THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE I GOT INVISALIGN

1. What is Invisalign?

As the name suggests, Invisalign is an orthodontic device that has made its name “invisible” in the industry. Not entirely invisible, however, is Invisalign. Without the apparent physical presence of braces and cables, it is a practical and aesthetic solution that uses a set of transparent plastic aligners to straighten and realign teeth. It is more aesthetic in many ways than traditional braces.

As a revolutionary orthodontic device, Invisalign was founded in 1997 and continues to grow its presence in the dental industry through system enhancements, innovations in aligner materials and their proprietary technology.Its success with customers and a growing number of Invisalign suppliers around the world is a testament to the effectiveness of the system in helping physicians and patients achieve successful aesthetic and functional performance.

It is important to remember, however, that Invisalign is merely a commodity and a choice for care. Your dentist should not control your care schedule.

2. How does Invisalign work?

Your dentist will have to give you an idea of your teeth first. By having a rubber impression, the details could be registered through a digital scan or physically registered. InBandra, Mumbai, the scanned images/rubber impressions and bite registrations will be sent directly to the orthodontic technicians. The proprietary Invisalign algorithm is applied to the model after digital models are developed, and a clinical simulation will be sent to your dentist. Known as ClinCheck, this simulation will allow your dentist to demonstrate to you how long the procedure will last and what the final outcome will be.

Once the treatment plan is approved, the collection of aligners will be printed by the laboratory. No two alignments are the same, and incremental movements equal to 0.25 mm tooth movements are set.

3. Does it mean that I can have a nice smile with just 2 pieces of plastic?

Most cases can require additional small tooth-colored composite attachments bonded to some teeth (especially in cases that require teeth to be rotated or pulled down). The aligners in retention or active movement are supported by these attachments. They will make the naked eye slightly more visible with Invisalign. These are rarely, however, an issue for patients and are not a cause for refusing care. In reality, to ensure a successful result, these attachments are critical. Do talk with your dentist to ensure that your preferences are considered and discussed and clarify your expectations.

Pros of Invisalign

Aesthetics: your aligners (even with the attachments or in some cases elastics) are more aesthetic compared to conventional braces
Comfort: no wires and sharp corners like with conventional braces
Fewer dental visits than conventional braces
Easier to maintain oral hygiene: patients are able to remove the aligners and brush and floss normally. Less risk of gingival inflammation due to plaque build-up

4. Can I use the last set of aligners as my retainers?

Regrettably not. The aligner material is different from the material of the retainer: it is more flexible and lighter and less resistant to wear. The aligners are intended for a limited wear time and will thus not be as robust as the retainers, although they look nearly identical. In fact, in some patients, when it is worn for more than two weeks, the protective layer will begin to wear away, creating a frayed edge on the aligner.

Retainer solutions are the same as regular brace treatments: either fixed or removable retainers may be selected. Some dentists can also advocate both, if your case needs it.

In conclusion…

A safe product, Invisalign is ideal for almost all orthodontic cases. However, the clinician also decides case suitability, care plans and durations. Do consult with your dentist when in doubt. Furthermore, the invisalign website has a lot of data devoted to patient education and data. So make sure the standards and care plans set out by your invisalign provider are comfortable for you!