If you had a choice, would you wear braces on your teeth or clear aligners?
If your answer is clear aligners, you’re not alone. Clear aligners have grown in popularity over the past couple of decades as an option for straightening or realigning your teeth.
Perhaps the oldest and best known clear aligner product is Invisalign, which was introduced to the market in 1998 by Align Technology. Since then, more clear aligners from other brands have come into the market, such as Spark, ClearCorrect, and uLab.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what invisalign geelong can do, how effective it is, and the pros and cons of this product.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is the brand name of a type of thin clear aligner used in orthodontic treatment. The aligner is made from a flexible thermoplastic material named SmartTrack.
As the name suggests, this product is designed to make orthodontic treatment “less conspicuous,” as the American Association of Orthodontists puts it.
Although Invisalign aligners may not be completely invisible, these clear coverings fit tightly over your teeth and are much less noticeable than the brackets and wires of traditional braces.
What types of dental issues can Invisalign correct?
Invisalign can be used for a variety of purposes, including crowding and spacing issues, as well as some mild and moderate bite issues.
The Invisalign website claims that it can be used to treat the following dental issues:
- some types of overbite, underbite, and crossbite issues
- open bite
- gap teeth
- crowded teeth
While still limited, research suggests that Invisalign may be more effective for some issues than others.
For example, a 2017 study
Trusted Source
suggests clear aligners can be useful to align a person’s arches, but it may not be as helpful in addressing more severe bite problems.
What’s involved with wearing them?
The first step in the process involves a visit to an orthodontist, who will create a 3-D image of your mouth and jaw. They’ll use this image to put together a plan for moving your teeth into their proper place.
Your orthodontist will then use that plan to create a series of customized plastic aligners. These aligners will apply pressure to your teeth, gradually shifting them and moving them into the desired places.
Depending on your orthodontist’s instructions, you’ll switch out one set of aligners for a new set about once every week or two. Typically, you’ll need to wear the aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day.
