Invisalign is a series of clear, removable orthodontic retainers that are almost invisible, which you wear over your natural teeth to straighten them. You’ll be given a number of aligners to take home from your dental appointment, which you will need to wear 22 hrs a day for one week at a time. After that, you can change to the next retainer in the series.
Overall, a typical treatment lasts around 6-12 months for most adults, although the actual timeframe varies from person to person. Many patients start seeing a difference in their teeth within two or three months of starting to use the aligners. Compared with the unsightly appearance of braces and the length of time traditional orthodontic treatment takes, it’s obvious why Invisalign vs. braces is a huge debate. If it all sounds too good to be true, however, you might be wondering whether Invisalign retainers are effective.
How Invisalign Works
When Invisalign was first developed, it was only capable of addressing minor orthodontic issues. Most serious problems required more customary treatments. Now, many of the challenges previously resolved with traditional metal braces are treated with devices like spacers or expanders. Invisalign can be used to treat overcrowding, gaps, misaligned teeth, and moderately bad bites. With the attachments, adjustments, buttons, elastics, and movements that can be used with an Invisalign retainer, most complaints can be addressed.
Unlike the traditional braces method of using a wire to push or pull the teeth into alignment, Invisalign gradually progresses through a series of retainers that are intended to guide the teeth into position more gently.
Benefits of Invisalign
The benefits of the Invisalign method of repositioning teeth go a long way beyond having an attractive smile. With the use of Invisalign clear, removable devices, the improvements in your appearance go together with significant health advantages, including reducing the risk of gum disease and tooth decay. The retainers are easier to get used to than metal braces, less obvious to others, and require fewer visits to the dentist.
Invisalign Success Rates
Approximately 96% of patients who received Invisalign treatment were satisfied with the results, as well as the shorter time frame than metal braces take. Slightly more than two-thirds of the patients experienced no pain at all, while 54% experienced only mild pain while wearing aligners. The patients who did find the retainers uncomfortable said this lasted for only two to three days after putting in the newest set of aligners. One reason for the higher success rates of Invisalign retainers is the reduced level of discomfort compared with traditional braces, which, while having a high rate of success, also have a high rate of patients stopping treatment mid-way.
It’s important to realize Invisalign is just a tool in the hands of the dentist who designs your treatment. This is an extremely individual process for every patient, and it takes careful diagnosis and planning to get it right. Simply having Invisalign retainers fitted doesn’t address general dental health issues like a bad bite or difficulty chewing, so it’s vital to get your retainers from a dentist who is familiar with your overall oral health and treatment plan.
As one of the dentists in Surrey BC, we’re fully qualified to supply and fit Invisalign retainers for our patients. Please contact us to schedule your appointment.