Invisalign Braces: How Do They Work?
1,2,3..Smile! The perfect photo needs a smile from the heart and a pinch of confidence. Unfortunately, many factors can lead to misalignment of the teeth, and they affect your confidence in your smile.
However, there are many solutions in dentistry now that can help you take back your beautiful smile in the most discreet way. Wile Invisalign is the market leader there are now an array of other options such as Byte aligners and Smile Direct Club that save money by letting you take your own impressions and having remote follow-up appointments.
What Is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic technique that appeared in the 1990s in California. Invisalign uses transparent trays to correct the positions of the teeth by gradually moving them.
The doctor takes a print of the patient’s malocclusion (dentition that needs correction) to make a series of transparent shells. The dentist changes these trays at regular intervals until reaching the final position of the teeth.
How Does Invisalign Work?
- After the dentist takes a print of your teeth, he will give you between 6 and 8 trays that you will have to change every week.
- Each new tray is slightly different from the previous one, this difference causes pressure to move the tooth to its right place.
- You must wear the braces at least 20 hours a day, which means that you can remove them when you eat or brush your teeth.
Adults can take off their braces in special events like important meetings at work.
- After seven days, the teeth move to the desired place. The Invisalign aligner is then “passive” and no longer moves your teeth. Then you have to use the next tray, which will be different and thus resume the tooth movement.
Following the instructions of your dentist is crucial during your Invisalign treatment. Because if you have not worn your aligners long enough, you will move on to the next ones without getting the result of the previous tray. That could cause more discomfort.
You can easily feel it when the aligners are “loose”, as you will not feel the same pressure on your teeth.
The orthodontist makes Invisalign trays with such precision for the teeth to move at the ideal speed, allowing for fast and painless treatment.
The speed of tooth movement will be the same throughout the treatment. That is one of the most outstanding differences between traditional braces and Invisalign.
It is essential not to move your teeth too quickly. The movement must respect the gums and bones.
- Sometimes, the dentist has to use “clips” or “cleats” to help the aligners move your teeth.
In the laboratory, they make these cleats of resin. This means that their color matches the color of your teeth so that they remain as discreet as possible.
The resin is the same substance that your dentist uses when you have cavities and need teeth fillings. Once you finish the treatment and remove the cleats, they do not leave any traces on your teeth.
Thanks to the camera impression system, you will be able to visualize from the first appointment the results that you will get with an Invisalign treatment or with regular braces.
Will this work for me?
Invisalign has been around for over twenty years, and millions of people around the world have used this product.
When it first appeared, Invisalign was only for simple cases. But the product has evolved enormously since its inception, and it is now possible to treat many orthodontic problems with Invisalign.
So, yes! Invisalign works for everyone with a high percentage of success.
Many factors will then come into play, including the expertise of your orthodontist.
How long till I see the results?
Basically, it takes a year to show off your aligned beautiful smile. However, you should notice the difference after the first month of treatment (usually 6 weeks)
How To Clean And Take Care Of Your Invisalign Aligners?
Even though you change your Invisalign trays weekly, that does not mean you should not take care of them.
During your first appointment to get the aligners, the dentist will give you an Invisalign kit with all the necessary equipment to take care of your device.
Among these pieces of equipment is the Invisalign box, where you can store the trays when you are not wearing them.
- A little tip! If you ever mix your aligners and do not know which one to use, it is possible to differentiate them.
Towards the back of the aligner, you can see numbers and letters.
You will see either the letter “L” or “U” followed by a number, U for “Upper” and L for “Lower”, and the number corresponds with your tray number. Impossible for you now to go wrong!
It is important throughout the treatment to keep your Invisalign aligners clean.
Here are some tips that will help you:
- First of all, it is better that you do not eat with your aligners on. The food can slip under the appliance, and cleaning up is more complicated afterward.
- Drink only water when wearing your shells, and avoid staining drinks like coffee or tea. If you are into snacking and sipping coffee all day, maybe it’s time to change your routine.
- Avoid sugary drinks with your aligners on, as the sugar will get stuck on the surface of your teeth.
- Clean your trays with a toothbrush and toothpaste or liquid soap.
- It is important to brush your teeth after each meal because otherwise you will put your aligners back on dirty teeth and promote the appearance of cavities.
- Be careful not to run your shells under too hot water, it could deform them.
Having teeth in such bad posture causes many health problems, including the easy formation of cavities and gum disease, which is why it would be wise to reap the benefits of Invisalign treatment right away.
Having a beautiful smile and well-aligned teeth is very important for everyone. In addition to improving the health of your teeth, and your comfort when eating, you are also improving your self-confidence.
The aesthetic side of orthodontic treatment also has psychological importance that should not be overlooked, quite the contrary. The dental appliances developed by Invisalign for adults have been specially designed to help you regain a radiant smile thanks to discreet, comfortable, and effective appliances.
