Invisalign London is a revolutionary method of teeth straightening that has already helped correct more than 14 million smiles across the world. It is a popular alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment and uses medical-grade thermoplastic aligners rather than metal brackets and wires to straighten teeth. This means it has many advantages, especially for patients who have avoided traditional metal braces and are looking for more convenient and discreet orthodontic treatments.
Invisible aligners
The first advantage of Invisalign is that the aligners are almost invisible when worn. You can straighten your teeth without anyone noticing you undergoing orthodontic treatment; this is great for patients who are already embarrassed by their teeth and do not want to draw further attention to their mouths. Most adults are reluctant to wear visible braces, which is why Invisalign has proven so popular amongst adult patients across the world. Invisalign is also a popular choice amongst self-conscious teenagers who want to enjoy the benefits of straight teeth but are embarrassed or shy about wearing traditional metal braces.
Invisalign aligners are an excellent alternative to metal braces, and much research and development has been carried out to make sure they are safe and effective. These aligners are made of polyurethane resins, a blend of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 1.6-hexanediol. They are medical grade and BPA-free, meaning they are safe to use and mostly non-allergenic. They have a high molecular weight, making them strong and resistant to cracking or damage, and they are thin and flexible, which allows for a more comfortable wearing experience and easy removal.
How do Invisalign aligners work?
Invisalign aligners are designed using advanced digital dental technology. An intraoral scan of your mouth is carried out, to begin with. Your dentist will insert a small wand into your mouth and gently move it over the surface area of your teeth. The wand will identify the exact shape and size of each tooth and within a couple of minutes create a detailed digital impression of all of your teeth; this is much easier than traditional methods of impression-taking and also helps make more accurate records.
The dentist will then use the Invisalign software to create a before-and-after prediction of how your teeth can look after straightening with Invisalign. The desired movements will be divided into 0.25 mm sections, and this will determine how many aligners you need to straighten your teeth.
A model of each stage of the movement is 3-D printed and used as a model for the actual thermoplastic aligner. The plastic is heated, pressure adapted and moulded over the model. It is then trimmed and polished to custom-make each aligner with accuracy and precision. Each aligner is shaped slightly differently to the next and will help towards moving your teeth in the right direction. Each aligner is numbered for your convenience and packed sequentially to avoid confusion.
Invisalign attachments
If you have healthy teeth and gums, then this part of the process would only take 2 to 4 weeks, and either the aligners can be delivered directly to you, or you can visit your dentist for an initial fitting. Most patients require attachments to be fitted onto the surface of their teeth to help grip the aligners properly. These attachments are made of composite, which means they can blend in with your natural teeth and are unnoticeable. They help the aligners place a lot more pressure on your teeth for better movement. The number of attachments you need can vary based on your unique dental requirements.
How to wear the aligners
Each aligner needs to be kept in the mouth for approximately 22 hours a day. You need to take them out at meal times and if you drink anything other than water; this prevents your aligners from becoming stained or damaged. The aligners need to be worn for two weeks, and then you move on to the next aligner in the series. Each time you change your aligners, they may feel tight or uncomfortable, to begin with, but you should become accustomed to them overnight. You must keep your aligners safe because if you misplace them, this can put a hold on the treatment process. You will be provided with a travel case, and you should also keep your used aligners in case you lose one and need to go back to the previous one while you wait for a new one to be made. Speak to your dentist today about Invisalign and why it is such a popular choice of teeth straightening amongst patients across the world.
