Everything You Should Know About Invisalign® Treatment

Orthodontics is a significant specialty in dentistry. It covers everything to do with the realignment of mispositioned teeth in the mouth, on either arc. Orthodontics is a common treatment for children and teenagers. However, even adults benefit from the treatment. Since it involves gradually moving the position of teeth, a dental apparatus has to be used to institute the shift.

What Is Invisalign?

It is a dental apparatus used as an alternative to traditional braces. It features a tray of tooth-shaped clear prosthetics. The clear aligners are used to gradually push teeth to move toward the correct position.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign® treatment serves the same role as traditional braces. However, there are differences in how these clear aligners work. They use controlled pressure consistently applied on teeth to institute a shift. Technically, the first tray of aligners will be molded according to the impressions of your teeth. These will cause a small shift of teeth. After a couple of weeks, however, your dentist will give you a different set of aligners. These new ones will have a tighter fit, with adjustments that will continue to move the target teeth in the desired location.

For the treatment to be successful, an orthodontist creates a treatment plan that is unique to your needs. The treatment plan will determine how often you visit the dental facility for a new tray of aligners.

Given how the clear aligners work, it is necessary to time how long you wear them. Dental experts recommend up to 22hours of wear time. This time is necessary to ensure the teeth have ample time to move, and that the bones supporting the teeth keep regenerating. The more disciplined you are in wearing them, the more successful your treatment will be.

Invisalign vs. Braces: Which Is Better?

Comparing traditional braces to Invisalign treatment is a big juggle. The two work differently to achieve similar results. Ideally, they are both advantageous in different lights. Clear aligners are more preferred by adults because of their color. They are invisible, which makes the treatment period convenient for adults who want to keep it anonymous. However. Traditional braces are better for correcting complex cases of malpositioned teeth.

When Do You Need Invisalign?

If you have an orthodontic concern, then you are more or less likely to have Invisalign treatment as an alternative for your dental condition. Some of the situations that can be handled using Invisalign are:

• Crooked teeth
• Small gaps between teeth
• Mildly crowded mouth

Caring for Your Invisalign

How to clean your clear aligners should be part of your concern once you are in for the treatment. The idea is to keep them clear like you first got them. Some of the things you should do to care for your invisible aligners include the following:

• Rinse them – when you remove them, the saliva will dry on the aligners if you do not rinse them. Besides, plaque may build-up on them, allowing the formation of harmful bacteria in your aligners.
• Soak them – Invisalign cleaning crystals are best for retaining sanitized clear teeth aligners. Ask your orthodontist about the types of sanitizing liquids you can use to soak your aligners.
• Brush and floss your teeth – the clear aligners are attached directly to your teeth. This means that if you do not keep your teeth clean, even your invisible aligners will not be clean. Ensure you brush your teeth every time you eat something. While you can use a soft toothbrush to brush your clear aligners, avoid using toothpaste. The toothpaste can be abrasive for your aligners, particularly those with whitening gels.

Will You Need A Retainer After Invisalign Treatment?

The orthodontic treatment process is one that requires a lot of patience, not to mention, discipline. After your Invisalign clear braces have shifted your teeth to the desired positions, you must sustain the new results. This is why you have to wear retainers afterward.

The retainers help retain the tension resulting from the Invisalign treatment. They hold the teeth in their new position. You have to wear retainers every night after the treatment. The other bit of after-treatment care is that you have to wear the retainers for the rest of your life.