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Invisible ALIGNERS
OR
INVISALIGN
Invisalign Aligners
You don’t need metal or wires to straighten your teeth. Thanks to the revolutionary new orthodontic treatment method that is Invisalign, you can achieve a beautiful smile without any knowing you’re having treatment.
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How does this incredibly successful and very discreet treatment method work to create the smile you’ve always dreamed of?
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Invisalign uses a series of clear, plastic removable aligners to gradually straighten your teeth. By combining 21st Century orthodontic technology with precision and accuracy, our specialist orthodontists can customize an Invisalign treatment plan for you.
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How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign’s aligners work by moving your teeth into a straighter, more attractive position. This happens gradually over the course of your treatment and without anyone knowing. Because the aligners are virtually invisible, no-one will be able to tell you’re having treatment.
Every week or as directed you will change to a new set of aligners which builds on the work of the previous set. At your orthodontic appointments, you will be given sufficient aligners to last 8 to 10 weeks.
Every person has a unique set of teeth and a unique problem to solve. This means the time treatment takes depends on the severity of your orthodontic problem. Invisalign is a highly successful treatment method which can correct a range of issues. If you need minor correction, you could see results in as little as three months. Major orthodontic work with Invisalign takes approximately 12 to 18 months.
What are the benefits of Invisalign?
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Discreet treatment: Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible so you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. They’re also removable, so you won’t have to change your lifestyle while having treatment. You can still eat and drink all the foods you enjoy.
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Comfort: Invisalign aligners have no metal brackets or archwires to cause irritation to your mouth. This means they are extremely comfortable to wear. What’s more, no metal or wires means you won’t need as many appointments with your orthodontist as there are less adjustments needed.
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Easy to clean: Traditional metal braces can make it difficult to floss and brush properly, which can cause decalcification. This can lead to unsightly marks on your teeth and possibly even decay. Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you can brush and floss normally, making it easier to maintain good oral hygiene.
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Less risk: To move teeth, force needs to be applied. One of the problems that can arise from this is root resorption. This condition refers to the breakdown of the root of a tooth and could lead to the loss of the tooth. Because the forces exerted by Invisalign aligners are more gradual than those applied by traditional braces, early indications are that Invisalign treatment exhibits a much lower rate of root resorption.
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Safer on teeth: When traditional metal braces are removed from teeth, this can sometimes cause some of the tooth's enamel to be removed as well. Because Invisalign doesn't use adhesive to bond brackets to teeth, enamel scouring is not an issue.
Invisible braces and Invisalign aligners are two options people use to fix problems with their teeth. Since both allow people to fix teeth discreetly, they are often confused with each other. To help clear up the confusion, we will take a look at both orthodontic devices and highlight the differences between them.
What are clear braces and Invisalign aligners?
While both clear braces and Invisalign aligners offer a more discreet solution than traditional metal braces, they are quite different from each other.
Clear braces
These are also known as invisible braces because the brackets are made from a ceramic material that can be color matched to the teeth, making them difficult to notice at a distance. However, these are essentially the same as metal braces in structure because the brackets are bonded to the surface of the teeth and are connected by wires that are tightened to guide the teeth into the desired position.
Invisalign aligners
These are clear plastic aligners that are also effective in fixing problems with the teeth and bite, but they are more discrete than clear braces because the clear plastic is fitted over the teeth like a glove, making them very difficult to notice. However, these are not as effective in fixing severe problems with teeth, which is something clear braces are effective in doing.
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What are their differences?
Like metal braces, clear braces are fixed in the mouth with brackets and wires that connect and hold them in place, which means only an orthodontist can remove them. Invisalign aligners are removable, which means they can be taken off when the patient wants to eat or brush their teeth.
Invisalign aligners are customized to fit perfectly in the mouth and dentists will provide patients with a tray of aligners to take home with them. The aligners have to be replaced every one to two weeks or as directed by the dentist and should be discarded after two weeks to be replaced by the next aligner in the tray. Clear braces have to be adjusted at least once a month to keep the pressure on the teeth to move into place gradually.
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It is more difficult to clean clear braces because food particles get stuck in them while eating and are difficult to get out of the brackets. Invisalign aligners are much easier to clean because all a patient has to do is remove the aligner from their mouth and wash it with soap and water before putting it back in their mouth.
The brackets and wires used on clear braces cause a lot of discomfort, especially if one of the wires comes loose and scrapes the inside of the mouth in the process. Clear aligners are more comfortable because they are made from plastic and do not scrape the inside of the mouth when placed on.
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Clear braces are not very durable because they are made from ceramic, which means the patient will likely make a few trips to the orthodontist to get them fixed during treatment. Clear aligners are more durable but are also easy to lose since they are removable.