If you have a misaligned bite but don’t want the look or discomfort of traditional metal braces, Invisalign® might be a solution. This option gets its name because it is an aligner and because it is made of transparent plastic. This makes it all but invisible to a casual observer.
How It Works
Invisalign® works the same way as regular braces by putting a constant, gentle pressure on the patient’s teeth until they come into alignment. However, plastic trays are used instead of wires and brackets, and the trays are changed on a schedule as the teeth start to straighten. The trays are custom made from an impression that the orthodontist takes of your teeth and may feel tight at first. You may also feel that the trays affect the way you speak. Yet as the trays are changed the time it takes to adjust to them gets less and less.
Invisalign® takes about as long to straighten the teeth as braces, which is between six months and three years spending on how much the teeth need to be straightened. Adults who wore braces as children may not need to wear them as long as people whose teeth are very much out of alignment.
What are the Benefits?
The big draw of Invisalign® is that the trays can be taken out by the patient when they want to eat or perform dental hygiene. This means they can brush and floss their teeth normally. People who wear traditional braces must take exceptional care when it comes to their oral hygiene, and some orthodontists actually give their patients special brushes to get into the spaces between the wires. People who wear Invisalign® can also eat foods that would otherwise get stuck in traditional braces. Because of this, users don’t have to visit their orthodontist as often as people who wear braces.
Who is a Candidate?
First, a candidate must commit to wearing them 23 hours a day for at least a few months. This might disqualify young children from being fitted with the aligners. They’re also for people whose alignment problems are not extreme and for people who have access to an orthodontist who knows how to treat a patient who wears Invisalign®. Not every orthodontist does.
Other Things to Know
Some patients wear their Invisalign® trays without attachments, but others have to be fitted with attachment buttons for rubber bands. The trays need to be cleaned whenever you take them out and must not be cleaned with toothpaste because toothpaste can stain them. Your orthodontist will give you special crystals to clean your Invisalign® tray or let you clean them with denture cleaners. They shouldn’t be left in the air or soaked in hot water when you’re not wearing them but should be put in their special case.
Learn More by Reaching Out to Us
If your teeth need straightening but you don’t want to wear braces, consider Invisalign®. For more information, feel free to get in touch and make an appointment with Central Texas Orthodontics. At our convenient location in Austin, TX, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to explain this option to you in full and answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!
