In the last two decades, over 5 million people have received Invisalign treatment, making this revolutionary procedure a household word.
Teeth straightening goes back thousands of years to the time of ancient Egyptians. Back then, metal bands were used to straighten crooked teeth. Invisalign, therefore, is the final result of a continuous evolution of Orthodontics.
But what exactly is Invisalign? How can the Invisalign process look like? More importantly, who can benefit from Invisalign procedures?
These are just some of the issues we discuss in today’s post. Keep reading to learn more.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign refers to an orthodontic procedure that straightens teeth without using wires. Instead, the patient receives clear, smooth plastic trays that are custom-molded to snap into place over their teeth.
What makes this service so appealing to many people is that the aligners are comfortable and invisible, unlike traditional braces. Every two weeks, the patient exchanges their aligners for a new sweet that gradually straightens their teeth to the right position.
Invisalign first came to the scene in 1997. And while this procedure has only been around for 23 years, it’s wildly popular around the world. Each year, hundreds of thousands of people receive the treatment in the US and elsewhere.
What to Know About the Invisalign Process
If you’ve been considering the process of Invisalign for yourself or a loved one, it’s likely that you’d like to learn as much about the treatment as possible. There’s a lot of information regarding Invisalign out there, some of which isn’t true. In this section, we highlight several facts about this procedure.
1. Invisalign Trays Are Invisible
We already pointed out that the aligners used in the Invisalign process are not visible. This fact is what draws most people to the treatment. You don’t need to spend months wearing clunky wires and brackets.
With Invisalign, your self-esteem remains intact throughout the treatment. This is a huge plus, especially for students and workers.
2. The Procedure Is Personalized
Every person’s treatment needs are unique, as you probably already know. The great thing with Invisalign is that the procedure is highly individualized.
One aspect of Invisalign is that it applies 3D technology when designing aligners. This way, the aligners will always fit perfectly. In the course of the treatment, you get new aligners to make sure that your teeth are aligned to the right position gently.
3. You’ll Still Need to Brush and Floss Regularly
After getting your aligners, you’ll still need to maintain good oral hygiene. That means you must brush and floss your teeth regularly. If you have problems keeping up with dental hygiene, chances are you’ll have problems with Invisalign.
Of course, you won’t be wearing aligners when eating your meals. However, food particles will still get stuck in your teeth. Unless you brush your teeth after eating, these particles can get transferred to your Invisalign trays, creating the perfect environment for bacteria growth.
4. Trays Require Regular Maintenance
Minding your oral hygiene isn’t enough to keep your aligners in great shape. You’ll need to take care of the aligners, which means regularly soaking them in an Invisalign cleaning solution. Your dentist should be able to recommend the best cleaning solution for you.
Be wary of drinking coffee and other beverages when wearing your dental trays as these drinks can stain your aligners.
5. Expect Some Discomfort
Aligners may be super comfortable compared to traditional braces, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t experience some discomfort in the beginning. You may have some slight difficulty speaking.
Fortunately, the level of discomfort subsides with time. After a few weeks, your life should get back to normal. You’ll be happy to know that besides the minor discomfort you experience in the beginning, Invisalign aligners dot cause irritation.
6. Aligners Need to Be Worn Throughout the Day
For Invisalign to produce the best results, you need to keep your aligners on for at least 20 hours every day. That means that if you aren’t eating, brushing, or flossing, your Invisalign aligners should stay on.
Unless you’re ready to commit to wearing your aligners all day, it’s best to consider an alternative way of straightening your teeth.
7. You’ll Need Some Practice to Learn How to Remove Aligners Properly
You already know that you’ll be removing your Invisalign trays several times a day. The good news is that Invisalign trays are relatively easy to remove.
However, it’ll take some practice to do so effortlessly. After the first few tries, however, things should become considerably easier.
8. You Shouldn’t Skip Your Dentist Appointments
Like most other orthodontic procedures, Invisalign treatment calls for regular checkups from your dentist. During your appointments with your dentists, they’ll check whether the Invisalign process is producing the right results and recommend any appropriate changes. The dentist may need to change your aligners to make sure that your teeth get aligned correctly.
9. The Treatment May More Than Traditional Braces
Invisalign treatment generally costs slightly higher than conventional teeth straightening approaches. That’s because you’re going to need several sets of aligners throughout the process. The fees for the process will also be slightly higher since a portion of what you pay goes directly to Invisalign’s manufacturer.
Given the impressive results of Invisalign, however, the treatment is worth every penny.
10. Invisalign Does Not Work for Everyone
The Invisalign process is meant for people with crowded teeth, misaligned teeth, or malocclusion. However, the treatment will not work for patients with more complicated dental issues, such as gaps between teeth or missing teeth.
Such issues generally need more advanced solutions that may take more time. Your dentist should be able to advise you on what procedure will work best for you.
Experience the Amazing Results of Invisalign
The Invisalign process can produce incredible results for those who need it. Now that you know enough about this treatment, it’s time to consider whether it’s the ideal approach for your dental problems.
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