If you are looking for a way to improve the appearance and the structure of your natural smile, you may have already heard about the benefits of Invisalign. The truth is that Invisalign treatment is helping patients of many ages get the effective and efficient cosmetic treatments that they need to love their smiles.
In this article our Toluca Lake cosmetic dentists are providing details about how Invisalign works, and for whom it is beneficial.
The Materials
Traditional orthodontics use metal brackets and wires to move teeth. This means that the patient’s oral tissues are continually in contact with metal elements. Invisalign treatment, on the other hand, moves teeth using only clear plastic resin. Invisalign is totally metal free, and thus generally more comfortable than traditional metal orthodontics.
The Mechanics
When a patient wears metal braces, she has metal brackets bonded to her teeth. Then these brackets are connected by metal wires, which provide tension. The tensions of the wires gradually move the patient’s teeth into better positions.
When a patient chooses Invisalign, she wears plastic resin aligners, which fit into place over her natural teeth. These aligners provide the necessary pressure to move her teeth. In order to keep the teeth moving the right directions, the patient will upgrade to a new aligner every few weeks or so.
One of the key differences between Invisalign and metal braces, in terms of day-to-day use, is that metal braces are not removable by the patient, while Invisalign aligners are totally removable. In fact, as an Invisalign patient you will actually take out your aligners when it’s time to eat and drink, as well as when it’s time to clean your smile.
We hope that this short Invisalign overview has been useful for you. To learn more about all of your cosmetic dentistry options, please feel free to call our Toluca Lake dentists!