Until 20 years ago, people with crooked teeth were often forced to make an unhappy choice between misaligned and ill-spaced teeth or orthodontic work using metal and wire braces. That’s no longer true. In the past 20 years, approximately 5,000,000 people have made a third choice — straighter teeth using Invisalign’s clear, removable, and nearly invisible thermoplastic aligners.
Is Invisalign in Sherwood Park a good option for you? After considering these seven advantages of Invisalign, you’ll be in a better-informed position to discuss that very question with a dentist near you.
There’ll be no unpleasant surprises
The first step in the Invisalign process is a comprehensive scan using the manufacturer’s iTero Element scanner. Invisalign will use that scan to produce a mold of your teeth and your customized aligners. Even better? That scan will produce pictures and images that your dentist in Sherwood Park will use to show you your progress and end result. As a result, you won’t be surprised or in the dark but constantly motivated to meet your goals.
Invisalign in Sherwood Park looks better
Let’s face it. Self-esteem and confidence are a large part of the reason people pursue teeth straightening. One thing that turns people off from traditional wire and metal braces are that they’re ugly and obvious. For the full duration of your treatment, you may find yourself hiding your smile behind your hand or pursed lips.
Invisalign’s aligners are clear and nearly invisible to outside observers. People will forget that you’re wearing them. Using Invisalign does not expose patients to stigma and teasing the way braces can. Adults who finally decide to pursue straighter teeth don’t need to feel sheepish about looking like a teenager.
Cleaning is easier
Keeping teeth with braces clean can be challenging as food builds up and wires and metal interfere with flossing. Oral hygiene is just as important with braces, but braces make it harder. With Invisalign, you can continue — or even upgrade — your oral hygiene regimen because you brush and floss your teeth naturally after removing your aligner. You won’t need to learn to accommodate braces and wires.
Your game is unaffected
You don’t need to worry about your Invisalign aligner being damaged while you play your favourite sport, or that it will interfere with a mouthguard, mouthpiece, or any other equipment. While you should wear your aligner for 20 to 22 hours daily, you can remove it while dominating on the field, court, or rink with whatever tooth protection you prefer to use. When you’re done, simply clean the aligner and pop it back onto your teeth.
Order from every page on the menu
Eating some foods with traditional wire and metal braces is hard — apples and pears, anyone? Cleaning your braces after eating a cob of corn is essential, but a nuisance. Traditional braces can mean being forced to avoid some favourite foods. With Invisalign, you do not need to compromise your food choices. You’ll eat with your own teeth without the presence of any foreign objects in your mouth.
Safety and comfort
Braces are a physical presence in your mouth. Wires and metal pressing against the inside of your lips is not comfortable. Once attached, they’ll stay there until your orthodontic treatment is done — which may take as long as five years. You cannot influence or resolve your own discomfort.
Invisalign’s aligners sit smoothly over the profile of your teeth without protruding against your lips. If you need a brief break from them, you can remove and return — after cleaning them — yourself without bringing the whole process to an abrupt halt.
Five years versus 18 months
Orthodontic treatment with traditional wire and metal braces can take up to five years to complete. With Invisalign, your teeth are straightened within one and one-half years.
Considering those advantages, do Invisalign aligners feel like a good fit for you? Find out about options for Invisalign near you by contacting a dentist in Sherwood Park.