All you Need to Know About Invisalign Aligners
Do you wish to get rid of your crooked and misaligned teeth, but without wearing the unaesthetic and uncomfortable metal braces? Thanks to modern dentistry, now you get perfectly aligned teeth without the need for fixed braces; Say Hello to the Invisalign Clear Aligners.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic system that straightens your teeth by using a series of removable aligners. Your dentist will use specialized software to design a series of numbered aligners which will gradually align your teeth. Unlike the conspicuous metal braces, the Invisalign aligners are made from a transparent material, making them virtually invisible whenever you smile or speak.
What Conditions can be Fixed with Invisalign Aligners?
Invisalign aligners are suitable for fixing a variety of mild to moderate orthodontic problems. These include:
- Tooth Crowding – this is a condition in which there is insufficient space in the jaws to accommodate all teeth in optimal alignment. As a result, the teeth appear crowded. Invisalign aligners can be used to treat mild to moderate crowding problems.
- Unevenly Spaced Teeth – Invisalign aligners are also suitable for fixing unevenly spaced teeth.
- Overbite – this is a condition in which the upper jaw excessively overlaps the lower jaw.
- Crossbite – this is a condition where the upper jaw has deviated from its optimal position. As a result, the upper teeth do not come in contact with the lowers ones at their designated places. This not only affects facial aesthetics but also creates difficulty in eating and speaking.
- Underbite – an underbite is a condition where the upper jaw protrudes excessively forward in relation to the upper jaw, making the lower face more prominent.
What is the Process of Getting Invisalign Aligners?
Getting your teeth fixed with Invisalign aligners is easy and straightforward. Here’s what you can expect during the process:
- Initial Consultation – During your first visit, your orthodontist / dentist will perform a detailed examination of your teeth and evaluate your health status. He or she will also look at different x-ray images of and models of your teeth, to ascertain whether you are a suitable candidate for Invisalign.
- Treatment Planning and Designing your Aligners – in the next step, your orthodontist / dentist will prepare a customised treatment plan for you. Your dentist will first take digital impressions of your teeth which will be used with special software to design a series of numbered aligners. Once your aligners have been designed, your dentists will show you a simulation of how your aligners will move your teeth into optimal occlusion and alignment – so that there are no surprises when your treatment is completed.
- Fabricating your Aligners – at the dental laboratory, the digital design will be used to manufacture your aligners using the 3D printing technology. Unlike the other prostheses that are manually prepared by the laboratory staff, the Invisalign aligners are digitally fabricated, thereby minimising the room for errors and size mismatch. That’s it! Your brand aligners are ready for use.
How Invisalign Treatment Works?
- Wearing your First Set of Aligners – In the next appointment, your dentist will try your first set of aligners to assess their fit. At this stage, your dentist will also teach you how to wear and remove your aligners, and how to look after them.
- Getting Used to your Invisalign Aligners – For best results, you should wear each set of aligners for at least 22 hours each day. Your Invisalign aligners are designed in a way that they exert pressure on your teeth to move them in the right direction. Initially, you may feel slight inconvenience and discomfort while wearing the aligners. However, you will soon get used to your new aligners, and the pain will go away.
- Wearing your Numbered Aligners – After two weeks, you should switch to the next set of numbered aligners. In this way, subsequent aligners will continue to align your teeth, bringing you one step closer to your dream smile. During your treatment, you will be asked to visit your orthodontist / dentist for an assessment after every four to six weeks.
Once your dentist feels that the desired results have been achieved, he or she will give a removable or retainer to consolidate your treatment. The purpose of wearing the retainers is to prevent your teeth from moving back to their previous position. Your dentist may ask you to come for follow-up visits to ensure that your new smile lasts for a lifetime.
What are the Benefits of Invisalign Aligners?
The Invisalign orthodontic system offers several advantages over the conventional metal braces:
- Aesthetics – the Invisalign aligners are made from a transparent material; they won’t affect your smile and facial aesthetics as they are barely visible when you speak or smile.
- Comfort – metal braces are notorious for injuring the gums and cheeks. Besides, they are also quite uncomfortable. The Invisalign aligners, on the other hand, are comfortable to use and cause minimal discomfort.
- Eat Whatever you Like – with braces, it is virtually impossible to eat hard or sticky foods without dislodging them Since the Invisalign aligners are removable, you can easily take them off whenever you want to eat anything. So, there is no food restriction – you can enjoy all your favourite foods.
- Improved Oral Hygiene Maintenance – the Invisalign aligners allow you to maintain optimal oral health. Unlike braces, you can easily remove your Invisalign aligners to brush your teeth and floss.
- Speak with Confidence – another common problem associated with the conventional metal braces is the difficulty to speak and pronounce words. This is because the braces create an interference in the movement of the tongue – which is necessary for us to pronounce words. The Invisalign aligners are very thin; they won’t cause any problems during speech, allowing you to regain your self-confidence.
The Invisalign aligners offer a convenient, comfortable and aesthetically pleasant option for fixing crooked and misaligned teeth. If you have been avoiding orthodontic treatment just because you detest the metal braces, now you can get a beautiful smile inconspicuously with the Invisalign transparent orthodontic system.
