An Overview of Invisalign
Invisalign is a wonderful alternative to traditional braces due to its usage of clear aligners. These aligners are virtually invisible and removable thus the name-play ‘invis-’, deriving from ‘invisible’ and ‘align’ which means ‘to straighten’. People use Invisalign to straighten their teeth without anyone noticing it.
Align Technology manufactured the Invisalign, and the Food and Drug Administration approved this product in 1998. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Align Technology is a multinational medical device organization that began in 1997.
There are other benefits to the Invisalign in addition to its invisibility. For one, people can eat and drink whatever they desire. This is because the food and drinks are not touching the teeth.
Also, people can perform normal brushing and flossing to maintain healthy teeth and gums. This is because there is no need to worry about mouth abrasions caused by metal, brackets, or wires that are typical with traditional braces.
Another wonderful benefit is that you can take these aligners out as needed. So if you’re in a circumstance where you want them out, you’re free to remove them for relatively short periods of time. Note: It’s important to not leave aligners out for an excessive amount of time as it can hinder the treatment’s success.
How does Invisalign Work?
Dentists treat patients with Invisalign by using customized aligners. It’s typically recommended to patients who have crowded, misaligned, or crooked teeth. The dentist will always explain the treatment process to patients and give instructions on what to do before and after treatment. Any questions the patient may have would also be answered.
Afterward, the dentist will take a molding of the patient’s teeth to make a computerized model. The model will be created according to each individual’s treatment plan and will consist of stages from the current position of the patient’s teeth to the optimal position desired. These model stages will also produce molds for individual aligners. During the process, the patient’s teeth will gradually shift to facilitate proper teeth alignment. The dentist can also do a quick and precise 3D digital scan, so you can get a sneak peek of your beautiful, new smile to come.
Invisalign treatments require routine check-ups to review the patient’s progress and to check the healthiness of the teeth and gums. The dentist will also answer any questions in these check-ups, obtain the next set of aligners, and ensure those Invisalign pieces fit properly.
This process will continue until the teeth are in the desired alignment. Invisalign treatment can take a total of six months or more depending on the complexity of the patient’s teeth.
Conclusion
Invisalign is an amazing alternative to braces. The aligners are more comfortable and much more aesthetically pleasing. There is no metal, wires, or brackets unlike traditional braces, and they are practically invisible. The other benefit is that patients can eat and drink whatever they want and perform normal oral hygiene habits with no additional worries (outside of cavities if you don’t eat right!).