| You've seen the commercials on TV, and maybe | | | | A lot of people are concerned whether Invisalign |
| you have a friend or relative who is getting their | | | | works since it is so new. Well, the truth is the |
| dream smile with Invisalign. You're interested in | | | | technology of using clear removable aligners to |
| making your smile better, in achieving your dream | | | | move teeth has been around since the 1950's, |
| smile and don't want to have those visible metal | | | | yes 50 years ago orthodontic movement of |
| braces on the outside of your teeth. | | | | teeth was being accomplished by plastic aligners. |
| Invisalign is a series of clear aligner trays - similar | | | | In the 1950's and until 1999, only minor |
| to bleaching trays - that will move your teeth into | | | | movements of teeth were accomplished with the |
| a desired position. Each aligner is worn for | | | | clear plastic aligners. The reason being the labor |
| approximately two weeks and moves your teeth | | | | intensiveness of the procedure was prohibitive |
| into a slightly different position. The length of your | | | | from a cost standpoint to design a series of |
| treatment will depend upon how much your teeth | | | | aligners to accomplish more movement. Enter |
| need to be moved and what type of tooth | | | | Align Technology, makers of the Invisalign |
| movements need to be accomplished. Align | | | | appliance. Taking proven technology and marrying |
| Technology has found the average treatment | | | | it with computer and CAD/CAM technology, Align |
| time to be about 12 months. Cooperation from | | | | was able to create an orthodontic appliance that |
| the Invisalign wearer, you, will also determine the | | | | was reasonably priced and could accomplish more |
| total length of treatment. Invisalign aligners should | | | | tooth movement than before. With the Invisalign |
| be worn at least 20-22 hours per day for | | | | process, the aligners can be made for $1,000's |
| optimum results. If the aligners are worn between | | | | less than it would cost for all the work to be |
| 16-20 hours per day, you can expect your | | | | done by hand. |
| treatment to be about 50% longer; so a typical | | | | With Invisalign, one set of impressions is taken |
| treatment plan of 12 months might end up taking | | | | prior to starting treatment and used to create |
| 18 months with less than optimal wear time. If | | | | the model needed to serve as the base for the |
| the aligners are worn less than 16 hours per day, | | | | entire treatment. The entire set of aligners is |
| you will not see the results you are hoping for | | | | shipped to your Invisalign provider, and you are |
| and maybe Invisalign isn't right for you. | | | | given a series of aligners at each visit. It is |
| So how does Invisalign work? Since each aligner | | | | important for your Invisalign provider to monitor |
| has a slightly different tooth position, pressure is | | | | the progress at certain stages (most common is |
| placed on certain teeth each time a new aligner is | | | | to see them every 3-4 aligners, making a visit |
| placed. The plastic material is deflected by one or | | | | necessary every 6-8 weeks). |
| more teeth, and because the plastic can stretch | | | | One of the most important advances in the |
| and wants to return to its original shape, the | | | | success of Invisalign treatment is the advent and |
| aligner will push the teeth into a new position. | | | | refinement of tooth-colored attachments placed |
| When a new aligner is placed into your mouth, | | | | on the teeth. These are small "bumps" of |
| you will feel pressure in certain areas. After a few | | | | tooth-colored dental bonding material that help |
| days, this pressure will disappear and the aligners | | | | with certain challenging tooth movements. The |
| will feel like they fit just right. It's tempting to | | | | attachments have made more complex |
| want to change to the next aligner when this | | | | treatments and more difficult tooth movements |
| occurs, but the same aligner needs to stay on for | | | | more predictable and more successful. Some |
| at least 2 weeks. This allows the bone and gum | | | | attachments may need to be placed on front |
| tissue to adapt to the new tooth position. This | | | | teeth, but they are not easily seen and are much |
| adaptation needs to occur after you change to a | | | | less obvious than even clear braces. |
| new aligner. | | | | |