Invisalign Guide
Before-and-after cases
Post-treatment instructions
To talk about Invisalign is to talk about a type of invisible orthodontics that offers great advantages, which is why it has become a patient favorite.
Among the greatest advantages it offers is the fact that it is a comfortable, removable, and truly very discreet system, as you will hardly notice that you are wearing orthodontics. For this reason, patients have many questions about what they may encounter when applying a system like this.
The Invisalign orthodontic system is based on a system of aligners that are invisible and will correct the bite in order to completely align the teeth. To do this, it makes use of aligners that are “removable,” which makes the patient feel comfortable eating. These aligners are changed every two weeks.
Thus, each Invisalign aligner is different from the previous one, and this is what will allow the necessary movements to appear in order to have the smile that has been previously planned with the dentist.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the advantages of using Invisalign orthodontics?
Among the advantages that we can highlight of Invisalign are:
- Discretion: it is a very discreet system because the aligners are transparent. This means that they are almost invisible, which means that they will be imperceptible to other people. There is a type of orthodontics that is even more discreet, which is the Invisalign that is used in the lingual area because it is placed on the inside of the teeth.
Comfort: by not having metals, the classic bracket wounds do not appear. There is also no pain, chafing, or wounds in the mouth. - Removable: it is perhaps one of the advantages that patients like the most, the fact of being able to remove the aligners both to eat and to brush their teeth. This does not mean that you can be without them for a long period of time, but that they should be removed at specific times, such as if you have to attend an event or give a talk.
- Hygiene: unlike what happens with brackets, they are really very hygienic because the bacterial plaque will not remain on them because we can brush our teeth as normal.
- Planning: with the Invisalign system you can plan in advance how your smile will look after the treatment. To do this, they use a software called ClinCheck where you will see the simulation of the movements and the final result.
In which cases is Invisalign orthodontics recommended?
Invisalign invisible orthodontics is recommended for those patients who need or want to change the alignment of their teeth, whether for functional or aesthetic reasons, and who do not want to wear conventional appliances. It is recommended for both children and adults.
You should consult with your dentist if your case can be corrected with this system since it has some limitations.
Can Invisalign treat cases like mine?
Invisalign is capable of correcting a large number of dental pathologies. As the technique evolves, and orthodontists master it more, the range of difficulty of the cases to be treated and the level of the results obtained increases.
Is Invisalign the best option for me?
Invisalign is ideal for adolescents as well as for adults, who for work reasons, cannot afford to wear fixed orthodontics (brackets). In any case, consult with your Abaden orthodontist if your case meets the requirements to wear this system.
Is Invisalign as comfortable as they say?
Invisalign is the latest in invisible orthodontics, a modern system in accordance with the demands of today’s patients, who want to correct their smile, and who do not want the appliances to be seen.
Will I really be able to remove them whenever I want?
Of course, Invisalign aligners are 100% removable. You can take them off whenever you want: to eat, for an important meeting, for a romantic dinner… but for their effectiveness they must be worn most of the day.
Will I be able to speak normally?
Orthodontic treatments tend to affect speech at the beginning, but over time you get used to it.
What is the actual functioning of Invisalign orthodontics?
In general terms, we could say that Invisalign works in a very similar way to bracket treatments, but the big difference is that the aligners exert less force than traditional brackets. For this reason, the movements are planned in advance and what are called “attachments” are added to the aligners to help achieve this goal.
What are the attachments like?
Attachments are composite reliefs that are added to the tooth. This will make the Invisalign system much more effective since the aligners alone cannot make the movements, so they need these reliefs to be able to exert more force and make the teeth rotate towards the position we want.
There are different types of attachments that vary in size and shape as well as their use will vary according to the purpose they have for them. Therefore, like the aligners, it is a personalized system.
It should be noted that not all patients need attachments when using this type of invisible orthodontics. It is also possible that the attachments will be changed during the treatment.
How does ClinCheck work?
This is a software that will predict how the entire treatment will be. In it you will be able to see all the movements that the teeth will make so that the patient can see the final result and the smile they will have once they finish with the last retainer.
How is Invisalign orthodontics used?
The use of Invisalign is very simple. As in any other case, it requires a period of adaptation to it and to learning how the aligners should be put on and taken off. Generally, the orthodontist himself is the one who will teach how it should be used. It is completely normal that the first time it is difficult to put on the aligners, to feel that they are very tight or that they do not fit well. It’s all a matter of practice.
