Invisalign Braces | Everything You Need To Know

Orthodontics has evolved according to the demands and needs of patients, and a large percentage of them are adults, so dental alignment treatments must be minimally invasive and at the same time effective in a short time.  That’s why dental technology created Invisalign.

Almost 6 million people have already had Invisalign so what is it? Invisalign is a custom-made aligner that is interchanged roughly every two weeks for a duration of six to eighteen months, or longer depending on the severity of misalignment. Similar to a mouth or dental retainer (which is designed to keep teeth from shifting out of place), an Invisalign® aligner is used for orthodontic treatment as a technique to move and properly align teeth for a beautiful smile. This clear aligner is usually computer generated from an impression of the patient’s teeth—taken by either a dentist or an orthodontist—and the fitting is unique to each patient only.

Invisalign vs Traditional Braces

Unlike conventional braces, Invisalign® is one of the most convenient methods to straighten teeth, requiring patients to make minor life changes to accommodate the orthodontic treatment. For instance, patients can take out the aligners when brushing, flossing, eating, or drinking—a significant advantage over cumbersome braces that not only complicate oral care, but also are especially prone to damage when eating hard or chewy foods (i.e. corn on the cob, crunchy taco shells, beef jerky, etc.). Because the mouth trays are transparent (nearly invisible), patients using Invisalign® aligners can straighten their teeth without embarrassing metal brackets and wires taking away from the natural look of their smile. The plastic aligners are also gentle on cheeks and gums—unlike braces, which contain sharp edges that can scrape or cut the inside of the mouth.

Find out more about Invisalign and conventional braces treatments at our dental clinic.

Limitations of Invisalign

While clear aligners can correct a large majority of dental problems, not all patients are suitable candidates for Invisalign®. One serious drawback of Invisalign® technology is that it currently cannot fix severe malocclusion or a badly aligned bite. According to the Dental Tribune, aligners are not always effective in moving and aligning tooth roots in the back of the mouth (molars), especially when gaps are present. Although Invisalign® aligners are suitable in cases where teeth need to be “tilted” into place, traditional braces are still considered ideal for moving molars with deep tooth roots. Another shortcoming of Invisalign® is also a benefit: removability. Unlike fixed braces, many patients take out their aligners frequently, increasing the risk of misplacing the plastic tray and delaying orthodontic progress.

Invisalign Treatment Procedure

  • It starts with a smile scan: There are no gross teeth moulds here. Your doctor quickly captures an accurate 3D image of your teeth using a special scanner.
  • Mapping the shifts ahead: Your doctor works with us to fine-tune every shift in every tooth using a special software — built on the power of data from 5 million smiles. Think of it as the road map to your new smile.
  • Previewing your smile: Seeing is believing. Your doctor can show your new smile before you even get started.

How Are Custom ِAligners Made?

  • Precise and personal: There are no gross teeth here. Your doctor quickly captures an accurate 3D image of your teeth using a special scanner.
  • Made from more: Your custom aligners are created with comfort in mind and engineered specifically for the Invisalign® system to ensure a great fit.
  • Trimmed for you: Everyone’s gumline is different, which is why each of your aligners is individually trimmed. The result is an aligner that looks better and feels better.
  • Checked for quality: When your smile is on the line, quality is everything. Each one of your unique clear aligners is examined to meet our high-quality standards.

Invisalign Treatment Types

Depending on the duration of treatment, complexity and objectives, one of the following types of Invisalign treatment may be indicated:

  • Invisalign i7: up to 3.5 months of treatment. Useful for gentle crowding, spaced teeth, orthodontic relapses, minor aesthetic improvements or partial treatment.
  • Invisalign Lite: up to 7 months of treatment. Useful in moderate crowding, dental alignments before restorations, aesthetic treatments, minor corrections, dental spacing.
  • Invisalign Full: generally, between 12 and 24 months of treatment. For complete orthodontic corrections with no time limit
  • Invisalign Teen: specific product for teenagers with no treatment time limit. It has specific characteristics for erupting teeth when baby teeth are still present.

Invisalign References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4478712/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28153154/

Invisalign Informative Videos

Invisalign For Adult

Invisalign For Teens:

Invisalign FAQ For Dentist