Many adults with misaligned teeth are turning to Invisalign or other types of clear, removable teeth aligners to fix their bite and have a more cosmetic smile. Invisalign is a series of clear plastic molds that fit over the teeth; they gently push the teeth into proper alignment and, for many people, are a great alternative for wearing traditional metal braces.

Advantages of Using Invisalign

There are many advantages for treating crooked teeth with Invisalign; the molds are transparent and can be easily removed before eating, and they also interfere less with the lips and mouth when speaking. In some studies, clear teeth aligners were able to correct alignment must faster than standard metal braces.

How to Get Invisalign Braces

To begin treatment with Invisalign, one must first seek the services of an orthodontist that has been certified to use this relatively new technology. Once an appointment has been made, the orthodontist will take records – usually a collection of photographs, x-rays and molds of the patients teeth – and decide if the person is suitable for Invisalign treatment. Certain types of misalignment cannot be treated by Invisalign, and the health of the gums must be suitably high for treatment to even be considered. Assuming everything checks out fine, a mold of the patients teeth will be sent to Invisalign’s lab and a series of clear plastic teeth aligners will be sent back to the orthodontist.

Potential Issues With Invisalign Braces

Success of realigning a patient’s teeth with Invisalign is not guaranteed. Because the aligners are removable, some patients will invariably be tempted to remove their aligners more often than what is recommended. The less time that a patient wears their aligners, the most potential there is for the teeth to regress to their previous position and a whole series of aligners can become useless as a result. Furthermore, some people have very strong roots and the plastic molds will not always be able to shift their teeth over the set of planned molds.

Additional Info on Invisible Braces

Despite the potential difficulties of treating misaligned teeth with Invisalign, many wearer report that they are more comfortable and less obtrusive to wear than fixed metal braces. Additionally, removable aligners make cleaning the teeth and the appliances themselves much easier.

During treatment, patients may have certain teeth filed down or completely removed to aide the realignment process. Treatment with Invisalign typically takes a year, and a retainer is often worn for a year or two afterwards.

Invisalign costs around the same price as traditional braces. Those interested in this form of treatment should ask their dentist for advice on seeking a reputable orthodontist in their area.