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Invisalign is an orthopedic method that a general dentist can provide to help patients achieve a confident smile. Patients do not need to specifically go to an Invisalign dentist.
Aligners have grown in popularity, with eight million people worldwide choosing Invisalign as the orthodontic treatment to straighten their smile.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that gently pushes a patient’s teeth into alignment through the use of clear, plastic aligners.
Invisalign as an Orthodontic Treatment
As an orthodontic treatment, it can normally treat several orthodontic conditions that braces can fix. These orthodontic conditions include crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth, as well as underbites, overbites, crossbites, and open bites. Invisalign also works as a cosmetic treatment to improve a patient’s smile and confidence.
It works similar to braces by moving the teeth through applied pressure. This helps to eventually bring the teeth into better alignment, similar to braces.
Invisalign vs. Braces
So, what’s better, Invisalign or braces?
Invisalign works as an alternate method to the more traditional braces, with both helping a patient achieve a more confident smile. Invisalign and braces are similar in their goal to align a patient’s teeth by applying pressure to the teeth, but there are also several differences.
Listed below are the advantages that Invisalign provides to patients that braces do not:
- Comfort. Invisalign is plastic rather than metal, so it tends to be more comfortable than traditional braces. Braces can cut and irritate the mouth because of the metal and wires.
- Convenience. It is more convenient because patients can take off their aligners when they eat, brush, and floss. This is not true for braces. With braces, patients have to learn new brushing and flossing techniques. Patients will also have to adjust their diets so their braces are not damaged and food does not get stuck in them.
- Discretion. Invisalign is also better for patients who wish to be more discreet with their treatment and do not wish to compromise their aesthetic. This is because aligners are clear plastic and practically unnoticeable, unlike braces which tend to stand out.
How Effective is Invisalign?
Currently, there is a limited study on the effectiveness of Invisalign, but research has suggested that it is more effective than other clear aligners. The product design is also becoming better and more effective with time.
It is also most effective when worn the correct amount of hours a day – 20 to 22 hours. For optimal effectiveness, it should only be removed when eating, drinking, flossing, brushing your teeth, or cleaning the product.
When cleaning the aligners, it is important not to wash them in very hot water as it can warp the plastic, altering the fit which can prove to be less effective.
What are the Benefits?
Several benefits steer patients to choose Invisalign over braces and other orthodontic methods. The benefits of Invisalign are:
- More aesthetically pleasing. It is a popular choice for patients who wish to avoid the conspicuous wires and brackets found with braces. It is an aesthetically pleasing method that will not overtly alter a patient’s appearance.
- Easy removal. It can also be removed, unlike the permanence of braces.
- Easier to clean teeth. Because of the above benefit, it is also easier for patients to brush and floss their teeth, meaning better oral hygiene and a better chance at fighting gum disease.
- Fewer potential complications. Complications can also happen with braces, such as broken wires. Users of Invisalign do not have these problems, which means no unexpected emergency trips to the orthodontist.