Treating poorly aligned teeth is a perfect way to restore your beautiful smile and get your self-confidence back. The use of braces to correct teeth alignment issues dates back to several centuries ago. For a long time, people had to endure unsightly metal braces that made it all too obvious that they had orthodontic issues. This discouraged many people to get help to correct their teeth misalignment because it would have further tanked their confidence. Clear invisalign aligners were introduced only recently. Since 1997, Invisible aligners have become a popular choice among people looking to correct orthodontic issues such as misalignment, crowding, gap, bite issues, and so on.
Invisalign aligners are undoubtedly the most popular and preferred form of orthodontic treatment for both teenagers and adults. So far Invisalign has been used to treat more than 12 million patients. The following are some of the reasons why Invisalign has become popular over the years.
Nearly Invisible
Itās in the name already! Clear aligners are designed to be invisible. People with metal braces often get self-conscious. The fact they have braces on is always obvious whenever they open their mouth to speak or smile. With Invisalign, you donāt have to worry about this. Theyāre made from translucent trays which show the teeth underneath the tray. Unless someone gets close and inspects your mouth directly, they might not even know you have braces on. This means you can talk, smile, and laugh freely in public without worrying about how your braces look. Now when you flash a smile at your friends, instead of seeing wires and brackets, theyāll see the clear aligners which are practically translucent and almost invisible.
Convenient & Removable
Invisalign aligners serve the same purpose as regular braces-shifting teeth into their proper position. However, unlike braces that are fixed permanently by a dentist and can only be removed by one, Invisalign can be removed by anyone. This makes it a more convenient approach for straightening your teeth.
Being able to remove your braces when you need to is particularly beneficial. With metal braces, you will be unable to eat certain food because the food particles can get trapped under the brackets and wires. Metal braces also make it more difficult to clean your entire teeth because they prevent the bristles of the brush from getting to some areas. With Invisalign, you can remove the aligners when you need to eat, clean your teeth or engage in rigorous physical activity. You may also remove Invisalign from your mouth if you find it uncomfortable.
Of course, you still need to wear your clear aligners regularly to get the best results. Dentists recommend wearing clear aligners for at least 22 hours per day to get the best result. So while you can remove your aligners before clearing your teeth or before eating, make sure you pop them right back in when youāre done.
Effective & Fast
Invisalign aligners do a perfect job of straightening crooked teeth. They can also be used for treating other orthodontic issues as well such as crooked teeth, overbite, underbite, teeth gap, overcrowding, and so on.Ā When you visit your dentist to get Invisalign, theyāll examine your teeth to see if a clear aligner will work well for your situation. Then theyāll take impressions and digital images of your teeth which are used to prepare multiple versions of custom trays that gradually adjust your teeth over some time.
These aligners work great to improve both the aesthetics and functionality of your teeth.Ā Also, Invisalign is typically faster than traditional braces. Unlike braces that align a part of your teeth at a time,Ā Invisalign slowly aligns all your teeth at the same time. Every 2 weeks or thereabout, youāll need to swap the old tray for a new one to continue the alignment process. The entire process takes between 12 to 18 months. Although the exact time varies from patient to patient, this method still works faster than traditional braces.
Fewer Dentist Visits
With any form of orthodontist treatment, you will still have to visit a dentist once in a while. However, if you get traditional braces, your orthodontist will schedule a more frequent meeting (typically every 3-4 weeks). With Invisalign, your visit can be scheduled on a 6-8 weeks basis. Also, the purpose of your visit is typically different.
With clear aligners, the purpose of the visit is simply to track your progress and ensure the aligners are working. With metal braces, the purpose of your visit is usually to adjust the braces. This means youāll spend time during every visit and probably leave with a sore mouth each time.
You Can Eat Anything You Want
Traditional braces often come with a long list of dos and donāts. Until your braces are off, thereās a limit to the types of food you can consume. Some foods can get stuck under your metal brackets and lead to a wide range of issues. Itās difficult to eat whole foods like apples when you have braces on. Youāll have to cut them into smaller pieces. Foods like corn chips and popcorn are also off-limits for you. This is not the case with Invisalign. You can eat pretty much anything as long as you remove your aligners from your mouth before you eat. Doctors still recommend avoiding or limiting sugary drinks that can cause food decay and drinks that can discolor your teeth.
Less Pain And Few Complications
Some people are allergic to metal braces. For such people, the only way to get orthodontic treatment is by going for clear aligners since theyāre made from plastic materials. Even for people without allergies, Braces can still irritate the gums, tissues of the tongue, and inner cheeks. Thatās not to mention the soreness youāll feel when you get the braces done and each time you visit the dentistās office for a readjustment.
With Invisalign, you donāt have to worry about all these. While you may feel a little pressure on your teeth and a bit of discomfort each time you switch to a new tray, it is often mild and without complications. People who get metal braces are also more likely to schedule emergency dentist visits due to loose braces, poking and other similar factors compared to people who get invisible aligners.Ā Given all of these benefits, itās easy to see why Invisalign has become a popular method of aligning crooked and misaligned teeth among patients of all ages. To learn more about this method of treatment and determine if it would be a perfect fit for you, visit our dental clinic in London Ontario to speak to a professional. Our orthodontist experts will check out your teeth and offer you the best recommendations for optimal results.
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