The Invisalign is a practice in orthodontics that completely changed the game and took the world by storm. It is a set of braces that eliminates every inconvenience that comes with traditional braces. Better yet, despite bringing minimal discomfort, the Invisalign is equally as effective. If you want to learn about the pros and cons of the Invisalign, read along.
History of the Invisalign
Ironically, the person who invented the Invisalign wasn’t a dentist at all. In fact, the Mega mind behind the clear aligners had no relations or ties to the medical field. Zia Chishti was a young man studying for his MBA at Stanford sometime in the early 90’s.
Because at the time the young Computer Science graduate had to opt for an orthodontics treatment, he began to visualize better alternatives to chunky metal braces. Approved by the FDA IN 1998, the Invisalign soon hit the shelves to be met with demanding embrace. From then, the product was adopted by Invisalign which continues to refine and adapt the product to be more efficient.
By 2002, the product had 80,000 users and following that by 2004, the number peaked to 175,000 users. In 2020, nearly 10 million people are users of the Invisalign.
What Dental Issues Can the Invisalign Fix?
The Invisalign is effective in fixing a wide array of dental issues ranging from crowding to spacing in addition to bite issues that are mild or moderate.
1- Both mild and moderate overbite and under bite.
2- Gapping between teeth.
3- Crowding.
The Pros of Invisalign
The Invisalign is a set of clear plastic braces that work just as effectively as traditional dental braces. However, they offer far more perks and benefits.
1- Anyone Could Get Them
For one, the Invisalign being transparent allows people of different age groups to seek orthodontics. In the past, and due to the chunky look of traditional braces, many people felt like braces were only suitable for people coming of age.
Hence, despite the low self-esteem that comes with crooked teeth, adults who couldn’t enjoy the perks of orthodontics at a younger age had to live through life carrying their insecurities.
As of recently, that’s no more. In fact of the 10 million Invisalign users, only 1.4 million are teenagers. The rest are adults who want to enjoy the merits of orthodontics and regain their confidence.
Read More: How Much Do Braces Cost and Where To Get The Best Offers
2- Flexibility of Wear
In addition to being gentle on the eyes, the Invisalign is also removable. Meaning, you have 4 hours in a day to give your pearly whites some time off. Most people like to spread these 4 hours throughout the day between the meals and for a few minutes to give your teeth a thorough cleaning session. Especially since all types of braces can add a hint of discomfort during eating and cleaning.
Because you have the option of removing them while eating, the clear aligners don’t come with dietary limitations. And while you can enjoy your favourite meals without restrictions, you must remember that you should wear your Invisalign for a total of 20 hours per day.
Not abiding by the set duration of wear will hinder your progress and your treatment will take far longer than your doctor predicts.
3- Limits Emergency Visits to the Dentist
Metal braces tend to be more prone to breaking and wearing. In other words, they call for emergency visits to the dentist quite often. With the Invisalign, this issue is kept to a minimum because the unit itself is intact and comes as a single surface. By extension, this limits the possibilities of damage.
Cons of the Invisalign
The side effects of Invisalign include aspects that have to do with cleaning and treatment times.
1- Requires Extra Care When Cleaning
Because the Invisalign is made of plastic, you need to be careful how you clean it. Using harsh chemical products or hot water can damage the structure. Make sure you stick to the products your dentist gives you to clean your aligners. Those are usually safe and will increase the longevity of your braces.
2- May Take Longer Treatment Time
Because its removable, many people tend to disregard the 20 hour rule. In turn, this extends treatment periods. But, if you’re careful to keep wearing your Invisalign for a period of no less than 20 hours, then this wouldn’t be an issue to you at all.
How Will the Dentist Make My Invisalign?
Designing your clear aligners is a very easy process. Your dentist will take a 3D picture of your mouth using the industry-leading technology at Vera Smile. Next, we custom make your clear aligners and because different individuals have different gum lines, our dentists will trim your Invisalign for a perfect fit.
We run a quality check on every new tray of clean aligners to make sure it meets our standards to give you an efficient and comfortable experience.
When Do I Need To Change My Invisalign?
Your dentist will let you know how often you need to change your Invisalign trays. But, generally, there’s a one week to a two week interval between every tray changing and the other. The new aligners are meant to adopt and track the minor changes taking place in your mouth. This ensures that the pressure applied to your teeth is constant and hence accelerating treatment time.
Alternatives to the Invisalign
If you want a discreet look but can’t afford the Invisalign you can consider Lingual braces. Lingual braces are metal braces that go on the back of teeth. Unlike clear aligners, they’re not removable. Instead, they offer a more affordable alternative to clear aligners while also being very discreet.
Many celebrities have rocked these types of braces to avoid a chunky metallic look on the red carpet and at other events.
Read More: Invisalign vs. Braces
Is the Invisalign Effective?
According to various studies, the Invisalign is as effective as traditional braces in correcting crowding and spacing that’s mild and moderate. More severe cases will likely need the use of metallic braces.
Similarly, bite issues whether overbite or under bite can be corrected by the clear aligners if mild or moderate. Likewise severe bite problems will likely respond better to metal braces than the Invisalign.
Is the Invisalign Right For Me?
If you want to know if the Invisalign braces are right for you from the comfort of your home, book an online consultation with us. It’s free and our experts will answer all your needs.