Made of an almost invisible polyurethane plastic, Invisalign clear aligners are completely removable. This makes them an incredibly convenient choice for social occasions, for eating and especially for brushing and flossing teeth. The only downside, you must resist the temptation to not wear your aligners as advised. Let's explore some of the other advantages of the Invisalign system:
While there are still some situations where traditional braces would be the best option, the clear aligner technology has improved over the year and can now correct many malocclusions that once would have been too complicated for this form of treatment. A consult with your orthodontist will let you know if clear aligners will work for you.
Invisalign clear aligners work by applying controlled forces to the teeth to guide them into a better position, the same way traditional braces do. As opposed to being made of metal, they are made of a clear and flexible plastic.
Here's how it works: A specialized computer software is used to a create a plan for guiding your teeth into their perfect alignment. This will be broken down into stages and for each stage, the Invisalign company will manufacture a tray or aligner to go over your top teeth and your bottom teeth. Normally, during the first stage, you will wear your trays a minimum of 20 hours per day for two weeks. You will then change them for the next set of aligners in the series to continue to accomplish this gradual movement. You will continue through this process until your teeth are correctly aligned.
Over the years, Invisalign has added two features to make this a more appropriate treatment method for teenagers and to ensure teens have success! First, compliance indicators are built into the aligner material and will fade over time with wear. This allows a visual for parents, teens, and dentists to ensure that the trays are being worn for the amount of time prescribed. Second, special eruption tabs will hold the amount of space needed for molars that have not fully grown in at this time. If worn as prescribed, Invisalign can provide the same results as a more traditional metal brace.