The Invisalign braces process involves the creation of clear molds that act as aligners to straighten your teeth. These Invisalign molds are made after your orthodontist records impressions of your teeth and send them to an Invisalign lab. Using digital technology the lab makes the clear liners or retainers in about 2 weeks and ships them back to your orthodontist for you to try on.
The Invisalign aligners are clear and are barely visible to others compared to metal orthodontic Braces with brackets and wires. With the guidance of your orthodontist, you move to the next set of Invisalign aligners usually after about 3 weeks. The number of Invisalign aligners will depend on the individual patient and the orthodontic problem. The Invisalign aligners are generally fairly comfortable. There can be some discomfort or mild Pain when a new Invisalign aligner is placed as it exerts pressure on the teeth to move them. Unlike traditional metal orthodontic Braces, there are no brackets to come off or wires to break and poke.
The Invisalign system is a complete aesthetic improvement compared to traditional metal braces. Your first set of Invisalign aligners should be worn for about 3 weeks and then you’ll move on to the next set. The total number of aligners that you’ll wear during your full Invisalign process will depend on the severity of your specific dental case. There is some discomfort but this is the case with all dental braces systems.
Invisalign braces are primarily for adults and not for children who are expecting their adult teeth to grow in. Also, not all patients are Invisalign candidates. Meet with a couple or multiple Invisalign orthodontists to find out if you’re a good candidate. It will depend upon the movements that are necessary to solve your dental issues.
It is important to stress that the Invisalign aligners must be work as consistently as possible. Since they are removable, patients are tempted to take them off and keep them off frequently. Also, since the aligners can be removed, it’s possible that they can be lost or damaged. Consider these factors when choosing between this system and more traditional systems for dental braces.
Smiling with Confidence using Invisalign Braces
If you have less than a perfect set of front teeth that makes smiling an embarrassment of sorts, it’s good to know that there are orthodontic or dental treatment options that you can count on to correct the condition. Whether it’s buckteeth, crooked teeth or misaligned teeth, dental braces have proven their worth in correcting any misalignment, protrusion or unwanted angling.
One of the options that have grown in popularity is the use of Invisalign, a brand of clear and removable teeth aligner pioneered by Align Technology, Inc. a medical device supplier based in Santa Clara, California.
It has manufactured about 32 million of these teeth aligners with more than 730,000 patients using it as of April 2008, since coming to market in the late 90s receiving full FDA approval in 1998 as a Class II medical device.
More About Invisalign Braces
Invisalign braces are ideal in treating mild teeth misalignment and crookedness. The product is made of implantable polyurethane which is clear hard plastic and has been computer prefabricated by Align technology giving the dentist only limited adjustments to control the correction of your teeth.
Advantages of Invisalign Braces
The obvious advantage of using Invisalign braces is its cosmetic value. The aligners are entirely transparent, making them less detectable than traditional bracket and wire braces. This strengthens their appeal among patients who look to correct their teeth misalignment without the strained look of metal braces when smiling.
Since they are removable, eating can become more comfortable without the discomforts during food consumption with metal braces. Clinically, Invisalign braces lessen the risk of gum problems that often result with metal braces over time including tooth decay.
This is said to occur in about 50% of traditional brace users because cleaning is impaired as metal braces cannot be removed when eating or brushing the teeth.
Disadvantages of Invisalign Braces
The fact that Invisalign braces can be removed means that correction can be disrupted at will based on the patient’s habits, hence lessening their efficacy. Using Invisalign to any degree of success hinges on self-discipline to wear them for no less than 20–22 hours each day, removing them only during eating or brushing.
Apart from being a more expensive option, should the patient fail to wear braces in the prescribed length of time, the next brace in the series won’t fit and a new set will be needed, incrementing the cost. And since they can be removed, there’s the daily risk they could get lost if not kept in the recommended containers.
Remember they’re made of clear hard plastic which makes them difficult to locate once lost until you step on one, by which time they’d be useless.
Cost of Invisalign Braces
It’s expensive, alright, costing anywhere from $3,000 to $9,000 depending on the dentist and your location. The choice of Invisalign braces is often more expensive than regular metal braces and the price is determined by the orthodontist based on the severity of the correction required and the length of the treatment. You need to check your dental insurance policy as some don’t cover the cost of cosmetic orthodontic care while those that do may impose a cap.