Interesting Facts About Invisalign That You Should Know

July 1, 2020

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment for straightening crooked or misaligned teeth. It is also referred to as ‘Invisible braces’ since they remain discreet once worn. It is a set of transparent aligners that are worn over your natural teeth to help gradually shift them into the desired position.

Relies on Controlled Pressure to Align Teeth

The procedure for Invisalign in Encinitas, CA is quite simple. A dentist takes the mold of your teeth and then creates a series of transparent aligners that are to be worn every day for at least 22 hours. The aligners are made to be snug so that they can apply pressure on the teeth and slowly shift them to place. They need to be replaced every 2 weeks and every new aligner is intended to exert a certain amount of pressure on the teeth to achieve straighter teeth.

While the pressure is meant to be effective, it remains gentle. Patients only report feeling slight discomfort when wearing a new set of aligners but adjust to it within a couple of days. Each new set of Invisalign aligners moves your teeth by about one-third of a millimeter this makes it 50% faster when compared to traditional metal braces.

The Treatment is Unique for Everyone

Invisalign treatment is usually customized to meet the needs of each patient. As part of the consultation process, your dentist in Encinitas will need to take a digital impression of your teeth which will be used in the design of your aligners. The impression also acts as the reference point, giving guidance on the adjustments that need to be made to make your teeth straighter.

Not Everyone Is a Good Candidate

Invisalign may not always be the best-misaligned teeth treatment. You need to be evaluated by a dentist to determine if you qualify for it. While it may be effective in fixing issues like gaps, tilted teeth, crooked teeth, overcrowding, and mild bite problems, it is not effective for patients with severe bite problems. You will need to see an orthodontist in Encinitas to get alternative or complementary treatment.

Diligence is Key for Successful Invisalign Treatment

there is no magic behind Invisalign. You need to be committed to the treatment plan if you want to see good results. As earlier mentioned, you need to be wearing the aligners at all times, except when you are eating or drinking. You also need to keep all your dental appointments to the aligners changed. Failing to do all these will slow your progress, making the treatment take longer than expected. And even after finishing the treatment, you will still be required to wear a set of retainers which will ensure that the shifted teeth stay in place.

Costs More Compared to Traditional Braces

When you compare Invisalign vs braces, they are more costly and require extra effort. They are however a worthwhile investment, especially if you are highly bothered by the negative aesthetics associated with traditional braces. The technology used in Invisalign is quite advanced which ensures more accuracy. Patients can also get a visual of what to expect which is made possible by the use of software that can track the expected shift of your teeth. Besides their aesthetic appeal of being unnoticeable, taking care of Invisalign is also easy compared to traditional braces. You do not have to constantly worry about food being stuck in your metal frames and the aligners are taken off before meals.

They Will Affect How You Speak

Patients that wear Invisalign aligners often have a lisp when they speak. This is nothing to worry about since it only happens with the aligners on. Nonetheless, once you are accustomed to wearing the aligners the speech problems will fade away. You should, therefore, be prepared for this slight drawback when committing to the treatment.

If you have any more concerns or questions concerning Invisalign, you are welcome to Sinclair Smiles. We are committed to making your journey to a straighter smile a pleasant one by using advanced technology and the skills of our qualified and friendly team.

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