Invisalign braces are clear, removable plastic aligners. They are designed to straighten your teeth without the “metal mouth” appearance of traditional braces. The purpose of this article is to review this method of teeth straightening and to compare it to traditional braces. This article will also briefly review the issues that an Invisalign dentist would be able to help you with.

Invisalign are essentially invisible braces, custom-made for your teeth. They are made with the exact specifications to shift your teeth into the right place. Your dentist takes impressions of your teeth. From these impressions, clear aligners are created to match your treatment plan.

Each pair of aligners is worn for a 2-week period. Typically, the treatment takes less than one year. Over the period of your treatment, your teeth will gradually evolve to produce the smile that you’ve always wanted.

There are a number of differences between Invisalign orthodontics and traditional braces. The aligners are removable, so you can take them off whenever you have a special occasion. However, to get the results that you want you need to be disciplined and follow the treatment plan as instructed by your cosmetic dentist or orthodontist.

As well as being clear and removable, Invisalign aligners have smooth edges, and do not involve metal wires or brackets. Many patients have found that the metal in traditional braces irritates the cheeks and gums and is the source of much discomfort.

Teeth and gum cleaning and maintenance are significantly easier with invisible braces than the traditional type. Since the aligners are removable, you may brush and floss your teeth as normal. With traditional braces, brushing and flossing is far more difficult and less effective.

Your Invisalign dentist will be familiar with five issues that are common with their patients’ teeth. These issues can all lead to serious dental health issues and should be corrected where possible.

1. Overbite – When your upper teeth bite over your lower teeth;

2. Underbite – When your upper teeth bite under your lower teeth;

3. Overly crowded teeth – When there is not enough room in your jaw for your teeth to fit in normally;

4. Widely spaced teeth – When there is too much space between your teeth;

5. Crossbite – When some of your upper teeth bite above your lower teeth, and some bite under your lower teeth.

If you have any of these issues above, then Invisalign braces the treatment you are looking for.