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Invisible aligners are a popular orthodontic treatment for teeth straightening. Their discreteness has made them a chosen and favoured option amongst people of all age groups.
Teeth aligners are a comfortable, removable, transparent and affordable treatment for misaligned teeth.
While people may think alignment is necessary only to get a perfect smile, aligned teeth address oral health issues such as difficulty in chewing and biting, breathing issues and speech problems.
Teeth aligners can do wonders for you if you follow your orthodontist’s advice.
What do you mean by Invisible Aligners?
Invisible aligners are known by many names such as clear aligners and transparent braces and are used to correct misaligned teeth and bites.
They are a removable and virtually invisible alternative to traditional braces and were designed to keep the patient’s convenience and flexibility in mind.
These clear plastic trays that are nearly invisible when worn offer unnoticeable teeth straightening which is a huge step up from traditional metal braces which were the standard teeth straightening procedure for over a century.
Invisible Aligners were introduced over two decades ago and are constantly evolving to offer improved capabilities.
The dental aligner trays are made of wearable plastic or BPA-free plastic; since every set of teeth has a different requirement in terms of the degree of misalignment to be corrected and the size, every patient’s trays vary.
Invisible aligners keep adjusting the position of the teeth in small increments. Every two to three weeks, the orthodontist provides a new set of invisible aligners, and this process goes on until perfect alignment is achieved.
How do Invisible Aligners work?
Invisible aligner treatment involves the following steps:
1. Consultation and Home Impressions
The patient starts the procedure with an initial assessment where the orthodontist evaluates the oral cavity.
During the preliminary teeth straightening consultation appointment, the dentist will take an accurate digital scan of your mouth.
The orthodontists then devise a custom treatment plan where they reveal the before and after 3D model of your smile transformation.
Every patient receives this smile digital preview before the transparent teeth braces are created.
New-age dental clinics don’t expect you to visit them and instead come home and do the digital scan for you.
2. Invisible Aligner Manufacturing
After the orthodontist takes your teeth impressions, they create your custom treatment plan using 3D technology.
Once you approve the plan, the invisible aligners are made and delivered to you.
3. Teeth straightening schedule
Invisible aligner treatment requires a little prudence from your end as well. You need to ensure that you wear them for 20-22 hours a day, remove them while eating, clean them every night and maintain impeccable oral hygiene.
You receive a new set of invisible aligners every one to three weeks as a single clear aligner is capable of moving the teeth by only 1 mm or less.
Based on the degree of misalignment treatment takes anywhere from three months to two years.
4. Retainers Post teeth straightening treatment
Every tooth straightening treatment requires you to wear retainers once the desired position has been achieved.
Retainers need to be worn every night to prevent malocclusion from recurring.
Are Invisible Aligners effective?
Invisible aligners are a very effective way, recommended by orthodontists, for teeth straightening. Clear aligners work as well as traditional braces and at times are much faster in showing results.
This is because clear aligners are all about precision and the right force being applied to the teeth. Perfect smiles come faster owing to constant force on your teeth.
However, you play a role in the degree and speed of effectiveness of the teeth straightening procedure. Adopt good practices like maintaining good oral health, flossing and brushing your teeth when you remove the aligners.
Wear them for 20-22 hours a day and do not eat or drink anything other than water while wearing them. Since invisible aligners are not permanently fixed like metal braces, a little responsibility needs to be taken by you to ensure effectiveness.
Do Invisible aligners really work to straighten teeth?
Yes, invisible aligners do work for teeth straightening and, in most cases, are faster than braces to give you the desired perfect smile.
You need to wear each set of invisible aligners for two weeks before switching to the next set of teeth aligners.
Each set will push your teeth closer to the anticipated alignment. The average treatment length with clear aligners is one year but varies on the severity of the case.
Minor issues may take as few as six months and severe misalignment issues can take up to two years.
Clear aligners can help cure the following teeth misalignment issues:
- Crowded teeth or a condition when your teeth overlap.
- Underbites a conditions where the lower front teeth overlap with the upper front teeth.
- Overbites or a condition where the upper front teeth overlap with the lower front teeth.
- Diastema is a condition when you have small or large gaps between the teeth.
- Open bites are a rare type of malocclusion when the front upper and lower teeth slant outward and do not touch each other when you shut your mouth.
Conclusion
The biggest advantage of invisible aligners over traditional metal braces is their discreetness and the convenience they offer.
The fact that they can be removed before eating and other activities, makes them a preferred option for professionals and teenagers who don't want awkward metal wires and brackets sticking out from their teeth.
Invisible Aligners are also less irritating and cause no abrasion or pain to the surrounding areas.
If you have any misalignment or are dissatisfied with your smile, head over to the nearest dental clinic and explore the option of inviable aligners – safe, easy, affordable and convenient!!
