Invisalign

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a type of Invisible braces that are manufactured by the Align Technology Company and was first introduced in the market in 2000. This is one of the first innovative products in the field of teeth straightening after a long time where they adopted the concept of invisible braces to straighten teeth.

Types of Invisalign

The different types of Invisalign Braces are:

• Full Invisalign:

Is the common treatment option that is also preferred for complicated issues of teeth alignment. The full treatment normally takes around 12-18 months.

• Lite Invisalign:

Is usually recommended for minor or moderate cases that need a shorter treatment time, usually for cosmetic reasons. This type uses 7 sets of trays and the treatment takes around 3 – 7 months, depending on the requirements.

• Express Invisalign:

Is a faster and cheaper option of Invisalign that usually provides a mild correction. The treatment involves two lengths: one makes use of 5 aligners and takes around 3 months, while the other uses up to 10 aligners and a time of around 6 months.

• Teen Invisalign:

Is specially designed for teenagers to help them in the teeth straightening process. The teenager’s teeth are still in the development stage, making this the right time to fix the teeth alignment issues.

The Invisalign Clear aligners are custom-made for the patient so that they fit the teeth snugly. They are nearly invisible and less noticeable.

The aligner fitted onto the teeth shifts the teeth slightly and moves them horizontally and vertically and if needed, can also rotate them. These aligners are designed to use the exact amount of pressure at the right place and at the right time.

The aligners have to be replaced on a regular basis, normally in a week or so. This allows the teeth to gradually move into position following the plan set out by the dentist.

Advantages of Invisalign

The different advantages of using Invisalign are:

• It can be used regardless of the complexity of the cases and are recommended from simple to even complex cases.
• The tooth movements can be controlled or predicted properly using the Invisalign proprietary SmartTrack material.
• They are nearly invisible making it least noticeable.
• The patient can remove it anytime they want especially when eating, brushing and flossing.
• The risk of getting injured from the Invisalign braces is minimal due to absence of wires and brackets.
• There is nearly no pain while using Invisalign due to absence of sharp components.
• The patient can see the effect of the treatment at regular intervals.
• This will help create self-esteem to the patient and provide a better smile to prove it.

Invisalign Treatment Procedure

The dentist will conduct an initial consultation with the patient to discuss the procedure and how Invisalign is suitable for the patient.

The dentist will then scan the patient’s teeth to get quick and precise 3D digital images of the teeth. In some cases, the doctors might take physical impressions of the teeth. The dentist will then chalk out a treatment plan, which will also include the patient’s teeth’s exact movements and the duration of the treatment.

The dentist will then make custom aligners for the teeth of both the upper and lower jaws using Invisalign proprietary SmartTrack material. This is nearly invisible and usually not noticed by others. The doctors might recommend the patient to wear the Invisalign braces for nearly the whole day for achieving the best results and taking them out only to brush and floss. The Invisalign aligners on the teeth will gently push the teeth and gradually position them in their desire place.

The dentist will recommend a new set of aligners on a regular basis and might schedule appointments to change the aligners.

Invisalign : Maintenance and Care

The dentist would recommend the following for maintaining and caring of the Invisalign:

• The aligners must be cleaned regularly using the Invisalign cleaning kit or by simply brushing and rinsing them after using lukewarm water.
• Patient can remove the aligners while eating, brushing and flossing.
• For sportspeople, these aligners can be used while playing. In case of using mouthguards, its best suggested to remove the aligners before using the mouthguard.

Authored By Dr Sanjay N - Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopaedics, Bangalore