Nowadays, people can choose between braces and clear aligners when it comes to their orthodontic treatment. Over the past two decades, using clear aligners to realign or straighten your teeth has gained popularity. Invisalign, released in the market by Align Technology in 1998, is arguably the oldest and most well-known. With Invisalign®, you can straighten your teeth much more efficiently, comfortably, and discreetly than traditional braces.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign aligners are an alternative treatment option to conventional braces that are meant to be worn for a few weeks or months. Clear, plastic aligners by the name of Invisalign fit over the teeth like retainers to straighten them over a certain amount of time. These transparent aligners are constructed from flexible plastic, precisely a unique thermoplastic substance known as SmartTrack® that was explicitly developed for Invisalign® treatment. Your dentist will create new aligners for you as your teeth shift to maintain their steady advancement into the correct position. It’s a procedure free of all the disadvantages associated with metal braces. It usually results in a straighter smile quicker than traditional metal braces because it moves all your teeth simultaneously rather than just one at a time.
What Are The Common Conditions Where Invisalign® Works?
Invisalign can treat everything from simple to complex cases. The following are the conditions that Invisalign® can fix.
- Overbite: When your upper front teeth and lower front teeth overlap
- Underbite: When your lower front teeth are ahead of your top front teeth
- Crossbite: When your upper teeth partially occlude, your lower teeth
- Gaps Between Your Teeth: When there is too much space between your teeth.
- Open Bite: When your upper and lower teeth do not meet
- Crowded Teeth: Teeth that are crowded may bunch up, overlap, twist, or be forced to the front or back of your jaw when they don’t fit usually.
- Generally straighter teeth: When your smile needs minor adjustments.
Make an appointment with our Littleton cosmetic dentist to determine if you qualify for Invisalign®.
What Are The Dental Issues Where It Does Not Work?
Invisalign is not a good treatment choice in the following situations:
- Patients who need extractions, especially those with complicated malocclusions. Results obtained in these situations are less precise than those obtained with conventional metal braces.
- Patients with gum disease or tooth decay: Oral hygiene can be challenging when wearing braces or clear aligners like Invisalign. If a patient needs to have a cavity filled in the middle of their treatment, it may affect how well the aligners fit and the outcome of their treatment.
- Those suffering from temporomandibular joint issues (TMD): TMJ issues have been related to Invisalign. In rare cases, using Invisalign might worsen jaw pain or lead to TMJ issues for the patient.
How Does Invisalign® Work?
- A consultation with your cosmetic dentist who has received Invisalign training before the start of treatment is essential. During this time, the dentist will assess your smile and create a personalized digital treatment plan that outlines the gradual improvement of your smile.
- Your cosmetic dentist will take x-rays of your jaw and a digital scan of your teeth.
- To produce your customized Invisalign trays out of clear plastic, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth.
- In addition to your aligners, your Invisalign dentist may decide to utilize custom, tooth-colored buttons or attachments to assist in moving your teeth.
- Throughout your course of treatment, you will wear the aligners every day and night (typically for approximately six to 18 months). It could take a few days to become accustomed to wearing your Invisalign aligners in your mouth. Before your tongue adapts to the trays, you might speak with a slight lisp. Additionally, you’ll probably feel some pressure, which indicates that the aligners are effective.
- To ensure the aligners are comfortable, your Littleton cosmetic dentist could call you for a checkup.
- As your teeth move, you will visit our dental office in Cedar Park every two to four weeks (or as your dentist instructs) to have a new set manufactured.
- You might need more aligners or a modification at the end of your treatment to help achieve the perfect occlusion and smile.
- To stop your teeth from slipping back following treatment, your dentist could advise wearing a retainer.
How Effective Is Invisalign?
Invisalign has been used by more than nine million people, including more than 1.4 million teenagers. With the help of technological advancements made by Invisalign, the brand’s aligners can fit virtually all teeth and correct almost all alignment and bite problems without significantly interfering with your life. You should wear your Invisalign aligner trays for 20 to 22 hours every day for the course of your treatment for the best results. Although this treatment may be effective, braces or other methods that more firmly move the teeth may be preferable. Some people might gain from beginning their therapy with conventional braces for a limited time before switching to Invisalign aligners.
We hope this blog has provided all the information on Invisalign®. Contact us if you are looking for the best Invisalign treatment in Cedar Park, TX.
