Does the arrangement of your teeth bother you when you smile? Dental misalignment is a problem that can hurt your self-confidence for a long time. Not only that, but an improperly aligned smile affects your bite, which may compromise the optimal productivity of your oral cavity. Should you choose to consider treatments for realigning your teeth, you should know that you do not necessarily have to get metal braces. Instead, you can schedule an appointment with an Invisalign®️ dentist near you to learn whether it would work as a solution for straightening your teeth.
What Is Invisalign?
It is a type of teeth aligner used in orthodontic dentistry to straighten malpositioned teeth. Invisalign braces feature a tray of clear aligners made from a plastic-like material that goes over teeth. The initial fit of your first set of Invisalign braces is determined based on the impressions of your teeth. After the first dental appointment, your orthodontist will create a treatment plan that will determine the process and timeline of your teeth straightening procedure.
The fit of Invisalign braces is perfected enough to exert controlled pressure on your teeth continuously over a few weeks. After about six weeks, you will need to check back with your orthodontist to replace your aligners. Each set of aligners will shift your teeth gradually, directed by an orthodontist, based on the shape of the aligners. It will continue severally over your treatment period, so that it may take between 30 and 32 trays of Invisalign braces to complete your orthodontic treatment.
Time Frame to Straighten Teeth with Invisalign
Patients who visit our Invisalign dentists at Family Dental Care are well aware that treatments for straightening teeth take time to be completed. Using Invisalign to straighten your teeth is not any different. The braces will not work overnight in moving your teeth. Instead, it may take several months before your teeth are properly aligned to match the initial dental plan created at the beginning of your treatment.
Technically, orthodontic treatments with braces can last anywhere between 6 months to 24 months. It often depends on the complexity of the misalignment. Since Invisalign braces are commonly used for correcting mild misalignment, the treatment may not take more than 12 months before you can see the results of a straightened smile.
Benefits of Invisalign for Teeth Straightening
If you want to join the rest of the patients in orthodontic dentistry who opt for Invisalign braces over other teeth aligners, consider the following benefits:
- They are virtually invisible – one of the primary reasons adults prefer to use Invisalign for teeth straightening is for the aesthetic benefits they present during treatment. The material used to make Invisalign aligners is transparent, warranting them being referred to as invisible teeth aligners as they are virtually invisible when you smile.
- They are comfortable – compared to traditional metal braces, you are more likely to enjoy your orthodontic treatment experience with Invisalign aligners because of the material used. The plastic-like material is soft to your gums, which is much comfortable than metal wires and brackets over your teeth.
- They are removable – if you want, you can remove your Invisalign braces when you need to. They are not permanently affixed to your teeth in that they can only be removed by an Invisalign dentist, as is the case with metal braces. Instead, you only need to account for up to between 20 and 22 hours of wear time every day.
- They allow for proper oral hygiene – the freedom to remove your aligners as you please lets you brush and floss your teeth properly without worrying about damaging your aligners. Better yet, you get to keep your Invisalign braces clean throughout your treatment.
Summary
If you are considering orthodontic treatments, be aware that it will not entail a quick fix to your smile. Orthodontics focuses on the functionality of your mouth before the aesthetic aspect. However, although your treatment may take many months before it ends, you can still enjoy an aesthetically pleasing smile by opting for Invisalign braces over their counterparts for straightening and repositioning teeth.
