15 Facts About Invisalign Treatments

Do your teeth need some straightening? Have you been considering braces or other aligner options to improve your smile?

Invisalign is one of the best options on the market for fixing misaligned teeth, but you may have a lot of questions about it. In this article, we’ll try and answer as many of them as we can! Here are 15 things you may not know about Invisalign:

1. Invisalign usually costs more than traditional braces. This is due to the fact that the lab fees charged for Invisalign are typically higher than those charged for regular braces. The fees are paid directly to the manufacturer of Invisalign, Align Technology.
2. Over one million patients around the world have been treated with Invisalign. Each day, more people choose Invisalign treatment, and the number continues to rise.
3. Invisalign trays can be removed, which allows flexibility and freedom in terms of what you eat and drink. This also allows you to brush and floss just as you usually would without the Invisalign trays.
4. If a dentist is experienced with Invisalign, they are very likely to be successful in helping you treat your misaligned teeth. Invisalign is a very effective tool for aligning teeth that have grown out of alignment.
5. With Invisalign, no metal brackets or wires are used. This reduces the need for maintenance visits to adjust them.
6. Invisalign trays are about the same as traditional braces in terms of comfort. This is because both Invisalign trays and regular braces are specifically designed to provide consistent pressure to the teeth in order to create the most effective realignment of teeth that have grown out of place.
7. Despite many advances in dental technology, there are some situations in which neither Invisalign nor traditional braces may be able to create a successful realignment of the teeth. This is because both these treatment options have inherent limitations in that they only apply pressure to the teeth and only within certain parameters. Some cases cannot be treated with aligners.
8. It is a good idea to research several Invisalign treatment providers, and to select the best one based on your confidence level and the credentials, experience level, and reputation of that provider.
9. You will be required to wear your Invisalign aligners between 20 and 22 hours every day. If you do not wear the aligner trays for the specified amount of time, you may not achieve the results you desire with the treatment.
10. ­You will need to change your Invisalign aligner trays out every 2 weeks for a new set. Complex adjustments require 3 weeks of wear time and simpler adjustments may require as few as only 10 days of wear time between changes. This is because each set of Invisalign aligner trays is shaped slightly differently, getting a little bit closer to your desired alignment goal.
11. A lot of patients require a retainer after Invisalign treatments in order to prevent the teeth from shifting back into the positions they were in before the treatment procedure.
12. Invisalign aligner trays are made from a thermoplastic material. They look similar to the trays used in teeth whitening, actually. Each Invisalign tray is shaped specifically and individually to move your teeth in the sequence that has been determined by your treatment specialist.
13. Invisalign trays control both the timing and the force of the adjustments. During each 10-day to 3-week treatment cycle, only certain specified teeth are being aligned. Over the course of treatment plan, all of the desired teeth are gradually moved into position by the sequential application of trays, each of which is a slightly different shape. This shape and treatment order is determined by your orthodontist.
14. Invisalign is a tool for correcting misaligned teeth. The company that makes Invisalign, Align, Inc. does not diagnose or treat individual cases. They only provide the tool. As with any tool, the success or failure of its use will depend on the skills of your personal orthodontist for the Invisalign treatment. For this reason, it is crucial that you work with an orthodontist who is experienced with Invisalign and who has had success in treating other people with similar problems to yours using this specialized dental treatment tool.
15. Treatment of misaligned teeth will usually take about the same amount of time whether you choose to go with regular braces or Invisalign alignment trays. Choose the treatment option that is best for you, without regard for the total treatment timeframe.

With Invisalign, you are not required to go in for as many dental appointments as with traditional braces. With checkups scheduled every 6 weeks, you can apply 3 different sets of trays yourself without going in to see the dentist. This convenience is a major advantage.

You also don’t need to have the trays adjusted the way you would with traditional braces. The trays do not need to be tightened or adjusted the way you would need to do with traditional braces. You simply switch out the trays provided by your Invisalign treatment provider every 10-days to 3-weeks – as prescribed by your orthodontist – and then go in for new sets of trays every 6 weeks. It’s a much simpler treatment plan, as compared to traditional dental braces.

Overall, Invisalign can be an effective treatment option if you have teeth that are not aligned, which you would like to correct. This can really help improve your smile!

If you are looking for a successful way to treat your misaligned teeth, consider contacting your orthodontist or an Invisalign treatment provider to see if one of these treatment plans could be right for you.

Did we miss anything interesting about Invisalign? Have you or a friend or family member been successfully treated with Invisalign? Let us know in the comments below!