Tags – What is Invisalign

Beautiful big smiles can have a huge impact on your life.

Generally, people with bright, straight, healthy teeth will radiate confidence and high self-esteem.

But, it also helps to improve how others perceive your personality and your attractiveness.

So, when a treatment like Invisalign can correct teeth misalignments and deliver a great smile, why wouldn’t you consider it?

As a brief overview, Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic option that has completely transformed the landscape of dentistry, which started in the mid 90s by a young student named Zia Chisti.

During college, Chisti was getting adult braces and experienced the many inconveniences that came with it.

Then, when he received his retainer at the end of the treatment, he wondered why patients were not able to straighten their teeth with a series of plastic retainers instead.

By 1997, Invisalign was born and has since exploded to become one of the most popular alternatives to traditional braces.

Let’s take a closer look at how Invisalign works, how it differs from traditional braces and who it is best suitable for.

 

How Does Invisalign Work?

Essentially, Invisalign is a treatment that straightens teeth without using metal braces.

It uses a series of custom-made clear tray aligners, which are developed from computer-generated images and impressions taken from your mouth in order to change the position of your teeth.

Unlike traditional braces that use fixed wires to “pull” your teeth, Invisalign places pressure on the teeth to move them into the desired position using different molds to reach your end goal: a fabulous, straight smile!

Typically, the patient will wear an aligner for one week before moving on to the next, and during this period the teeth will move about ¼ of a millimeter.

Although Invisalign aligners can be removed, they are designed to be worn for 22 hours a day, so they should be worn day and night and only removed when brushing your teeth or eating certain foods during meal times.

In regards to treatment time, each individual is different and will vary based on their age and specific needs, but on average will last between 12-18 months.

 

The Difference Between Invisalign and Braces

Even though both Invisalign and traditional braces are intended to improve the alignment of your teeth, Invisalign arguably meets the needs of modern lifestyles.

For instance, most people do not necessarily like the appearance of metal wires and elastic bands that traditional braces have.

Positively, Invisalign aligners are made from clear, BPA-free plastic, they’re virtually invisible to other people.

Plus, unlike braces that are stuck to the teeth, Invisalign aligners can be removed from the mouth whenever necessary (although it’s recommended to wear these for at least 20 hours a day).

Another major difference is the treatment length; patients usually wear Invisalign aligners between 12 – 18 months whereas traditional braces have an average treatment time of two years.

 

Who Is Invisalign Suitable For?

The great thing about Invisalign is that it is suitable for anyone wanting to improve their smile and align their teeth.

In particular, more and more adults are choosing cosmetic dentistry to better their appearance and feel more confident; Invisalign is ideal for those who want a more flexible alignment procedure and want to achieve their goal without using a highly visible, metal brace.

Adults aside, Invisalign can help to correct misalignments in teenagers’ teeth too and avoid any anxiety and self-consciousness that often comes with braces.

In terms of problems, here are a few common ones that Invisalign can treat:

  • Crowding: teeth that overlap
  • Spacing: teeth that are widely spaced
  • Overbite: when the front teeth overlap the bottom teeth
  • Underbite: when the bottom teeth overlap the top teeth
  • Open bite: teeth that don’t bite together

 

The Takeaway

Today, Invisalign is one of the world’s most popular orthodontic treatments available.

For the simple fact that it offers patients an uncomplicated, comfortable and convenient option that will not show in photos, or disrupt things like eating.

One thing’s for sure, once you finish this treatment you’ll want to keep on smiling!

 

For more information, please get in touch today.

In the meantime, check our Invisalign Leicester services here and book your free consultation.