I was watching my local news last night and there was yet another politician yammering on about his views on this or that. I started to zone out, but then something caught my eye: he had braces. They literally did catch my eye they were so sparkly! We’re talking old school wire and metal brackets. Now don’t get me wrong, I think it’s fantastic that he is taking care of his smile, whether it is for cosmetic purposes or to fix some sort of dental condition he may have. I just became so distracted by his braces that I forgot to listen to what he was saying. You see, traditional wire and metal braces take me back to my middle school years and the feeling I get isn’t exactly fond or nostalgic. I wonder if this man, who is a public figure no less, was informed about an amazing advancement in orthodontics before he decided to put those braces on his teeth. That advancement is Invisalign, the nearly invisible braces.
Maybe you’ve heard of Invisalign before. They have a lot of really neat commercials on television that demonstrate just how nearly invisible they really are. Invisalign works with a series of custom made clear plastic aligners that gradually shift your teeth into place. If you’re not sure what these aligners might look like, it might help if you imagine a clear mouthguard, but much thinner, because that is similar to what an Invisalign aligner looks like. You can see examples and learn much more at www.Invisalign.com.
So how does this system work? First you need to visit a dentist or orthodontist who provides Invisalign to their patients. Your dentist will work closely with Invisalign by providing pictures and models of your smile so that Invisalign can use the latest technology to map out your treatment plan and design and develop your custom set of aligners.
You will wear your aligners every day for about two weeks, gradually moving your teeth, and then switch to a new aligner. The greatest thing about Invisalign is that it is nearly invisible and nearly impossible to detect. No one will know you are straightening your teeth unless you want to tell them. No telltale shiny brackets here!
Another amazing advantage to using Invisalign to straighten your smile versus traditional braces is that because the aligners are removable, you can take them out to eat, brush, and floss as normal. You might be glad to know that there are no dietary restrictions or worries about damaging your brackets by eating hard or chewy food like with normal braces.
Invisalign is a good option for teens and adults alike who are interested in straightening a crooked, crowded, or misaligned smile. If you wore braces as a teen and failed to wear your retainer as instructed (shame on you!) and now your teeth have shifted back, Invisalign could be the answer you’ve been looking for. All you need to do is talk to your dentist to see if you could be a good candidate for the Invisalign system.
Bright Side Dental is a dental group with many dental office locations in Michigan, Indiana, and Texas. To learn more about Invisalign like “How much does Invisalign cost?” or “Do you need a retainer after Invisalign?” Visit www.BrightSideDental.com or call 1-800-PAINLESS.