Invisalign clear aligners are a distinct type of orthodontic treatment unlike any of the others that involve brackets and wires.  They have some advantages over traditional metal braces, and are very convenient for many adults and teens.

Getting Invisalign invisible aligners

Perhaps you’ve been told you need to get orthodontic treatment to correct crooked or gapped teeth. And perhaps you’ve heard of Invisalign and you’re interested in getting Invisalign from your orthodontist in Aventura FL 33180. But maybe you have some questions about it, like how will Invisalign straighten my teeth? What are the benefits of Invisalign? What’s the best method to clean Invisalign? We will look at all of these in just a moment, but let’s take a moment to see what some of the experts in orthodontic medicine have to say about Invisalign.

The ability of Invisalign to work in a clinical setting has been studied but not as much as other types of orthodontia, but the company has made a lot of changes in recent years with using more advanced materials and slimmer designs (Papadimitriou A et al., 2018).

Part of the reason for these changes is that patients want orthodontic treatments that are more aesthetically pleasing (Papadimitriou A et al., 2018).  This is driven in part by more and more adults getting orthodontic care, and teens who are more concerned about appearances and want something that will help them look their best.

Invisalign first hit the market in 1997. Since that time, they have become known as the standard for clear aligners (Papadimitriou A et al., 2018).  Plus, the company has added more technological advances that allow it to correct more dental issues than the first generation could.

How will Invisalign straighten my teeth? Invisalign dentist near me

So the first question is how will Invisalign straighten my teeth? Invisalign works differently than traditional metal braces do, in that it is a set of clear aligners that are replaced every week or two throughout the course of your orthodontic treatment until your teeth have gotten into their new alignments.

Where they are the same as traditional metal braces is in applying pressure to specific teeth to guide them through the matrix that comprises your jaw while wearing your aligners. Plus, modern advancements in Invisalign technology have made it possible for them to correct even moderate amounts of bite issues including overbites and underbites. They have always been very good at closing gaps in teeth and straightening teeth that are crooked. Now through the use of Smartforce attachments which can apply additional pressure on the teeth, they’re able to do more than ever before.

What are the benefits of Invisalign? Teeth alignment Invisalign

There are several benefits to Invisalign. Not the least of which is the fact that they are made from a clear, lightweight, and flexible plastic that is nearly invisible when you are wearing them so no one ever needs to know that you are getting orthodontic treatment.

And, as you go through your orthodontic treatment, you don’t have to go in for sometimes uncomfortable braces tightening appointments, but instead you just go pick up a new set of aligners to continue your progress.

Another benefit of Invisalign is that as you go through your Invisalign treatment, you can maintain your oral hygiene just as you had been doing before you began your orthodontic treatment. That means that you can take them out to brush your teeth and clean them at the same time. We’ll talk a bit more about how to clean your Invisalign aligners a bit later.

It also means that it’s very easy for you to remove your Invisalign when it’s time to eat and you don’t have to worry about what you eat possibly damaging the wires or brackets or both. Just make sure that you remember to put them back in. It’s important to wear your Invisalign aligners at least 22 hours a day for them to maintain their effectiveness.

What’s the fastest Invisalign works to straighten teeth?

This question is very subjective, because it totally depends on what you need to have corrected. For folks who just have a few teeth out of alignment or perhaps a minor overbite, they might be done with wearing your aligners Invisalign in as little as 6 months. But, for others who have much more complicated dental issues, their orthodontic treatment will last closer to 2 years. Treatment with Invisalign is generally almost the same amount of time as traditional metal braces.

What’s the best method to clean Invisalign?

There are a few different ways that you can clean your Invisalign aligners. There are some tablets that you can purchase at a drug store or on the internet that you drop into water and then you drop in your aligners to help remove plaque and kill bacteria. These can be kind of pricey over the course of your treatment time but they do also do a very good job of getting your Invisalign aligners clean. If you choose to go this route, make sure that you look for ones that are specified as safe for cleaning retainers and clear aligners, as ones that are meant for dentures will not be appropriate.

You can also use a soft toothbrush (not the same one that you brush your teeth with) and a mild liquid soap (not toothpaste) to brush away any food particles or plaque that may have built up inside the aligner. Then rinse very well and pop them back in. The reason you don’t want to use toothpaste is it typically contains abrasives that are designed to remove plaque and stains from your teeth and this abrasive can be too harsh for your Invisalign aligners and can cause damage.

You can also purchase a cleaning product from Invisalign directly that will help sterilize your aligners. You put the sterilizer product into a container and then soak your aligners for 3 minutes. Then simply rinse off and put them back in your mouth.

You may wonder how often you should clean your aligners. The answer is every single day before you go to bed, and it’s easy to do this at the same time as you brush your teeth before going to sleep for the night. If possible, when you take out your aligners to eat, you should rinse them with water, but if you are at a restaurant or something like that this may not be possible.

Something to keep in mind is that the clear plastic can stain so if you are leaving them in while drinking brown sodas or eating things like tomato-based sauces or turmeric-based curries, you may end up staining your aligners and that can make your teeth look yellowed.

Also, as you look for soaps to clean your aligners with, avoid anything that has significant scent as this will taste weird when you put the aligners back in your mouth, and also avoid any that have coloring added to them as the coloring can stain your aligners.

When rinsing, be sure to use only warm tap water and not hot water. The hot water may warp the plastic and then they will not fit correctly. And, if you take them out to eat, put them into their storage container to keep them safe so they don’t end up getting tucked in a pocket and warped that way.

Reference:

Papadimitriou, A., Mousoulea, S., Gkantidis, N., & Kloukos, D. (2018). Clinical effectiveness of Invisalign® orthodontic treatment: a systematic review. Progress in orthodontics, 19(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40510-018-0235-z

 

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IVANOV Orthodontic Experts, 12866 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami, FL 33181

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Call us at (786) 540-1919 to schedule a free orthodontic exam.