Thursday, April 29, 2010
The Basics of Invisalign
The most common way to straighten teeth is with traditional braces. But the recent invention of a new tool called Invisalign is giving an attractive alternative. It is a clear removable mouth piece that fits over top of a person’s teeth. Over 750,000 people are currently using Invisalign instead of braces. Approximately fifteen hundred people work in the Santa Clara head quarters of Align Tech. where this unique product is created.
Reasons to Consider Invisalign
Cosmetic: The aligners that are placed over top the teeth are fully transparent, an obvious improvement from the metal braces on the outside of teeth. Adults tend to lean towards this method of treatment especially if they have some kind of professional image in their job.
Reasons of Comfort: Braces are adjusted every four to eight weeks, resulting in a rather significant adjustment each time, which of course can create discomfort. The Invisalign system on the other hand uses biweekly adjustments- new peices every two weeks- with smaller adjustments that result in less discomfort.
Removability: Once braces are in your teeth they are in for the duration of the treatment. The clear Invisalign mouthpieces on the other hand can be taken out in a flash, allowing you to eat whatever you want whenever you want, and to brush and floss as you normally would.
Speed: A few studies comparing standard braces to Invisalign seemed to come out with the stat that Invisalign was actually faster than braces. A main study of 408 patients found that people with braces took an average time of approximately 36 months to fully fix their mouth while Invisalign took between 12-18 months.
Reasons of Comfort: Braces are adjusted every four to eight weeks, resulting in a rather significant adjustment each time, which of course can create discomfort. The Invisalign system on the other hand uses biweekly adjustments- new peices every two weeks- with smaller adjustments that result in less discomfort.
Removability: Once braces are in your teeth they are in for the duration of the treatment. The clear Invisalign mouthpieces on the other hand can be taken out in a flash, allowing you to eat whatever you want whenever you want, and to brush and floss as you normally would.
Speed: A few studies comparing standard braces to Invisalign seemed to come out with the stat that Invisalign was actually faster than braces. A main study of 408 patients found that people with braces took an average time of approximately 36 months to fully fix their mouth while Invisalign took between 12-18 months.
Invisalign Cons
One of the main bonuses with Invisalign is that they are removable. However this can also be seen as a disadvantage. It is very easy to take out a removable mouth piece and lose it or have it damaged. Plus, the longer the brace is in the mouth each day, the more effective the treatment will be; too little time in the mouth with a removable appliance will slow down or interfere with the whole point of the exercise.
Is money a factor? Well, you might want to keep the braces! Yes, braces are already quite expensive, but the series of mouthpieces required by this new treatment system can cause its costs to exceed those of braces.
A very rare drawback, though potentially serious, are allergies related to the component parts of the clear appliance. Occassionally a person may need to visit a doctor or emergency room, but generally an itch or minor discomfort of the throat and mouth, including coughing, is as serious as the complication gets. It's likely that this new treatment will soon be available in non allergenic versions.
Is money a factor? Well, you might want to keep the braces! Yes, braces are already quite expensive, but the series of mouthpieces required by this new treatment system can cause its costs to exceed those of braces.
A very rare drawback, though potentially serious, are allergies related to the component parts of the clear appliance. Occassionally a person may need to visit a doctor or emergency room, but generally an itch or minor discomfort of the throat and mouth, including coughing, is as serious as the complication gets. It's likely that this new treatment will soon be available in non allergenic versions.
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