Does Invisalign Work Better and Faster than Regular Braces?

Invisalign is a modern orthodontic treatment for teeth straightening. It was introduced in the late 90's and is constantly being developed. Unlike traditional braces, it does not involve wires, elastics or even brackets. Invisalign braces include series of transparent, custom fit, aligners built from BPA free plastic. Those aligners are removable, but must be worn throughout most of the day to achieve the desired results. 

Invisalign aligners are created specifically for you. Prior to making the aligners, a virtual 3D model of your entire teeth will be created. Using computerized visualizations your orthodontist will be able to show you how your teeth are expected to move during the treatment and what will the end result look like. 

Invisalign offers a special program for teens. Like with all Invisalign treatments, not everyone will match the criteria for it. For young patients, there are even more limitations since you need to have no baby teeth when starting the treatment. 

The teen treatment itself is not much different than the adult Invisalign treatment. The main difference is that the aligners are built in a way that takes into consideration the future eruption of adult teeth. More aligners can be replaced during the treatment due to their loss or breakage.  Blue dots on the teen aligners allow monitoring a number of overall hours the aligners were worn.

Invisalign express is one of the treatment plans offered by Invisalign. It only works for simple cases. It is fast, takes up to 10 sets of aligners and, therefore, is usually cheaper than other plans.  People who had braces before, and had their teeth shifted a little since then, are great candidates for this  treatment option. 

Although metal braces with colored bands might be considered a fashion trend at some places, not everyone finds them aesthetically pleasing. For those that are looking for the least noticeable teeth straightening solution, Invisalign might be the perfect answer. 

Invisalign is a clear mold that perfectly fits your teeth; it does not have those butterflies, gems and characters from Disney. This product has a minimalist style that ergonomically fits your mouth. It works well to hide the fact that you are straightening your teeth. Thanks to this new technology, you do not have to worry about advertising to the entire world that you are going through teeth straightening.

With Invisalign, you will still need to visit your dentist every 6 to 8 weeks. The appointments are however very different from the adjustment appointments for traditional braces. With regular braces, your wires and brackets are adjusted on the appointments. That takes time, causes lots of discomforts and often even pain. With Invisalign the appointments are short. No adjustments are needed. Your  doctor will examine your teeth and check how the straightening process is progressing. On each appointment you will get few sets of the next aligners you will have to wear.

Traditional braces with wires and brackets cannot be removed and, therefore, it makes it hard to clean them. Flossing becomes a problem and your toothbrush may not reach in between the teeth properly. Moreover, food particles tend to get stuck in between the wire braces. This ultimately leads to poor oral hygiene.

Poor oral hygiene causes tooth decay. In addition, people that wear metal braces are more susceptible to demineralization. This leads to periodontal diseases and damage to your teeth in the long run.

Invisalign makes it easy to clean your teeth because they can be removed *. You can also clean the trays and easily maintain proper oral health.

Traditional braces are made of wires and brackets which can irritate and tear tissues in your cheeks and lips. Not only can this be uncomfortable but it is painful as well. The manner in which traditional braces work to straighten the teeth can also be very painful. They apply pressure to the teeth so as to gradually shift them. Invisalign, on the other hand, uses a number of trays which do not apply as much pressure as the traditional braces. They are also made of a soft plastic material that does not harm the tissues in your mouth.

If you don't want to damage your braces when wearing the traditional ones you need to give up certain foods for several years. That is true for all the chewy ones like caramel, gummy bears, and sticky snack bars. Popcorn and biting on hard veggies like carrots is also not a good idea. When wearing ceramic braces, all the stain causing foods ( like  tomatoes, coffee, blueberries, red wine, curry and more) also have to be added to the list of foods to avoid. With Invisalign, you have no food restrictions. And although you need to manage your meals, you can still enjoy all of the treats you like. 

Since computer demonstrations are part of the treatment from the very beginning, the patients know what to expect at each stage. You can ask your orthodontist to show you how your teeth are expected to look like in 2 weeks, 2 months, a year and so on.  Before the treatment starts, your orthodontist can also provide you with information about how many aligners you will need, what attachments (if any) will the treatment require and if enamel reduction is necessary. 

Invisalign offers a modern and aesthetically pleasing teeth straightening solution, however, it is not for everyone. There are certain cases of misaligned teeth that Invisalign will work great for and there are others that will require traditional braces to achieve results.

