INVISIBLE BRACES
Invisalign® - the clear way to straighten your teeth!
The Invisalign® technique is the clinically proven, nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth and improve your smile - without braces. The Invisalign® treatment works through a series of removable and nearly invisible aligners. Each aligner is slightly different, moving your teeth gradually into the desired position. So if you want to show your smile and not your braces, find out more about Invisalign® - the nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth!
Look your best during treatment!
Invisalign® is clear and practically invisible, so nothing gets in the way of your new smile. No wonder Invisalign® is the choice of over half a million people.
- Unobtrusive in business meetings or social gatherings
- No metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth
- Many people won't notice you're wearing aligners
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign® is the clinically proven, nearly invisible way to straighten teeth without metal braces. You wear a series of clear, removable aligners which gradually move your teeth into the desired position. Our aligners can be removed for eating and cleaning.
How does Invisalign work?
Invisalign uses 3-D computer imaging technology to depict the complete treatment plan from the initial position to the final desired position from which a series of custom-made, clear "aligners" are produced. Each "aligner" moves teeth incrementally and is worn for about two weeks, then replaced by the next in the series until the final position is achieved.
What are the primary benefits of Invisalign?
Invisalign is clear. You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing.
Invisalign is removable. Unlike braces, you can eat and drink what you want during treatment. You can also brush and floss normally to maintain good oral hygiene.
Invisalign is comfortable. There are no metal brackets or wires as with braces to cause mouth irritation, and no metal or wires means you spend less time in the doctor's chair getting adjustments.
Invisalign allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan before you start? so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.
What are aligners made of?
Aligners are made of clear, strong medical grade plastic that is virtually invisible when worn.
What do aligners look like?
Aligners are clear and look similar to tooth-whitening trays, but are custom-made for a better fit to move teeth. Some orthodontists and dentists have referred to them as "contact lenses for teeth."
Is this a new way to straighten teeth?
For years, orthodontists and dentists have used removable appliances for limited treatment. Today, with the application of computer technology and custom manufacturing, Invisalign treats a broader range of cases with greater precision.
How old is the company?
Align Technology, Inc., the company that manufactures Invisalign, was founded in 1997. Since then, Align has manufactured over 10,000,000 aligners and 480,000 patients have been in treatment.
How old is this technology?
In 1945, Dr. H.D. Kesling envisioned that one day modern technology would enable the use of a series of tooth positioners to produce the kinds of movements required for comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Technology has made this vision a reality. Using advanced computer technology, Align generates Invisalign®, a series of customized clear appliances, called "aligners." Each aligner is worn sequentially by the patient to produce extensive tooth movements in both upper and lower arches.
How many patients are being treated with Invisalign?
Worldwide, almost 480,000 patients have been treated with Invisalign. The number grows daily.
Do doctors need special training in order to use Invisalign?
While Invisalign can be used with virtually any treatment philosophy, specific training is needed. All orthodontists and dentists interested in treating patients with Invisalign must attend training before cases will be accepted from their office. Close to 30,000 orthodontists and dentists worldwide are certified to use Invisalign.
How does Invisalign effectively move teeth?
Like brackets and arch wires are to braces, Invisalign aligners move teeth through the appropriate placement of controlled force on the teeth. The principal difference is that Invisalign not only controls forces, but also controls the timing of the force application. At each stage, only certain teeth are allowed to move, and these movements are determined by the orthodontic treatment plan for that particular stage. This results in an efficient force delivery system.
More Invisalign® FAQ's
Why should I select Invisalign®?- Aligners are nearly Invisible- straighten your teeth without anyone noticing.
- Aligners are Comfortable- there are no wires or metal to cause mouth abrasions.
- Aligners are Removable- for eating, drinking, dental care or other activities.
- Better oral hygiene during treatment - brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth.
- If you have all your adult teeth (fully-erupted molars), most patients can be treated with Invisalign® even if they have crowns or bridges.
- Many common issues like crooked or crowded teeth, spaces between teeth and certain overbite and crossbite types can successfully be corrected.
- No, you just need to have all your adult / permanent teeth (fully erupted molars).
- Be committed to wearing your aligners at all times except for eating, drinking and cleaning.
- After your initial evaluation, we discuss your goals for a new smile.
- We plan your full treatment together, and take your impressions and photographs.
- With advanced computer technology we can then show you a model of how you could look, before you start your treatment.
- Depending on difficulty, most treatments will take 12 - 18 months.
- How long do I have to wear the aligners?
- The aligners should be worn for 22 to 23 hours a day for the best results.
- Every 2 weeks you change to a new aligner and we recommend a check up once every 6-8 weeks.
- The aligners are made from clear plastic, so they are nearly invisible.
- Even when very close, most people will not notice you are straightening your teeth - unless you tell them!
- No. The aligners are removable so you can still enjoy your favourite food and drinks.
- You need to avoid tooth decay and /or gum disease by not forcing the food particles and sugars against your teeth via the aligners. So keeping them clean is important.
- It is normal that you will only feel temporary discomfort when you wear the aligners for the first few days.
- The smooth aligners are not harmful to the inside of your mouth, but you do feel pressure and this is a good sign that the aligners are working.
- As with conventional treatments, you may feel a slight pressure at first.
- Aligners may temporarily affect the speech of some people, and you may have a slight lisp for a day or two.
- Align Technology, Inc., the company that manufactures Invisalign®, was founded in 1997.
- Since then over 480,000 patients have been in treatment with Invisalign®.
For more information please visit the website http://www.invisalign.com
© 2008, Align Technology, Inc. Invisalign® is a registered trade mark of Align Technology, Inc.
Invisalign® Braces also referred to as Clear Braces, Clear Dental Braces, Invisible Braces and Invisible Dental Braces.
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