Millions of adults are plagued with crooked or misaligned teeth, and they’re too embarrassed to invest in adult braces. Fortunately, in the last 20 years, a new technology has emerged to fix this problem. It’s called Invisalign and it’s a revolutionary form of teeth straightening that’s sweeping the dental industry. For those of you who haven’t heard of Invisalign or don’t know much about it, here’s a list of frequently asked questions and answers.
1. What is Invisalign and how does it work?
Invisalign is an innovative teeth straightening method that dentists use as an alternative to traditional braces, but it’s not a teeth whitening or cleaning agent. However, the aligners that are placed over your teeth do resemble teeth whitening trays. The main goal is to provide adults a discrete way to have their orthodontic issues corrected.
2. How long does it take for Invisalign to straighten teeth?
The length of time is arbitrary because every patient has different dental issues that may require attention, some more severe than others. The average timeframe for adults is approximately 12 months.
3. Does Invisalign really work? How effective is it?
Invisalign typically works best for patients who don’t have any overtly serious dental conditions, such as periodontitis. The effectiveness of the treatment depends on how committed you are to it. For best results, you need to keep the aligners in place for about 20 to 22 hours per day.
4. Is there an age limit or requirement for Invisalign treatment?
There is no strict age requirement for Invisalign treatment, even teens can use it. Anyone who would be a good candidate for traditional braces can opt for Invisalign treatment instead.
5. What is the treatment process?
Your dentist will need to create precise moulds of your mouth and then send the moulds to the Invisalign manufacturers. The Invisalign aligners will be manufactured out of a special thermoplastic material according to your specific needs. Once your dentist has sent your teeth impressions to Invisalign, they’ll map out a predictive trajectory of your progress throughout the treatment and construct a series of moulds based on what your teeth are expected to look like at each phase. You’ll be able to see a real-time digital video of the movement of your teeth so you know what to expect throughout the entire process. This way, you can decide if this is the right treatment plan for you from the beginning. You’ll need to wear each set of aligners for about two weeks at a time and check in with your dentist one every six to eight weeks for short progress reports.
6. Does Invisalign hurt?
Just like any other orthodontic treatment, you might experience minimal pain or discomfort in the beginning, but this should fade over time as you wear each set of aligners.
7. How will Invisalign affect my life?
Invisalign will only minimally affect your life, but it’s still a much more convenient and preferable option than wire braces for most adults. For one thing, the aligners are virtually invisible, which means that most people won’t even be able to tell you’re wearing them. Secondly, you can remove them while you’re eating and drinking. You can also remove them when practicing good oral hygiene habits, such as brushing your teeth and flossing.
8. Why should I feel confident about using Invisalign?
Millions of people worldwide have benefited from using Invisalign as a discrete and effective alternative to metal and wire braces. The best part is that no one ever has to know you’re even wearing them— aside from you and your dentist, of course.
9. How do I take care of my aligners?
Taking care of your aligners is simple. You can either purchase the specialized cleaning kit from Invisalign or you can simply remove the aligners and gently brush them on the inside and outside with toothpaste.
10. What happens after the treatment is finished?
Depending on your specific dental needs and the possibility of your teeth returning to their previous, misaligned state, your dentist might recommend that you wear either a permanent or temporary retainer.
11. What if I’ve had braces or other special dental treatments?
The course of action your dentist decides to take depends on the state of your teeth as well as the specific type of dental work you’ve had done. If you had braces in the past and if your teeth have shifted back to their original positions after you had them removed, then your dentist might recommend the Invisalign treatment to correct the issue.
12. How much does Invisalign cost? What are the payment options?
The cost for the Invisalign treatment can vary from patient to patient because every person has different needs when it comes to dental care. However, most dental insurance plans will cover a substantial portion of the expense, and you should be able to work out a feasible payment plan with your dentist’s office.
Princeview Dental is a dental practice in Etobicoke that offers Invisalign treatment. Feel free to contact us at (416)-231-4562 for an Invisalign consultation and treatment program.