People who were not lucky enough to be graced with a gorgeous set of teeth now have a better choice when it comes to getting them straightened; a new kind of treatment called invisalign. It works just like braces in that it straightens crooked and misaligned teeth but it is not metallic and ugly, tricky to clean and incompatible with certain foods.
Invisalign features a specially designed set of clear, plastic dental aligners that fit over the teeth and push the teeth into proper position in the same way that metal braces do. They are worn for two weeks, and then the patient progresses to the next set which they wear for another two weeks. Each set exerts less force than the last one and once the series is complete, the treatment is finished. Another nice thing about them is that they can simply be removed if needed.
In order for the patient to receive their aligners, the orthodontist first takes x-rays, photographs and impressions of the teeth. Next, the impressions are sent to the lab that manufactures the aligners where they are analyzed by means of a CT scan. Then this information is utilized to produce a 3-dimensional virtual model of the patient's mouth, simulating how the teeth will move during the course of the treatment. Based on this model, the set of aligners can now be cast.
Treatment starts when the patient begins wearing the first aligner, after two weeks they go see their orthodontist and receive the next one in the series.Although the aligner can be removed to eat, drink or brush teeth it is crucial to the success of the treatment that it be kept in 20-22 hours per day. Not following this order will result in the treatment time lasting longer. Normally this lasts 1 year but in less severe cases, it can take less time.
Invisalign looks much better than old-fashioned metal braces, in fact it is barely noticeable because it is clear. In addition to this, it is also not a burden when it comes to eating, like braces are. There are no worries about food getting stuck, it actually is taken out for eating and drinking.
Caring for teeth is much simpler and effective when using the aligners as well. Metal braces are very awkward to clean and floss around, with these devices dental care is the same as always because they are removed altogether during brushing and flossing and then put back after. They can be kept clean by simply brushing them regularly. The likelihood of tooth decay is higher with regular braces because it is harder to clean teeth properly and also preventive measures like x-rays cannot be taken, with invisalign they can.
Another good thing about using this treatment method is that it takes less time to finish and generally the teeth end up being straighter, so it is very effective. This will only happen though if the patient is diligent about keeping the aligner in for the required amount of time; if they don't it will take longer for the treatment to finish. Getting of course can result in the aligners no longer fitting and new ones needing to be cast. These aligners are also fairly comfortable as opposed to the scratchy metal ones.
Overall, Invisalign is an excellent treatment method for those who would like to improve their smile in the most convenient and appealing way available.
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