Before invisible braces were a common part of cosmetic dentistry, the only option was the metal braces that many of us either wore as teens or had a friend that did. Teens that had the treatment done were required to withstand the teasing that goes along with wearing a smile resembling the grill of a 1954 Buick. For adults who elected the procedure, self consciousness was the high emotional price tag.
With the breakthrough of the Invisalign teeth alignment system, a teen or an adult can get their perfect smile without the embarrassment, the discomfort and the difficulty of brushing standard braces. In fact, the Invisalign system is not braces at all. It is a revolutionary dental alignment system where an impression is taken of the patients teeth after an orthodontic assessment of the corrections required.
The impressions are sent to the manufacturer who produces 18 to 30 soft clear, plastic alignment trays that slip comfortably over the entire row of teeth. This virtually invisible aligner is worn for two weeks at which time it is replaced with another. As the alignment progresses the replacement is done every two weeks until the desired results are attained. An orthodontist is visited every 8 to 10 weeks to monitor the progress and to maintain hygiene. Aside form those visits there is no maintenance or adjusting required. It is a comfortable process that leaves the patient with all their dignity and self confidence.
During this treatment process, the wearer should keep the aligner in place for 22 hours. It is worn to bed and is so comfortable sleep is never disturbed. It is removed when eating and for brushing. While brushing the teeth a person can also clean the aligner with a special Invisalign cleaning kit or a brushing and rinsing. This is not only for hygienic reasons but to maintain its invisibility.
The invisalign system takes as long as conventional braces to achieve the desired straightening of the teeth. Generally 6 to 15 months. It can be used for overbite, cross bite, crooked teeth, spaced teeth and several other conditions. There are absolutely no restrictions or changes to the lifestyle of the patient in regards to physical activity, eating, drinking or speaking clearly. They can be removed for contact sports when a mouth guard is required and can be worn or removed for playing musical instruments.
Braces that are invisible have revolutionized cosmetic dentistry and the way teeth alignment can be corrected. No more uncomfortable wires causing irritation. No more metal grills to be embarrassed or self conscious about. (No reference to the decorative gold “grills” worn by rappers and some athletes.) No more difficulty in brushing in between every meal or snack. Invisalign, the leader in invisible teeth straightening, has made these annoyances a thing of the past. But are they really invisible? Over 1.3 million cosmetic dental patients have received the treatment worldwide. How many have you seen?