When it comes to getting your teeth straightened, modern dental and orthodontic technology offers several different choices – so many, in fact, that it can be challenging to choose the best one for you. One increasingly common method involves clear plastic aligners, and among the providers of these appliances, one of the most popular is Invisalign®. If you’re considering this treatment method, you’ve come to the right place! We’ve collected the following information to help you decide whether or not you’re a good candidate for Invisalign®.
How It Works
Invisalign® patients wear clear plastic aligners that gradually straighten their teeth over a several-month period. The aligners are made of a durable, clear plastic material and are custom made for each individual. Patients can remove their trays to brush and floss and eat meals, but they must wear them at least 22 hours each day in order for the method to work. Usually, patients wear the same set of aligners for two to three weeks, at which time they need to return to their dentist or orthodontist for a new set of trays.
Who Is a Good Invisalign® Candidate?
Invisalign® is often an excellent choice for adults and teenagers with mild to moderately crooked teeth. Problems such as a minimal amount of crowding and/or spaces in between teeth are two issues that can usually be corrected with clear plastic aligners. On the other hand, people with severe problems – such as protruding teeth or extreme overbites or underbites – usually need to wear traditional metal braces in order to resolve their issues. Invisalign® can also be used for patients who have undergone traditional orthodontic treatment years before, but whose teeth have shifted back to being crooked once again.
Advantages of Invisalign®
There are many reasons why Invisalign® has become so popular among dental and orthodontic patients. Here are some of the advantages of this treatment method:
- Aligner trays are more comfortable than metal braces.
- Aligner trays are removable, allowing the patient to eat whatever foods they like and to practice more thorough oral hygiene than is possible with some other treatment methods.
- Just as the name implies, Invisalign® aligners are virtually invisible, so no one will ever have to know that you’re wearing an orthodontic appliance.
- Most patients will experience fewer trips back to the dentist and orthodontist, and when they do have to return for a new set of aligners, the visits are quite short.
To find out more about Invisalign®, and to determine whether or not this is the right treatment method for you, schedule a visit with your dentist or orthodontist today.
