Invisalign Clear Braces

Invisalign Clear Braces

Let’s face it, everyone would like perfectly aligned teeth and a confident, beautiful smile. Thanks to innovations in dentistry, you no longer have to resort to traditional metal braces to achieve this look. Invisalign is a modern, non-invasive and convenient solution to a number of orthodontic problems including crooked, overcrowded, or gapped teeth. Clear plastic aligners sit comfortably over your teeth, guiding them gently into their new position. At the end of your course of treatment, you won’t be able to wait to show off your new smile.

However, Invisalign doesn’t suit everyone and to help you decide if it is the right choice for you, Today’s Family Dental has put together this page detailing the benefits and risks of Invisalign treatment. If you have questions, please call your Lutz Dentist, Dr. Alex Afsahi at (813) 751-3133.

BENEFITS

The most popular benefit of Invisalign is that it is a very discreet way of realigning your teeth. Unlike traditional braces which fill your mouth with metal and wires, Invisalign’s clear, plastic aligners are virtually invisible, meaning that you won’t feel embarrassed when you talk, eat or smile.

Invisalign aligners must be removed for eating and drinking, but this means that you can enjoy all of your favourite food and drink as normal. There are no sticky, chewy, or tough foods off-limits. Just discreetly remove the aligner ahead of your meal, pop it into your container and tuck in! The fact that there are no brackets, metal, bands, or wires means that there is nowhere for food to get trapped – a serious problem for patients with traditional braces. This gives you the added benefit of people being able to clean and floss your teeth thoroughly, stop plaque from forming and prevent tooth decay. It also means that your teeth will be evenly clean and you will not be at risk of the white spots that are often visible on the teeth of patients who have had traditional braces. These white spots show where the brace has been attached, which is noticeably cleaner and brighter than the rest of the teeth which have been difficult to clean.

Invisalign aligners also require minimal maintenance. Your orthodontist or Invisalign provider will schedule appointments approximately every 6-8 weeks to check on the progress of your treatment, but each visit is short as no awkward or painful adjustments need to take place.

RISKS

Unfortunately, Invisalign is not the right solution for every person and is unable to deal with some of the more serious orthodontic problems such as under-bites, overbites, and cross-bites. In these instances, your orthodontist will probably recommend traditional braces. Only people with tooth alignment issues can benefit from the Invisalign treatment system.

Invisalign patients also need to be prepared to make a serious commitment to the treatment program. In order to be successful, your aligners should be worn for approximately 22 hours each day. This means that you need to be extremely disciplined and remember to put them back in straight after brushing and meals. Failure to do so can prolong treatment times and affect the final position of your teeth, meaning that they may not end up exactly as predicted in your initial consultation.