All You Need to Know About Invisalign

Not everybody is blessed with a perfect set of teeth. Many have crooked and misaligned teeth, spaces between teeth, or overlapping teeth. Individuals who are concerned with the aesthetics of such misaligned teeth would typically seek out an orthodontist who would suggest braces, i.e., metal brackets fixed on teeth and connected by wires to push teeth to look pleasing.

Today, an alternative to metal braces, called Invisalign, is available. Invisalign is a clear, custom-made aligner tray that fits on the teeth and performs the same function braces do - encourage them to move so that they form a perfect set of teeth.

How does Invisalign work?

When you visit an orthodontist, he or she will take a look at your current bite and prepare a plan to correct it using Invisalign. Once an impression of the mouth is taken, several versions of Invisalign are ordered to be fitted at different stages of the treatment. The aligners are made of acrylic and tightly fit over the teeth but can be removed to eat or brush every day.

Treatment Period

Invisalign is generally suggested for teenagers or adults as Invisalign treatment for children could become complicated. The treatment time with Invisalign depends on the level of misalignment. The more correction it is needed, the more time it will take. However, it is noteworthy that not all alignments can be done using Invisalign. In some cases, the treatment could start with metal braces, and when a level of an appropriate bite is reached, Invisalign treatment can be started.

If you had braces as a child, you should need only about ten weeks for minor corrections. Otherwise, it could take anywhere between 10 months to 24 months for a typical Invisalign treatment.

Why is Invisalign chosen over metal braces?

Invisalign is growing to become popular across the country; here’s why:

• Invisalign is practically invisible and cannot be recognized from a distance. It saves the embarrassment of having a mouthful of metal braces, however small or colored.
• The Invisalign tray can be removed at any time - especially while eating and brushing. This prevents food particles from settling in crevices of metal braces.
• Since the aligners can be removed, there are no restrictions on things to eat. Eating hard foods with metal braces can be difficult, but aligners pose no such concern.
• Although orthodontic treatments are generally uncomfortable given the movement of teeth, aligners are the least uncomfortable. If you are looking to correct your teeth structure, call your dentist today.