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Patient story from Lincoln Park Smiles
Tell us what you notice. The recommendation comes after we understand the problem.
Treatment should look like your smile, not a one-size-fits-all result.
We evaluate the health of the teeth and gums, existing restorations, tooth position, and bite before treatment.
We explain why something is recommended, what alternatives exist, and what treatment involves before you decide.
How It Works
We talk about what you would like to change and examine your teeth, gums, bite, and existing dental work. If you have active decay or gum problems, those issues may need attention before orthodontic treatment begins. This is also where we decide whether Invisalign is genuinely a good fit for the movement your teeth require.
Digital scanning creates a detailed three dimensional model of your teeth. No tray full of impression material is needed. The scan becomes the starting point for treatment planning and helps us evaluate how the teeth need to move.
Your Invisalign plan maps out tooth movement over a sequence of clear aligners. We can discuss the expected changes, whether attachments or other techniques may be required, and the estimated treatment timeline. If something about the proposed result raises a question, this is when we want to talk about it.
Once your aligners arrive, we check their fit and show you how to insert, remove, clean, and care for them. You will move through your aligner sequence according to the schedule prescribed for your case. The important part is wear time. Invisalign works best when the aligners spend most of the day on your teeth rather than in their case.
You will return periodically so we can make sure your teeth are tracking with the digital plan. Not every mouth follows a computer simulation perfectly. If an area needs more movement, additional scanning or refinement aligners may sometimes be recommended. That is part of active orthodontic treatment, not necessarily a sign that something has gone wrong.
Straightening the teeth is not the end of orthodontic care. Teeth naturally have a tendency to shift after treatment, so retainers are used to help maintain their new positions. We will explain your retention plan once active Invisalign treatment is complete.
Meet The LPS Dental Team
LPS Dental's roots in Chicago go back to 1999, when Dr. Jack Manikowski opened Lincoln Park Smiles.
Today, LPS Dental has three Chicago offices and a team whose experience extends across cosmetic, restorative, implant, periodontal, prosthodontic, and general dentistry.
Treatment planning that considers appearance, tooth structure, function, and long-term health together.
Dr. Jack Manikowski is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Digital scanning and planning tools help us evaluate and communicate proposed treatment.
It is normal to have questions before treatment. Here are some of the things patients often want to understand first.
Invisalign is an orthodontic system that uses a series of clear, removable aligners to move teeth gradually. Each set is custom made for the patient's treatment plan. Rather than using brackets and wires attached to the teeth, the aligners apply controlled pressure as the patient progresses through the prescribed sequence.
Most Invisalign patients are instructed to wear their aligners for approximately 20 to 22 hours per day. They are normally removed for eating, drinking anything other than water, brushing, and flossing. Consistent wear is one of the most important parts of treatment.
Aligners should generally be removed before eating. That means you can continue eating the foods you normally enjoy without the restrictions associated with brackets and wires. Clean your teeth before putting the aligners back in whenever possible so food and sugar are not trapped against the teeth.
It is generally better to remove the aligners for coffee and other beverages besides water. Hot drinks can affect the aligner material, while dark or sugary beverages may stain the trays or expose the teeth to sugar while they are covered. For frequent coffee drinkers, the bigger challenge is simply making sure the aligners still reach the recommended daily wear time.
You may notice pressure or tenderness when you start treatment or change to a new aligner. That feeling is related to the force being applied to move the teeth and commonly settles as you adjust to the tray. Sharp pain, a poorly fitting aligner, or something that does not feel right should be discussed with your dentist.
Attachments are small tooth colored shapes bonded to selected teeth. The aligners fit around them and use them as additional points of contact, helping produce movements that would be harder for a smooth aligner alone to achieve. Not every tooth or every Invisalign patient needs attachments.
Invisalign can be used to treat certain bite problems, including some overbite cases. Whether it is appropriate depends on how the teeth and jaws relate to one another and the complexity of the correction required. A clinical evaluation is the only useful way to answer that for an individual patient.
Yes, Invisalign is commonly used to treat dental crowding. The treatment plan needs to determine where the necessary space will come from and how each tooth will move. More severe crowding may require additional orthodontic techniques or another treatment approach.
