Invisalign Has Got Braces Beat – Hands Down

Thanks to breakthroughs over the last century, we’ve gotten better and better at manipulating the teeth in the mouth in order to improve the smiles of our population. And that’s very important to people, that they have a presentable smile; our culture puts an almost absurd amount of importance on the smile, and it’s something that we use everyday, in almost every situation. We use a smile to convey all sorts of emotions in every relationship that we have, whether it’s professional or personal, using it to, as the title of the classic book suggests, ‘win friends and influence people’.

Of late, we mostly use one method of treatment in order to fix malocclusions of the teeth (malocclusion, by the by, is a scientific term for ‘crooked teeth’, mostly used by people who have spent years in schools to learn about dentistry), meaning braces. Braces have only been around for about fifty years, or slightly less, but they’ve quickly become the ‘go to’ method of treating teeth. However, in the last decade and a half, we’ve seen the growth of a new method of aligning the teeth, one greatly improved over its more known predecessor. I’m talking about Invisalign, invisible braces.

Invisalign has improved over its predecessor (and has improved the lives of cosmetic dentists with experience) in a number of ways, but what follows is a brief discussion of the three major advantages it has over the more standard metal braces in common use.

1. Discretion

One of the main drawbacks to the older braces, standard metal braces, is shown in their very name. ‘Metal’ braces. In general, metal is not, nor has it ever been, discreet; it’s bright and shiny, catches the light easily, glints with the slightest provocation, this list could go on and on. This makes it a poor choice for people who are trying to fix some cosmetic problem with their teeth that they may be more or less embarrassed by. People, in general, don’t like to draw a lot of attention to what they perceive to be the issues with their own body, and because of this, some people don’t get the corrective cosmetic dental work that they may want or need.
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Thankfully, Invisalign offers an answer. It isn’t made of metal at all, in any way, in any portion. Rather, the whole system is made of a hard plastic that is also somewhat flexible. The most important point, however, is that, unlike its metal cousin, Invisalign aligners are absolutely invisible to the naked eye. Your friends could be seated across from you at a dinner table and not notice that they’re in. And speaking of dinner…

2. Ease and comfort of use

One of the worst things, for most people, about standard metal braces is their propensity for getting things caught in them. It almost seems like a result of the design (which is sensible, because it is, in a way), but anything you eat will, in some way, end up stuck in the braces that you’re wearing. To compound the situation and make matters even worse, having braces mounted on your teeth makes it far more difficult for you to brush and floss them, meaning there’s a chance that you won’t be able to get to all those hard to reach nooks and crannies, leaving you in need of more quality dental care, in the vein of a filling for a cavity or something similar. Not a desirable outcome at all.

On the other hand, this isn’t a worry for your Invisalign aligners, which you can, and are suggested to, remove during meal times and for brushing and flossing of your teeth. This makes it a lot easier to make sure that, as you’re straightening your teeth, you’re not damaging them by making them harder to clean and more likely to trap various debris from your meal.

3. Cost

A big worry for everyone these days is cost, and that’s understandable. Luckily, Invisalign is very affordable, being only slightly more than their competition, standard braces. It’s important to note that your prices will vary, as prices vary by locality, but, in general, Invisalign costs somewhere around five hundred dollars more than standard metal braces. That’s a steal for something that is such a step up in discretion and comfort and ease of use!

So, if you’re in the market for a treatment to straighten out your teeth and make your smile a little bit more perfect, consider Invisalign aligners. Be sure to ask your local experienced dentist if they’re the right choice for you and your particular malocclusion!

The Low Down

You no longer have to straighten your teeth the old-fashioned way, with metal braces. The Invisalign Teen™ system lets you do it the modern, hygienic way. Your new smile is created with the most innovative technology – a series of clear aligners that are custom-fit to your teeth.

The first thing you should know is that an average treatment takes about a year. Plus your treatment can begin even if you don’t have all of your permanent teeth. Invisalign Teen was designed to meet your needs.

The Aligners

snap on your teeth easily.
are comfortable and practically invisible.
allow for your growing permanent teeth.
gently and continuously move your teeth in small increments.
are worn for about two weeks. Then you swap them for a new pair.
have a Blue Dot Wear Indicator, designed to show an estimation of wear-time. The dot is designed to fade to clear over a two-week period if you wear (20 to 22 hours everyday) your aligners properly.
can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing, or going to a special event.
are replaceable if lost. That’s right, you get up to six free individual aligners.

How Treatment Works

Here’s a quick look at the main steps of your treatment:

You’ll meet with a designated Invisalign Teen provider for a consultation and find out:
is it for you?
Your provider will take pictures and impressions of your teeth.
Those pictures and impressions are digitized. Then, your provider can use the 3D renderings to precisely plan your tooth movements from the beginning to the end of your treatment, in order to fix your orthodontic issue(s).
Based on the precise treatment plan, aligners will be made to custom-fit your teeth. The number of aligners changes for each person.
You’ll wear your aligners about 20 to 22 hours everyday, except to eat, brush, and floss, or go to a special event.
Approximately every two weeks, you’ll swap your old aligners for new ones. The aligners will gently and continuously move your teeth until they are in their final prescribed position, all without the usual hassle of metal braces

Invisalign Teen Fact Pack

1 Based on initial Invisalign Teen treatment plans prescribed by doctor at two weeks of wear per aligner stage. The actual length of treatment depends on the complexity of your case and can only be determined by your doctor; however, most Invisalign Teen cases are expected to take about one year.
2 Get up to six individual arch replacement-aligners, at no cost.

