Invisalign works using aligners that look a little bit like a sports mouth guard but are a lot thinner and less noticeable. These aligners, which are made of clear, strong, medical grade, non-toxic plastic, are specifically moulded to your individual requirements and fit over your upper and lower teeth. This plastic is virtually invisible when worn so no-one will notice you’re having treatment.
These aligners are designed to gradually move your teeth into the desired position. Every 2 to 3 weeks you’ll be given a new set of aligners which build on the work of the previous ones. The length of treatment is dependent on the severity of individual cases. Treatment may vary from anywhere between 6 months to 2 years with an average treatment taking around 12 to 14 months.
Discreet treatment
Invisalign aligners are nearly invisible so you can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. They’re also removable so you can eat and drink whatever you want during treatment.
Comfort
Invisalign aligners are comfortable to wear as there are no metal brackets or wires to cause mouth irritation. No metal or wires also means you spend less time in the orthodontist’s chair getting adjustments.
Easy to clean
Because Invisalign aligners are removable, you can brush and floss normally, making it easier to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent decalcification.
Less risk
In order to move teeth, force needs to be applied. One of the problems that can arise from this is root resorption. This condition refers to the breakdown of the root of a tooth and could lead to the loss of the tooth. Because the forces exerted by Invisalign aligners are more gradual than those applied by traditional braces, early indications are that Invisalign treatment exhibits a much lower rate of root resorption.
Safer on teeth
When traditional metal braces are removed from teeth, this can sometimes cause some of the tooth’s enamel to be removed as well. Because Invisalign doesn’t involve using adhesive to bond brackets to teeth, enamel scouring is not an issue.