What is the maximum time I can wear the aligner per day?
When someone decides on Invisalign, they know that they must have a responsibility in its use. This means that although there are occasions when we can remove it, such as to eat, brush our teeth or on specific occasions, this does not mean that there are many hours in the day in which they are not going to be used. It is recommended to wear the aligners about 22 hours each day, which means that you should sleep with them.
Can you eat and drink normally with Invisalign orthodontics?
There is no restriction on food or drink when using Invisalign. For food, the aligner must be removed beforehand, so with this, the patient can eat whatever they want. In the case of drinks, you can only drink water with Invisalign on. If we want another type of drink, we have to remove them because otherwise they could get stained.
How are the aligners cleaned?
Hygiene in the case of Invisalign is very simple since by being able to remove the aligners, we will be able to brush our teeth as we normally do. The aligners should also be cleaned every time we remove them.
For this, it is best to use a brush, neutral soap and warm water. It is also recommended to have the habit of placing the aligners in water with a tablet of those used to clean dentures. This prevents the aligners from having a bad odor.
When is it recommended to use Invisalign Orthodontics?
The use of Invisalign is especially indicated for cases in which it is necessary to perform an alignment of the teeth and the bite. Among them, the following stand out, for example:
- Crossbite
- Overbite
- Open Bite
- Crowding
- Separations
- Diastemas
The difference will be in the duration of the treatment, which in the most complex cases will be longer with them.
What types of Invisalign orthodontics exist?
Depending on the particular case of each patient, it will be recommended to use one type or another of Invisalign. These are the ones that are currently available:
- Invisalign Lite: is the treatment indicated for the mildest cases. It has an estimated duration of 12 months maximum. It is usually placed by people who used orthodontics previously but for some reason did not have adequate retention and their teeth have moved.
- Invisalign Full: is the longest and most complete treatment, especially indicated for people who have never worn orthodontics and who have to make changes both in their alignment and also in their bite. The duration of the treatment can be between 12 to 24 months, but it can take longer.
- Invisalign Teen: treatment for children and adolescents. It is similar to Invisalign Full but has some changes aimed at children such as colors, among others. The duration is also between 12 to 24 months.
When do we start to feel the changes from Invisalign orthodontics?
To see the changes in our teeth will depend on each particular case and the complication. For example, those who use the simplest treatment, Invisalign Light, will see changes sooner than those who use the Full version. Generally, in about three or four weeks it will be possible to notice some changes.
From what age can Invisalign orthodontics be used?
The recommended age to start with Invisalign is from 9 years old, which is when children have already made the change of their teeth. In the Invisalign Teen version, there is a mandibular advancement treatment that is suitable for children between 9 and 11 years old.
Can I smoke with the use of Invisalign orthodontics?
If we are going to smoke, the aligners must be removed, at least that would be the usual practice. However, if you are a person who smokes a lot, this would mean that you could not comply with the amount of time that you are required to be with them, that is, 22 hours. The problem is that tobacco can stain the aligners and cause stains to appear on them.
Will I have pain with the use of Invisalign orthodontics?
The pain appears during the period of adaptation to them, which is much less than what is usually had with traditional brackets. That is why the first days you may feel uncomfortable, but it will not be more than about 4 or 5 days said discomfort, later you will not feel pain during the treatment.
What are the materials used to create Invisalign orthodontics?
For the creation of Invisalign, a special technology is used that has several steps:
- Diagnosis: first of all, a general diagnosis of the patient is made where you can see their case, the duration of the treatment, the malocclusions, etc.
- Taking of molds: from there, a taking of molds must be done to send to the factory. This is usually called taking records.
- Shipments of the record: the company that is responsible for the manufacture of Invisalign is Align Technology. There, all the technical instructions of the treatment itself are sent.
- Information: the manufacturer works under the information provided and makes a digital reproduction of the upper and lower arches. From there, it will create the movements that the teeth will make with the use of Invisalign
- Review: the orthodontist makes a review of what has been sent and thus the planning of the treatment is finished.
- Manufacturing: the aligners are manufactured according to the previous instructions.
- Shipping: the aligners are received and delivered to the patient.
We hope that now you have no more doubts about it and that you decide on this orthodontic system as special as Invisalign.
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