For many years, braces have been used and are still used to rectify problems of teeth dislocation and straightening. These metal braces and the small rubber bands which surround them are the cause of embarrassment to many people, especially teenagers.
Now a revolutionary method in dental stream known as Invisalign has made it possible for people to do away with these braces and rubber-bands. This is a new concept which creates the perfect smile without any disturbance of braces. Invisalign was first founded by Zia Chishti in 1997. Later companies like Orthoclear and Ormco followed with their versions of Invisalign.
So What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an invisible set of moulds or aligners made of clear plastic which are virtually invisible and as such are preferred by many patients.
An Invisalign procedure consists of a set of aligners which are changed every two weeks after taking into account the amount of correction required at each stage of the teeth alignment. The total period of treatment may vary according to the correction that may be required. Normally this period may range from 5 to 7 month. There is a small dot on the side of these aligners which fade off as one uses them and reminds the user the time for new set of aligners to be put on.
These aligner trays are manufactured using computer generated images taking into consideration what the teeth would look life at every stage of alignment.
Advantages of Invisalign :
· The main advantage of this type of treatment is that the trays are almost invisible. As such people prefer them over the traditional metal braces which are unattractive and hard to maintain. On the other hand, invisalign trays are made from hard and clear plastic which perfectly fits on the teeth as well as they are not visible. Invisalign is mostly preferred by older teens and adults.
· Invisalign braces are very comfortable and easy to wear in comparison to metal braces. There is only a mild soreness at the time of first set of braces.
· Invisalign trays are easy to take off and put on again. Due to this, a person feels comfortable while eating or drinking, and enjoying his lunch in the normal way.
· Another advantage of Invisalign braces are due to their removable quality, they pose less danger to gums and other soft tissues surrounding the teeth.
· Lastly, Invisalign treatment is faster than the traditional braces which take a longer time for rectification.
Disadvantages of Invisalign :
· The main disadvantage of invisalign is that they are far more expensive than traditional braces and as such are not preferred by budget-conscious people.
· These braces have to taken off before eating and put back on after the meal is over. This requires a lot of maintenance as one has to brush the teeth each time after eating, also taking precautions as not to have any food stuck in the teeth before putting on the trays.
· Certain types of tooth movements or malocclusions need traditional braces only, and as such Invisalign treatment is not suited for such teeth alignment.
· Invisalign braces should be worn for a certain time period each day (about 22 hours/day) and one has to comply with this period. Non-compliance may lead to extension in time of treatment which may slow off.
· Another disadvantage of invisalign is that any new dental restoration during the process of treatment may require a totally new set of braces to be made to accommodate the new development. As such it is expensive and time-consuming.
Taking the above pros and cons into consideration, one has to choose the right method for going in for traditional braces or invisalign treatment. But invisalign is, no doubt, a revolutionary step in the field of dentistry as more and more teenagers and adults are opting for this new technology for the main reason of having an option for the unattractive metal braces which seems to make a person face a kind of discomfort in front of other people. Invisalign is, indeed, the right choice for a dazzling smile instead of the metal hardware that keeps the mouth shut. They give the wearer an added confidence to move in society.
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