years with excellent results. My cosmetic dentistry skills and technique are designed to not only enhance the appearance of your teeth but also improve your oral health, ensuring that your smile stays as healthy as it is radiant.
I’m ready to customize an Invisalign solution for you. A healthy smile is a beautiful smile. When your teeth are in the right position, function properly, and are the right shape, there is less risk of damage and decay. This allows your teeth to retain their beautiful, youthful appearance for longer.
Straight teeth not only look beautiful but are important structurally for your entire dental system. They’re part of the architectural blueprint for good oral health. They work better, look better, and are easier to clean. For this reason, I often recommend teeth straightening with Invisalign as part of a long-term dental plan. Once your teeth are straight and in the proper anatomical position, we can focus on the smaller details and begin crafting a beautiful smile that you’re proud to show off!
Benefits of Invisalign:
Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic system that aims to correct the position of your teeth using a series of clear, removable aligners. Custom aligners are worn for a treatment period lasting from about six months to one year. During treatment, aligners are switched out and replaced to further enhance the appearance of your smile and guide your teeth into their proper anatomical position.
The benefits of Invisalign for patients are extensive and include:
• Aligners are completely clear and virtually undetectable, making them a more aesthetic alternative to traditional braces
• Teeth are guided into proper alignment, reducing the risk of dental decay, gum disease, tooth loss, and staining.
• Straightening teeth may improve health overall and eliminate symptoms like jaw, face and neck pain.
• Invisalign clear aligners are more comfortable than metal braces and can be removed for eating, teeth brushing, and other important activities.
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
Crooked or misaligned teeth are often caused by overcrowding. Overcrowding occurs when there’s not enough room in your mouth for all of your teeth. This is something that can happen naturally over time and usually starts at a young age when baby teeth start to fall out. Sometimes, surrounding teeth will try to fill in the gaps caused by missing baby teeth. When new teeth come in, there’s not enough space for them to come in straight, so they end up crooked and overlap with other teeth.
Strengthening Teeth with Invisalign Clear Aligners
Invisalign clear aligners are commonly used to correct overcrowded and crooked teeth. The process starts with a visit to my office in Eden Prairie, for a teeth straightening consultation. First, I’ll examine your mouth to confirm that you’re a good candidate for clear braces. Then, I’ll take impressions of your teeth and send them off to our dental lab.
The lab will use the impressions to create a series of clear aligners that can be worn and switched out periodically during your treatment. You’ll wear each set for about two weeks, then trade them out for the next. The total time of treatment usually lasts about six to twelve months. Once the process is finished, you’ll have straighter, more functional teeth and a better-looking smile!
Caring for Your Teeth During Invisalign Treatment
Caring for your teeth is relatively simple during Invisalign treatment and most patients have no problems during the process. While undergoing treatment, it’s important that you brush and floss your teeth often to keep them clean and healthy. Additionally, I recommend coming into my office at least once every three to four months for a professional cleaning.
You can still eat all your favorite foods during Invisalign treatment, but it’s recommended that you remove your aligners while eating and drinking hot beverages. Keep in mind, you’ll need to wear your aligners for at least 20-22 hours each day, so it’s important to time your meals accordingly.
My team and I are committed to providing exceptional care and empowering our patients with information about their dental health. If you have any questions about our services or would like to schedule an appointment, we invite you to give us a call at (952) 942-9600. We’re always welcoming new patients throughout Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Bloomington, Minnetonka, Edina, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Burnsville, Plymouth, Eagan, Richfield and surrounding areas.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Invisalign?
The Invisalign system is the virtually invisible way to straighten you teeth and achieve the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Using advanced 3-D computer-imaging technology, Invisalign depicts your complete treatment plan, from the initial position of your teeth to the final desired position. Then a series of clear aligners are custom-made for your teeth-and your teeth only-to move them little by little. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks before being replaced by the next in the series, until the final position of your teeth is achieved. Your Invisalign treatment time will be determined by your doctor, based on your specific needs.
What are the primary benefits of Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are practically clear. No one may even notice that you’re wearing these virtually invisible “braces” making Invisalign a seamless fit with your lifestyle and day-to-day interactions with others.
Invisalign is removable. Unlike braces, you have the flexibility to eat and drink what you want during treatment by simply removing the aligners. And you can also remove the aligners to brush and floss as you normally would for fresh breath and good oral hygiene.
Unlike braces, there are no metal brackets or wires with the Invisalign system that could cause irritation to your mouth. Plus since your office visits during treatment don’t involve metal or wire adjustments, you’ll likely spend less time in the doctor’s chair.
How many patients are being treated with Invisalign?
More than 2,000,000 patients worldwide have been treated with Invisalign. The number of Invisalign smiles grows daily.
How will Invisalign effectively move my teeth?
Like brackets and arch wires are to braces, Invisalign aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on your teeth. The main difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also the timing of the force application. During each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move. These movements are determined by your doctor as he or she maps out your unique Invisalign treatment plan.
What are aligners made of, and what do they look like?
The virtually invisible aligners, which are made of a thermoplastic material uniquely developed for the Invisalign treatment plan, look similar to tooth-whitening trays. Invisalign aligners are custom-made for you and only you to move your teeth in the sequence determined by your doctor. Invisalign aligners and Vivera Retainers do not contain Bisphenol-A or phthalate plasticizers.
Since having my braces removed, my teeth have shifted. Can Invisalign correct this?
A number of Invisalign patients have undergone a pervious treatment involving braces at some point in their past, often during their youth. Invisalign can usually correct the shifting that occurs after braces, and do so without having to go through the trauma and social awkwardness of wearing metal braces.
Will wearing Invisalign aligners affect my speech?
Similar to other orthodontic treatments, Invisalign aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two. However, as your tongue gets used to having aligners in your mouth, any lisp caused by the aligners should disappear.
Are there restrictions on what I can eat while in treatment?
No. Thanks to the removable nature of the aligners, you can eat and drink whatever you want while in treatment. In fact, you’re required to remove your aligners to eat and drink. So, unlike undergoing traditional treatment using wires and brackets, there is no need to restrict your consumption of any of your favorite foods and snacks unless instructed otherwise by your doctor. Also, it is important that you brush your teeth after each meal and prior to re-inserting your aligners to maintain fresh breath and proper hygiene.
What’s the best way to clean my aligners?
The best way to clean your aligners is to use the Invisalign cleaning kit, available for order at www.invisalignaccessories.com. As a secondary method, however, your aligners can also be cleaned by brushing them and rinsing them in lukewarm water.
How often must I wear my aligners?
We find aligners are most effective if worn 20 to 22 hours per day-and removed only for eating, brushing, and flossing.
What is the minimum age of a patient that a doctor can treat with Invisalign?
Invisalign Teen is appropriate for patients who have shed all of their baby teeth and have second molars at least partially erupted-this includes most teens.
How long will treatment take?
The length of treatment depends on the severity of your case and can only be determined by your doctor; however the average case takes about 12 months.
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 similar to the ones Invisalign makes, such as Align Technology’s Vivera Retainer.