What everyone should know about Invisalign

Braces are unsightly at the best of times, and for adults they can be even more unappealing. Luckily, for those of us that want to fix our crooked or uneven smile without the embarrassment of train track braces, there’s an alternative. Invisalign® is a relatively new cosmetic dentistry treatment that is so discrete no-one will even know you’re undergoing an orthodontic procedure, yet they can have amazing results.

The Invisalign® system involves the use of transparent aligners, what are often thought of as being “clear braces”. They’re placed over your teeth to slowly alter their alignment, and because they’re transparent they’re also incredibly discrete.

The process involves an initial consultation with your cosmetic dentist to go over the procedure and the results you can expect. A mould will then be taken of your teeth and, using 3D imaging and photographs of your mouth, your clear braces will be created to your exact specifications.

The aligners are then worn for 22 hours a day for the next two weeks, after which you’ll return to your dentist for your new braces to be created and fitted. You’ll return to your dentist every two weeks from then on, with each new set of aligners allowing your teeth to slowly adjust to their new position, with the whole process usually lasting between six months to a year.

Invisalign® has a number of benefits over traditional metal braces. They’re a lot more comfortable, encourage better oral hygiene as they can be taken out when cleaning your teeth and when eating, and they’re incredibly discrete so there’s no need to worry about the embarrassment that often comes with regular braces. They can be pricey though, but the final results will be well worth the expense.

That’s a very quick overview of Invisalign® and what it involves. Just about anyone that has crooked teeth can benefit from this type of cosmetic dentistry, and if you think it could be for you make sure to talk to your dentist about it.