VigorBuddy.com | Whether people care to admit it or not, physical beauty is a huge advantage in this world. An attractive smile, for instance, is one of the leading factors behind successful blind dates according to various studies and surveys.
Not only that, in the professional world, people who have great teeth have a higher hire rate than those who don’t. This is primarily due to the assumption that those with a beautiful smile are more accommodating, congenial, confident, and intelligent.
Therefore, it is understandable why parents invest a considerable amount of money on their children’s dental care. Not only does it offer numerous health benefits, but it can provide their children with an edge in their future pursuits.
Because of such advantages, a lot of older folks these days are deciding that it’s not too late to have the smile they have always wanted, and are more open to wearing braces.
Invisalign — the Orthodontic Braces of Choice for Adults
When it comes to braces for more mature folks, Invisalign is considered the most popular for the following reasons:
1. It’s invisible.
Older patients typically want the most discreet way of straightening their teeth. Invisalign is the best option because nobody would even be able to tell that you’re improving the alignment of your teeth because the aligner trays are clear.
2. It’s more comfortable and convenient to wear.
Apart from the aesthetic advantage, Invisalign edges over traditional braces when it comes to convenience. Since the aligner trays are removable, eating is not a problem, and your daily oral care routine is much easier.
Remove the trays or retainers before having a meal and eat in comfort. After meals and before bedtime, you can brush and floss your teeth like you usually do.
3. It does not cause discoloration of the teeth.
Staining or discoloration usually happens with traditional braces. After the removal of the wires and brackets, you will find that the areas of your teeth to where the brackets were attached are of a slightly different color. This is not a problem with Invisalign.
You can actually remove your Invisalign for about four hours a day — give your teeth a rest and brush your chompers thoroughly before putting the aligner trays back on.
How Exactly Does Invisalign Work to Straighten Teeth?
Invisalign braces work pretty much the same way as traditional metal braces. Invisalign corrects the same teeth alignment issues such as:
- snaggletooth
- crowded teeth
- crossbite
- crooked teeth
- gapped teeth
- underbite
- open bite
- overbite
However, instead of having wires and brackets, the aligner trays are designed to put the necessary pressure to move teeth into their ideal location or position.
Therefore, before you are provided with the set of aligner trays, you will already have an idea of the final result of the treatment because every pair of trays is designed in “stages” (which you will be provided with a visual representation of) leading to the target result.
Before the aligner trays are made, the orthodontist will make sure that your mouth is prepared for the treatment. If you need to have teeth extracted or reshaped, or you need bridgework, the procedures for these need to be carried out first. Plus, you need to recover from any procedure completely before the aligner trays are created.
Afterward, the orthodontist will take X-rays, pictures, and impressions of your teeth and gums to create an accurate 3D image of the problem Invisalign needs to fix. From all of these, he or she will be able to determine how your teeth should move, as well as how long the treatment would be.
The Invisalign Process Is Not the Same for Everybody
The number of aligner trays is different for every patient. This is always dependent on the amount of corrective work Invisalign will need to take care of. Ditto with the duration of the treatment — this is different for everyone. At times, the orthodontist can recommend an extension, as well as extra trays to achieve the best results.
The typical duration of the treatment is two to three years, and then you will finally have the smile that you have always dreamed of.