Metal braces were excellent dental appliances to correct several dental problems. However, with the recent advances in orthodontics metal braces have been successfully replaced by more aesthetic clear aligners, such as Invisalign.
Invisalign Bayside services provide a personalized treatment program that can help you achieve a more balanced and symmetrical smile.
Introduction to Invisalign
Invisalign aligners are clear, custom-made removable oral appliances that snugly fit over your teeth. These aim to correct several dental problems that negatively impact your oral form, function, and aesthetics.
Currently, Invisalign aligners are made up of a thermoplastic called SmartTrack. These are extremely safe for all people, including pregnant women and those with allergies. This is attributed to the fact that these aligners do not contain harmful substances like gluten, BPS, or latex.
You are expected to wear these aligners for 20 to 22 hours daily, only removing them to eat, brush, and floss.
Dental problems treated by Invisalign
Invisalign are versatile dental appliances that are used to treat alignments problems like:
- Crowded teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Overlapping teeth
- Gaps in between teeth (diastema)
- Misaligned jaw
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Crossbite
The process of getting Invisalign
Your dentist will evaluate your dental records, and your expectations from the treatment, and conduct an oral exam. Your teeth and jaw alignment will be assessed through digital X-rays.
A special intraoral camera will be used to scan your mouth and upload the images to a computer design program. This program can successfully map the movement of your jaw and teeth which helps the dentist to design a customized treatment plan for you.
The treatment plan and the digital scan images will be sent to an Invisalign lab to fabricate a series of custom-made clear, plastic aligners.
Invisalign aftercare
You are expected to visit your dentist every 3 weeks to help monitor the progress and provide a new set of Invisalign aligners. These aligners exert specific pressure on your teeth and jaws, slowly improving their position.
It is essential to clean your aligners by rinsing them in cool tap water whenever you take them out to eat. You will be advised to brush your aligners with a soft-bristled brush every day before you go to bed.
Treatment with Invisalign usually takes around 12 months. But this may take longer depending on your goals and how severe your alignment problem is.
Takeaway
Invisalign aligners are excellent alternatives to metal braces with aesthetic benefits in addition to correction of alignment problems. These are supposed to be used for 20 to 22 hours per day, and the treatment may take as long as 12 months. With proper care and maintenance, they can reposition your teeth to their original alignment effectively.