It’s not an uncommon scenario: somebody says, ‘Smile for the camera!’ and you grimace and run the other way. You don’t feel like smiling; your teeth are misaligned and it bothers you. You don’t want an everlasting image of your teeth for everybody to zoom in on and dissect for its crowding and crossbite. No, thank you.
But imagine if there was a way that you could realign your teeth and you wouldn’t have to continue to curse the day camera phones were invented. Imagine if there was a way to realign your teeth and people wouldn’t know how you were doing it because it was discreet and effective?
Imagine no more! Also known as ‘invisible braces’, Invisalign is a clear brace system designed for anyone with all of their adult teeth. It consists of clear plastic aligners, which can be removed when eating and drinking. They are custom made to fit your mouth and when they are worn, they are virtually invisible. All you have to do is book in for a consultation with your dentist to check if you are eligible for this type of treatment.
What happens at a consultation?
During a consultation with your dentist, you may have x-rays, impressions and scans taken of your teeth to assess if invisible braces are the right course of treatment for you. If you are a candidate for this treatment, your dentist may also be able to show you a 3D animation of how your teeth will look after treatment. From here, a prescription is written and your aligners will be made to fit your teeth.
Wearing your aligners
When you receive your sets of aligners, you will wear each set for two weeks, before changing to your next aligner. The aligners apply gentle pressure to your teeth to move them into the desired position. You have to wear them for about 22 hours a day, and you don’t need to wear them when you are eating and drinking, or brushing and flossing. This is a real bonus for your mouth’s hygiene and is less yucky for you!
You will also have regular checkups with your dentist, who will examine the position of your teeth and make sure that everything is moving as it should be. After you have finished wearing your aligners, you will also have to wear a retainer. Aligners should be comfortable as they are made to fit your mouth, but if you have any issues, you can check in with your dentist to see if any intervention is required, but this is highly unlikely.
Other advantages
Alongside the discretion and comfort provided by invisible braces, the flexibility of usage is a key plus point. Not only can they be removed for hygiene reasons, but you can also remove them when you are playing a sport or if you are going to an important event, such as a job interview. This flexibility will encourage you to feel positive about wearing the aligners for the rest of the time. You have control over when you wear them and when you are wearing them, you will be working towards great results that you will be proud of.
If you are interested in invisible braces, contact your dentist to find out more. Some dentists offer a free consultation, so it is worth asking a few questions to achieve a smile that you can be proud of with no imagination required!