17 May WHAT IS INVISALIGN
Invisalign, popularly known as a clear aligner, is an orthodontic appliance used to treat malocclusion. The treatment duration range from 3 months to 2.5 years, and the cost depends on the severity of the clinical condition of the patient’s dentition.
What is malocclusion?
Malocclusion, commonly known as “bad bite”, is any deviation from the ideal occlusion of dentition.
What is Occlusion?
Occlusion is the contact between the incising or masticating surfaces of the upper and lower teeth or arches.
What is malposition?
Any abnormal position of the teeth.
Invisalign is a minimally visible method for moving teeth without a band, wire, or bracket.
Invisalign is worn to gradually move teeth. An Invisalign aligner is a custom-made, removable, comfortable dental retainer made from thermoformed medical polycarbonate, which is compatible with human saliva.
Invisalign has an identical appearance to a mouthguard but is slimmer and almost imperceptible. After determining whether Invisalign is the most suitable treatment, the dentist will require photos and radiographic examinations such as x-ray and scans to make a treatment plan for you. Then the dentist will create a design and prescribe it to the fabrication company.
The Invisalign aligners are custom-made according to the patient’s clinical requirement and are worn over the upper and or lower arches of dentition. The patient will receive a set of aligners and change every 2 weeks. The removable aligners gradually help teeth align to the desired position.
Invisalign is less painful than metal braces, but still, put force on the teeth necessary for realignment. Invisalign is easier than metal braces in maintenance and hygiene as it is removable.
How long the aligner should be worn?
Each aligner is worn approximately 22 hours a day over 2 weeks for a total of over 300 hours. This leaves 2 hours a day for eating and tooth brushing. Aligners are replaced every other week on average to allow for gentle tooth movement over time according to the clinician’s diagnosis and treatment plan.
The total duration the patient is recommended to wear the clear aligners varies for each person. It depends on the severity of the correction and also on whether the aligners have been worn as instructed.
While the average duration is between 12-24 months, for simple corrections it could be as short as 6 months. For more intricate cases like crowded teeth, it could overextend to 2 years. It mostly comes down to how distant the required movement of teeth is.
Who can wear Invisalign?
Adults and adolescents over the age of 13 with orthodontic concerns where the dental appliance was the recommended treatment by the dentist are the best candidates for Invisalign treatment.
- Clinical situations where Invisalign dental appliance is recommended:
- Crowding
- Spacing (Diastema)
- Vertical Dimension (Deep-bite or Open-bite problems)
- Single tooth vertical movement
- Sagittal Dimension ( Class II or Class III malocclusions)
- Transverse Dimension
While Invisalign is offered in many cases, some orthodontic needs are unlikely treatable with aligners including:
- Dramatic overbite
- Large underbite
- Crossbite
- Severe orthodontic issues
For more complex dental issues metal braces may be more efficient, or the only option. Ultimately it is up to your dentist to assess your teeth and determine whether Invisalign is a suitable option.
Who will prescribe Invisalign?
Invisalign is a treatment appliance fabricated by a technology company according to a doctor’s design. It is the individual doctor who designs and manages the treatment. Any dentist can buy braces or aligners, but it is their training and experience that defines the quality of the results.
The orthodontist will determine whether the Invisalign system is appropriate for the patient’s clinical case following specialist consultation and setting the orthodontic diagnosis involving x-rays, photos, and fingerprints.
Conclusion
Invisalign is a clear, detachable, and comfortable aligner that is designed and made using digital technology. Invisalign is programmed to gradually move teeth to the projected position. Invisalign is made of durable thermoplastic material of medical quality. It is prescribed and designed by a dentist or orthodontist according to the clinical condition of the individual patient. With only 2 or 3 hours allowed to eat, drink, and clean teeth, Invisalign requires an optimal level of dental hygiene during the treatment period.
