Invisalign And How The Treatment Works
The alignment of your teeth can impact more than your appearance. Crooked teeth can make it difficult to maintain proper dental hygiene, speak clearly, or even chew your food effectively.
When teeth are too closely set or crowded, you may be unable to insert floss into the interdental spaces. Additionally, common alignment issues, such as overbites, underbites, or buck teeth, can make it harder to pronounce words properly. In some instances, spacing and bite patterns may not allow the teeth of the upper and lower palates to meet correctly for the effective grinding or tearing of food.
Nonetheless, if you suffer from misaligned teeth, you are not necessarily bound to live with the misalignment forever. There are multiple orthodontic treatments, such as Invisalign, that may be able to correct the positioning of your teeth.
Here is a bit of information about Invisalign and how it works.
How Does Invisalign Work?
Invisalign uses sets of clear, plastic trays to reposition the teeth. Each tray is made of hard plastic and is designed from an impression of your mouth.
The patient wears each set of trays for a few weeks before progressing to the next set in the alignment series. The trays place repositioning pressure on the teeth. Once the last set of trays has been worn for the designated period, the teeth should be in proper alignment. Nevertheless, after the treatment with the trays is complete, a retainer may be needed to help keep the teeth in their new positions.
Is the Treatment Quick?
Treatment with aligning trays is often quicker than treatment with traditional braces and may be completed in less than a year. Due to the design of the trays, the treatment does not have to overcome the frictional force of elastic ligatures that connect brackets to archwires. Instead, the treatment fits over the teeth like a rigid, custom mouthguard. There are no counter-acting forces from additional components of the treatment.
Can Everyone Use Invisalign?
Invisalign works best for people with minor to moderate misalignments. Additionally, the palates of the patients should have already reached their final size. Thus, other orthodontic options may be more suitable for small children, whose jawbones are still growing. Also, since Invisalign should be left out of the mouth for no more than two hours daily, the wearer must be committed to adhering to the treatment plan in order to receive optimal results.
Are the Aligners Noticeable?
Invisalign trays are difficult to see in the mouth due to their transparency and custom fit. They are rarely noticed without close inspection.
Contact your dentist for more information about options like Invisalign.
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