Orthodontics: How Invisalign® Straightens Teeth

Invisalign® aligners are a type of appliance used in orthodontics. These transparent mouth trays are used to push your teeth towards a better alignment. That is the same principle that powers other devices used in orthodontics, like conventional braces. Gradually pushing on teeth leads to them slowly moving in the direction they are being pushed. The same goes for teeth roots.

How Invisalign® is used for orthodontics

Before clear aligners like Invisalign were developed 20 years ago, traditional metal braces were the norm. That led to many adults and teenagers refusing to get orthodontic treatments they needed due to them not wanting to have the appearance of their teeth affected by obvious metal brackets and wires.

Thanks to clear aligners, no one needs to put off getting teeth straightening treatments simply because they do not want to compromise their smile.

The Invisalign process

Getting teeth straightening with Invisalign starts with a consultation with a dentist. The dentist will perform a visual examination and use diagnostic tools like x-rays to determine the cause of the patient’s poor dental alignment.

Invisalign can be used to treat a wide range of orthodontic issues, such as:

• Crooked teeth
• Spaces between teeth
• Overbites
• Underbites
• Crossbites

Clear aligners are typically recommended when the patient’s teeth alignment issues are being caused by the position of their teeth. Patients with alignment issues caused by abnormal jaw positioning are typically advised to explore other options, such as braces.

Once a patient has been cleared for Invisalign, the dentist will take digital images of their teeth and use the data to make a digital model of the patient’s mouth. This model is used to run projections and to analyze how the patient’s treatment will look over time. Once the dentist is satisfied with what treatment is projected to be, the data is sent to an Invisalign lab where clear aligners are made. It takes about two weeks for the patient’s set of trays to be ready.

Treatment with Invisalign involves wearing each set of aligner trays for about two weeks. This is the time it usually takes for a set of aligner trays to move a patient’s teeth as far as they can. Each set is swapped with another further down the line once its two weeks are up. The further down the series the patient progresses, the straighter their teeth will be.

Some of the benefits associated with clear aligners like Invisalign include:

• The patient gets to straighten their smile without ruining the aesthetics of their smile
• The patient gets removable aligner trays that can be taken out for oral hygiene and meals. It makes life with Invisalign a lot easier than having to deal with braces constantly getting in the way of meals and dental hygiene
• Clear aligners are more comfortable and less likely to damage soft tissues in the mouth

Ready to straighten your teeth with Invisalign®?

Ready to put your teeth alignment issues behind you? Contact our Atlantis clinic today to get the process started.

Request an appointment here: https://www.atlantisdentist.com or call Atlantis Dental Care P.A. at (561) 965-9988 for an appointment in our Atlantis office.

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