23 July 2009

Do Invisalign Braces Work?

By David Hedberg

The hottest new way to straighten a crooked smile is a new invisalign treatment system. This invisible retainer can eliminate the metallic smile that traditional braces cause. The Invisalign system uses a series of plastic molds as invisible retainers.

The dentist or orthodontist uses an imaging system to design your invisalign plastic braces. After taking bite impressions, the dentist or orthodontist creates a computer image of your teeth and then uses that to create a series of clear plastic retainers. The first set of plastic retainers will fit your teeth immediately and the additional ones will use gentle pressure to move your teeth to the correct spot.

It takes 18 to 30 different sets of invisalign plastic retainers and each is worn for two weeks, except during meals. The invisalign teeth straightening method takes the same amount of time as traditional wire braces.

One of the most significant benefits of invisalign is that many individuals don't want to spend two years with wires in their mouth. Many patients would rather have a crooked smile than have the wire braces. The invisalign plastic retainer system is much more comfortable for most people that use it than wire braces would be.

Another significant advantage of invisalign invisible braces is hygiene. The invisalign retainer can be removed and cleaned daily during meals, and the teeth of the wearer can also be cleaned with normal brushing and flossing. Mealtime is also significantly easier for invisalign patients as the retainer can be removed during meals.

One caution about invisalign is that since they are removable, people sometimes do not continue to wear them. This can significantly lengthen the time it should take to straighten teeth. Most people that have used the invisalign method have found it to be superior to the whole wire braces experience.

The cost of invisalign is 20 to 50 percent higher than traditional wire braces and some insurance plans may balk at the added expense. You may want to check your insurance plan to see if there are limitations on the methods of tooth straightening. If you are thinking about trying the invisalign method, you should consult with an orthodontist or dentist to learn more and to see if it is right for you or your family.

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