Why is Invisalign the right choice for you on Valentine’s Day?
With another Valentine’s Day approaching in just over a fortnight, you may have apprehensions about showing off your crooked and gapped teeth. You may wonder whether it is possible to have your teeth straightened or corrected without braces for your teeth. You may not be aware of how or why braces are an effective solution to straighten teeth or malocclusion in your mouth. However, if you want to have better-looking teeth before Valentine’s without metal and wire braces on them, you must choose Invisalign treatment and have yourself evaluated for the treatment by the dentist in Covington.
Invisalign treatment is practical for many people and is available as a removable orthodontic appliance functioning as an alternative for traditional metal and wire braces. Invisalign is a variety of clear tooth aligners allowing you to correct imperfections with your teeth discreetly, especially if you detest conventional orthodontic appliances. The dentist’s evaluation helps you determine whether you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, and if confirmed as one, you can maintain your smile aesthetics even when straightening your teeth.
What Is the Invisalign System?
Using a series of removable dental-grade plastic aligners is not a new phenomenon for occlusion. The concept of Invisalign was initially introduced in the 40s and revisited in the 70s. The idea required a series of dental impressions to determine the optimal positioning of the teeth. The update introduced in the 90s by Align Technologies is more straightforward than its predecessor and only requires one set of impressions and images of the teeth during the initial appointment.
The images taken by the dentist help the manufacturers of Invisalign to create a 3D computer projection of how the teeth move incrementally, giving them an idea for developing a series of customized aligners designed to accomplish this movement.
Align Technologies uses CAD/CAM technology at their dental laboratory to customize the aligners, sent to the dentist for dispensing the patient in groups of one or two sets during regular assessment appointments. The assessment appointments span over 6 to 8 weeks to ensure the treatment is correctly managed. Invisalign treatment moves the teeth in tiny increments of .25 mm to .33 mm.
Invisalign aligners are removable for eating, drinking anything but water, brushing, and flossing your teeth. However, they must remain on your teeth for at least 20 to 22 hours every day to successfully reposition your teeth. You may require 20 to 30 sets of aligners for both the upper and lower teeth. Adult Invisalign treatment is accomplished in less than one year if the aligners remain on the teeth as stipulated by the manufacturers. The treatment time is determined by the kind of complexity affecting you and your compliance with the requirements.
Confirming Your Candidature for Invisalign Treatment
Invisalign treatment is presently approved for adults and teenagers with fully erupted permanent teeth. Candidates must adhere to the treatment instructions, especially wearing the aligners for the stated number of hours. Creative Dentistry of Covington advises you on the period the aligners must remain on your teeth, the foods you can or cannot have with the aligners, and the beverages you must avoid when you have the aligners on your teeth. The recommendation of the dentist helps prevent staining of the aligners, leaving them clear and transparent. If you decide to challenge the recommendations of the dentist, you compromise the results of the treatment.
Do You Know?
The dentist may surprise you by providing some facts about braces and telling you Invisalign treatment is unsuitable for you.
Dr. Anitha Reddy informs patients that Invisalign treatment may not be appropriate for some cases of misalignments or complicated bite problems. In such cases, you must wear traditional orthodontic appliances with metal and wire on your teeth.
Metal and wire braces are undoubtedly not aesthetic but have improved significantly since the earlier days. They are less visible and more efficient currently. The latest metal and wire braces can correct misalignments faster than earlier.
The decision about whether you want to have Invisalign to straighten teeth or opt for another method recommended by the dentist is best managed by a qualified professional. If you are not suitable for Invisalign treatment, conventional orthodontics can help you correct various conditions like skeletal malocclusion, severely rotated teeth, open bites, or jaws with multiple missing teeth.
You can approach the dentist hoping you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, especially if you don’t want to confront any embarrassment on Valentine’s Day. However, we recommend you do so with an open mind and prepare yourself for the worst if you need to correct problems with your teeth with traditional orthodontics.