subject: What Is Invisalign, And How Does It Work [print this page] You've undoubtedly at least heard of Invisalign, or seen brochures and pamphlets about it in your dentist's office. But what is it exactly, and is it something you should look into?
At its most basic, Invisalign is a set of clear, removable teeth aligners that dentists and orthodontists use as an alternative to metal braces. The most obvious advantage to these types of aligners is that they are transparent and thus largely invisible, a distinct change from traditional wire and metal braces. This cosmetic advantage makes these aligners particularly popular among adults who are interested in straightening their teeth. The aligners are marketed as being more comfortable than braces, and they are traditionally meant to be taken out before eating, thus lessening the chance of food and debris getting stuck in one's braces.
Invisalign aligners also avoid some of the problems of traditional braces, such as the fact that orthodontic treatment will cause the roots of teeth to shorten and will increase the chances of tooth decay, due to the fact that traditional braces are not removed for eating and cleaning. To compensate for the fact that metal braces are adjusted approximately every 6 weeks so as to apply greater force, new sets of aligners are used every couple of weeks that take into account the changes in a patient's teeth.
Part of the Invisalign protocol also involves computerized treatment, which includes a plan that allows the patient to review the projected smile, compare different plans, learn how long the treatment will take, and so on. And while some Invisalign practitioners claim that this type of treatment is quicker than traditional braces, the jury is still out on this, and so for those thinking about this kind of treatment, this should not be a primary consideration.
Invisalign may not be for everyone, of course. Because the aligners are removable, their success is largely dependent on the patient and their consistency in wearing the aligners. They should be worn for 20-22 hours a day, removed only for eating, drinking (something other than water), or brushing one's teeth; anything less will interfere with their efficacy. The system can also be more expensive than traditional braces, and caring for them can seem tedious to some. While their removal before eating is an advantage in that the user can eat whatever he or she wants, the aligners should then be cleaned before being reinserted, and teeth brushed as well. Removing the aligners before eating also ups the chances that they could be lost.
Other problems such as potential allergic or toxic sensitivity reactions to the materials used in Invisalign are rare, as are the complications that can arise in patients who grind or clench their teeth, thus possibly damaging the aligners.
The bottom line is that anyone interested in Invisalign should carefully weigh the pros and cons as noted above, and determine whether he or she has the type of personality that can make this type of treatment work.
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