Make sure to confirm with your orthodontist (or even get a second opinion) that this treatment can actually work for you before committing to it. Invisalign has its limitations. It is  important you examine the visualization of the expected final results and make sure that this actually is what you are looking for.

For the treatment to be successful one has to wear the aligners for at least 20 hours a day. Sometimes it might be tricky to manage all your daily meals in the remaining time. 

Only specialists that go through Invisalign training are able to offer these teeth straightening option to their clients. Many of your local dental providers might not be specialized in Invisalign. It is best to use the search tool on Invisalign official website to find professionals based on their level of expertise. 

Talking the way you are used to might be a bit difficult with Invisalign trays at the beginning of the treatment. It takes getting used to. However, most people treated with Invisalign say that speech impartment wasn't significant. 

The teen option is now available, however, many of the young patients who require teeth straightening will still be unable to treat their case with Invisalign at this stage. 

Plastic aligners on their own are not always capable of making the teeth move in the right direction. That is where the Invisalign attachments come into a game. Not everyone needs them, but there are plenty of cases when those are required.

Understanding what are those attachments and the fact that those might be bonded to your teeth at some point of the treatment is important. For many patients treated with Invisalign, this one is an unpleasant and often shocking surprise.

The attachments are bonded to the teeth just like traditional brackets would be. The attachments are usually made of tooth-colored material but may be noticeable. Those attachments may cause irritation to the soft tissues of your mouth.  Buttons are one of the possible Invisalign attachments you may get during treatment. The buttons are used as hooks for elastic bands. The bands pass between the teeth and are very difficult to hide.

Once the virtual model of your mouth is created, your orthodontist may be able to tell you whether or not you will need Invisalign attachments during the treatment. The simulation tools also allow you to know right away when those attachments will be needed and how long will you need to wear them. 

The best and also the easiest way to clean the trays * is using water and a soft toothbrush.  Just brush the aligners from both inside and outside and then rinse them with water.

More sophisticated ways to clean the aligners would involve cleaning crystals * or ultrasonic cleaners *. 

Make sure you don't use any unsuggested cleaning products as those can cause discoloring and scratches on your aligners. 

Invisalign is probably the best teeth straightening option for those who have veneers on their teeth and are interested in keeping them undamaged.  

If the veneers are in a good shape and are properly bonded to the teeth, there is no risk that Invisalign treatment will damage them or affect their life span.

However, if  your treatment will require attachments, there is a possibility that veneers can be affected since those are bonded to the teeth, just like traditional brackets. You can examine the treatment plan with your Invisalign provider prior to starting it. You can check if attachments are part of your treatment and whether or not you will be required to place them on the teeth with veneers on them. 

Teeth with crowns can be moved during treatment. Just like for teeth with veneers there is a very little chance of damaging the crowns during with Invisalign. 

Invisalign with Implants

Invisalign can work for teeth with implants if the treatment plan will not require those teeth to move. The position of the implant is a major factor. Once again, it is best to be examined by a professional to check if the treatment can work for your individual case. 

Teeth with bridges will be difficult to treat since those involve several teeth "joined" together. You will need to get a thorough professional examination to determine if your specific situation will enable you to be treated with Invisalign. 

Some people are concerned that  Invisalign  braces can  increase the risk of having cavities. It is mostly an issue of maintaining good oral hygiene. With Invisalign, it is actually way easier to maintain it than with standard braces.

It is important to not drink or eat anything besides water while the trays are on the teeth. Brushing and flossing your teeth before each time you put the aligners on is also crucial. Those with Invisalign braces, that not follow the oral hygiene guidelines, are at high risk of tooth decay.

Invisalign braces by themselves have nothing to do with weight loss. However some lifestyle changes you will adapt as a result of wearing Invisalign aligners will often contribute to weight loss. 

Since you need to wear your Invisalign aligners at least 20 hours a day you need to manage your "Invisalign breaks" wisely. That means consider what you eat when you eat it and how long does it take you.

To avoid staining and tooth decay, it is not recommended to eat or drink anything besides water while you are wearing the aligners. Since it is also important to thoroughly clean your teeth before wearing the aligners again, for most people that mean no snacking during the day.  

Although Invisalign system is easy for the patient to put on,  your orthodontist's experience is a key factor in the success of your treatment. 

You can locate an orthodontist that specializes in Invisalign using an online search on the Invisalign official website.  This search tool allows you to find orthodontists that work with Invisalign and sort them by geographical location, their overall experience, their experience treating teenagers and the 3D scanning equipment in their office. 

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