All You Need to Know About Invisalign or Invisible Aligners

Most people want to improve their smile to boost confidence. Straight teeth are not only aesthetically pleasing but have a necessary impact on your oral health. Each individual has different reasons to straighten their teeth. Some people want to correct overbites, while others want to decrease the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. Crooked teeth are more difficult to clean properly. The teeth coming through in the wrong positions can interfere with how the teeth and jaws work. 

Should you ask if there are ways to straighten your teeth naturally, the simple answer is NO, there are no methods to naturally reposition your teeth. The only way we can suggest to improve your teeth is by using different appliances under the direction of a dental professional.

Should you ask if there’s a way to correct or straighten your teeth without wearing braces, the answer is YES — most cases are suitable for the innovative smile straightening dental treatment called Invisalign treatment.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that straightens teeth without using metal or cosmetic braces (ceramic braces). This type of orthodontic treatment is the process of wearing a series of clear and custom-made, removable aligners that gradually and gently straighten the teeth into the proper position over time. It uses a computer-generated mold to realign the teeth that are growing or are set incorrectly. Because Invisalign is clear and removable, they are less noticeable. 

With Invisalign clear aligners or invisible aligners, your teeth can be comfortable and precisely aligned in lesser time than would require compared to any other treatment. It’s absolutely no brackets and no wires!

Invisalign Aligners vs Traditional Braces

Invisalign aligners and traditional braces are both intended to improve the alignment of the teeth to come up with a straighter beautiful smile and help maintain better oral health. Traditional braces have been used by the dental professionals for decades while Invisalign is an advanced innovative concept intended to meet the needs of people with a modern lifestyle. Both have pros and cons like any other treatment. However, these are up for the dental provider and the patient to decide what perfectly suits their needs.

While there are some similarities, there are more differences.

Here we listed a few:

What Material Are Aligners Made From:

Invisalign aligners are made from transparent BPA-free plastic, which appears virtually invisible to other people. On the other hand, traditional braces are made from metal wires and elastic bands, which makes them visually noticeable.

Convenience

Invisalign aligners are removable from the mouth whenever it’s necessary —with the guidelines set by one of our dentists. We highly recommend that patients wear their trays for about 20-22 hours a day. In addition to that, Invisalign aligners are comfortable to wear —one reason you should invest in it. On the contrary, the traditional braces cannot be removed from the mouth anytime you want as they are stuck to the teeth by wires.

Length of treatment

The Invisalign process is substantially shorter than the usual treatment period for traditional or wired braces. Its average length of treatment is one year. But the treatment time will depend upon the patient’s age and specific needs. But because of how Invisalign works, it can take as quickly as six months for the people who use Invisalign to see the much awaited results, whereas traditional braces have an average treatment time of 2 years.

Cost

Invisalign aligners are not necessarily higher than traditional metal braces. The cost of Invisalign depends on your case —the severity of the misalignment of your teeth and the length of time it will take to move them to their proper position. We strongly suggest you speak to one of our dentists for an Invisalign cost guide.

Who Can Wear Invisalign Braces?

Whether you are a parent looking for perfect orthodontic treatment for your teenager, or an adult who has put off treatment for a long time, Invisalign is an effective and discreet solution. These clear aligners can close gaps between your teeth and treat bite issues such as an overbite, underbite, open bite, crossbite, and overcrowded teeth and of course adjust aesthetics. After you undergo a teeth examination and x-rays, the dentist will discuss if Invisalign is the proper treatment you need.

Can I eat with Invisalign?

Yes, you can eat whatever you want during the treatment because aligners are removable! You must remove your Invisalign aligners to eat your favorite food. Remember, you cannot chew with aligners on.

Are Invisalign Aligners painful?

Invisalign can leave your teeth feeling sore, but it’s not painful. Like the traditional orthodontic treatment, your teeth may feel uncomfortable at first because of the pressure exerted on them.

How long do I wear Invisalign per day?

We strongly recommend you wear your aligners for no less than 22 hours per day. You cannot brush your teeth or eat with your aligners in, so you have to take them out of your mouth when you need to.

Invisalign Treatment Completed: What Happens Next?

It’s important to wear retainers after your treatment. Wearing retainers ensures that your teeth won’t move back to their old position. There is an option of bonding a fixed wire retainer behind the lower and upper anterior teeth and clear upper and lower clear retainer same as the invisalign aligner.

Here at Esteem Dental Care, we improve smiles and we correct dental bites. If you want to know the best type of orthodontic treatment for you and your family, our dental professionals would love to meet you. Contact us now!