Invisalign is the invisible way to straighten your teeth without braces, using a series of clear removable aligners to straighten your teeth without metal wires or brackets. If you are a candidate for Invisalign, you don’t have to sacrifice your smile while straightening your teeth.
Introduced in 1999 by Align Technologies, Invisalign incorporates a series of invisible (clear) plastic aligners that fit comfortably over your teeth and are designed to move your teeth gradually into the desired position. Today, Invisalign is the leading brand of orthodontic appliance, primarily because the removable aligners (less than one millimeter thick) are designed to be more esthetically pleasing than conventional wire-and-bracket dental braces for treating certain types of minor misaligned tooth problems.
An Invisalign-trained dentist will utilize 3D computer imaging technology to demonstrate the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desigred position. This imaging technology is then used to design an individualized series of custom-made aligners. The patient wears the aligner for about two weeks while the teeth move incrementally. After two weeks, the current aligner is replaced with the next one until the final position is achieved.
What do aligners look like?
Invisalign Aligners are clear and nearly invisible. If you’ve ever seen clear tooth-whitening trays, that should give you a good idea of what the aligners look like. Invisalign aligners are custom-made to fit and move your teeth.
Will treatment be painful?
Each time you change to a new aligner, there may be some temporary discomfort while your teeth adjust to their new position. This is completely normal and is a good sign that the treatment is working.
Invisalign® vs. Traditional Orthodontics
Invisalign may not be appropriate for certain cases of misalignment or complex bite problems.
Though not as esthetically appealing or painless as clear aligners like Invisalign, today’s traditional braces have been improved so they are smaller, less visible and more efficient.
Only a dentist can determine which treatment option might be right for you. Also, an orthodontic specialist can advise you about orthodontic treatment alternatives.
If Invisalign is not appropriate, traditional orthodontics can still be used for such conditions as:
- Crowding and spacing
- Skeletal malocclusions
- A problem in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together in biting or chewing
- Common Terms: crossbite, overbite, and crooked, crowded, or protruding teeth
- Detrimental Effects: physical appearance, speech, and/or ability to eat properly
- Discrepancies involving centric-relation/centric-occlusion
- How the upper and lower jaw joints and jaw muscles close together
- Teeth that are severely rotated
- Open bites in the front and back of the mouth that need to be closed
- Teeth that are severely tipped
- Upper or lower jaws with multiple missing teeth
More on Invisalign® Treatment
Invisalign is currently approved for adults and teenagers with completely erupted permanent teeth who can faithfully follow the directions for treatment – how long they have to wear the aligners each day, what they can and cannot eat and drink, seeing their dentist for follow-up appointments, etc. For example, dentists recommend that you drink only water while wearing Invisalign trays, to prevent staining of the plastic. If you do not follow treatment recommendations, you may compromise treatment success.
Please call our Invisalign dedicated phone number - 212.482.1326 - to schedule your complementary consultation with our Invisalign® certified doctor and discover how we can help you achieve beautiful straight teeth without braces!
Further Information Available at Invisalign®