Invisalign Clear Aligners: How it Works?

Invisalign is able to address mild to moderate dental issues that have to do with the alignment of the teeth. Problems with the alignment of teeth include crossbites, underbites, overbites, gapping between the teeth, overcrowding of the teeth, open bites, and crooked teeth. The aligners provided through the Invisalign procedure are not able to provide the same amount of force as that of traditional braces making them less capable of treating severe cases of misalignment or deformities of the jaw, but they are very effective for any minor or moderate adjustments that may be needed to realign the teeth. The majority of orthodontic work that is required will fall into the mild to moderate categories, making Invisalign a very effective option for most patients.

Braces are able to address all of the dental concerns that Invisalign is able to address and more. With more force being applied to the teeth throughout treatment, braces are able to address mild, moderate, and severe cases of misalignment of the teeth, correcting any spacing or bite issues, as well as issues that are not treatable with other options. Braces can treat more severe dental issues including jaw misalignment, periodontal problems (often caused by severe misalignment of the teeth making it difficult for proper dental hygiene), mismatched dental midlines (can quickly affect the ability to bite, or even the shape of the face), and cases that are so severe that they affect the bite and speech patterns of the patient. Even though braces are typically considered the best option available for severe cases of orthodontic needs, they are effective at correcting even the simplest of misalignments in the teeth, making them very easy to individualize depending on the needs of the patient.

Invisalign is a dental procedure that uses various aligners that slightly differ to slowly move the teeth over time into the correct positions, making it different from a procedure that uses braces. Aligners are similar to retainers in that they are properly fitted to the teeth each with very small differences to push the teeth into the next position whenever worn. These aligners are able to be taken out (though should be worn for the recommended amount of time provided by the orthodontist) to allow the patient to eat comfortably, properly clean the aligners, and properly clean their teeth with ease. Braces are more permanently fixed into position, with the brackets being glued to the teeth and the orthodontist being the one that changes out wires or elastics to continue tooth movement as the treatment progresses. Braces are not removable and therefore must continue to be worn until the entire treatment is complete. Invisalign and braces can often treat the same dental concerns, but are quite different and require different care.

Invisalign aligners can be incredibly effective at treating mild to moderate cases of misalignment in the teeth, but due to their ability to be taken out and worn as frequently as the patient sees fit, their success rate can be slightly less predictable than that of braces. It is up to the patients who are undergoing Invisalign treatment to ensure that they are wearing the aligners for at least the minimum recommended amount of time (typically at least 22 hours per day) and that the aligners are properly cleaned and stored when not worn. If the patient is unable to wear the aligners for the minimum amount of time daily that is recommended, their treatment may prove to be less effective and will likely take a bit more time to complete.
 
Beyond Dental & Implant Center provides dental services in the Dallas area. We can help with all types of dental problems. We serve patients from Dallas TX, Plano TX, Addison TX, Garland TX, Richardson TX, Carrollton TX, and BEYOND!