More information here

Invisalign Braces are also used by Dentist for Treatment

Invisalign is used by both orthodontists as well as dentists as a substitute for traditional dental braces which were made of metal. It is a product of Santa Clara-based medical-device Company Align Technology. It consists of series of transparent and removable teeth aligners. It provides a complete treatment plan (including initial position as well as final position of the teeth), as it works using 3-D Computer Imaging System.

It helps users to get their teeth straightened without anyone noticing it, and thus is considered to be safe and effective alternative. These aligners of Invisalign are customized as per customer’s requirement. The best part is these aligners are removable which gives its users the freedom of eating and drinking as per their choice. During treatment also patients can brush their teeth normally which makes it the best option for teeth and gums, as compared to traditional dental braces which were made of metal wires. The aligners of Invisalign help with crowded teeth as well as with teeth structure in which there are lot amount of spaces. It helps with a crossbite, an overbite and even with an underbite. Invisalign has gifted its users a healthy and beautiful smile.

Advantages
The Invisalign is more in demand among adults who get an option to get their teeth straightened without getting noticed, as the aligners are completely transparent. They are more comfortable than traditional metallic dental braces, as they give the option of eating and drinking as per your own choice without caring of the side effects. One can remove the appliance while eating, so there is no restriction on any food. It is also safe for gums and supporting tissues, as aligners do not exert extra pressure. Even before undergoing treatment, one can see how his or her teeth structure will look once treatment is over. Normally Invisalign treatment is considered to be quicker as compared to treatment of traditional metallic braces. A survey done on various patients has shown that while traditional treatment takes 35.92 months, Invisalign treatment takes time around 12-18 months. The best part is the aligners of Invisalign can be customized as per the user’s requirement. Even when someone is undergoing treatment, one can brush his teeth in a normal manner so there is no hygiene issue. Invisalign is suitable for every type of teeth structure, including crowded teeth as well as wide-spaced teeth.

Disadvantages:
It is often said when freedom is given, people often start misusing it. The same story sometimes repeats in this case as well. People sometimes start taking it out very frequently. So its successful treatment is actually realized when patients co-operate and are committed to wearing it at least 20-22 hours in a day, and removing it only when it is really required. Moreover, Invisalign does not require a cephalometric radiograph. In terms of cost, it is expensive as compared to traditional metallic braces as well as bracket systems. It has to be ensured by the users that are cleaning the Invisalign as well as their teeth before reinserting it. There are certain teeth that do not allow Invisalign to rotate. For example there are certain premolars that have a round shape, and it becomes difficult for aligners to apply rotational force. In certain cases, there can be allergic and toxic sensitivity reactions such as sore throat, cough and nausea to Invisalign, as the aligners are made of implantable-grade polyurethane. In case the patients fail to keep aligners for the required duration, the nest aligner in the series is likely to be unfit, which will again require a new set of aligners, and thus once again becoming a costly venture.

Scientific Studies
Scientific studies, as well as surveys, have shown that Invisalign meets it objectives. The patients were seen after using two sets of aligners, and the success rate was almost 94%. In the USA, Akhlaghi and colleagues concluded that traditional braces were more effective as compared to Invisalign when it came to the treatment of complex teeth structure. Even in larger studies, Dieu and other colleagues supported Akhlaghi and colleagues, as they concluded that Invisalign was not fit in the treatment of large anteroposterior discrepancies and occlusal contacts. They even talked about strengths saying that Invisalign helps to close spaces, and correct anterior rotations as well as anterior rotations and marginal ridge heights. It treats 4 months earlier as compared to traditional braces. As compared to traditional braces, Invisalign treatment is considered to be more effective for Marginal Ridges, Bucco-lingual Inclination, Occlusal Contacts and Overjet.

Pricing:
Normally Invisalign treatment price is more than traditional metallic dental braces. The treatment price is normally set by the dentist. The doctor fee is dependent on the complexity and length of treatment. In the US Region, treatment range in price from $3, 000 to $9, 000 and it depends on geographic location. In Europe, the treatment price varies from €3,000 to €7,800, and the cost is totally dependent on case complexity. In Australia, the price ranges from $5000 to $9000.

Treatment:
The treatment begins by taking dental impressions, x-rays and then photographs of the patient’s teeth. These are sent to Align Technology. CT Scan is done of these impressions and then the computer creates a three-dimensional model. The information which is collected is sent to Costa Rica which is then analyzed by non-dentist as well as non-orthodontist laypersons who individualize the teeth in the Computer Model after which they move it to the final position as the orthodontist prescribes. Then there is Custom software that analyzed the movement of teeth in different stages, and the orthodontist reviews it using Align Technology ClinCheck, after which he finally approves or makes changes in the treatment. Once everything is finalized, a plastic resin aligner is manufactured for every computer stimulated stage and is sent to the orthodontist. Then attachments are made which a patient can expect even up to fourteen in number. Then these Aligners are tooth-colored and are made of a glass-like substance. Elastic wear is also used to move the teeth forward and backward in respect to the jaw’s position, and this helps in anterior and posterior corrections. Sometimes Reproximation is also done for a better fit. Normally Average Treatment takes a time period of one year. However minor cases might take a timeline of twenty weeks. One should wear aligners at least 20-22 hours per day. Once Regular aligners and braces treatment is over, retainers composed of similar plastic material is required to be worn at night time.

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