Invisalign before and after is like a progression from badly placed and misaligned teeth to well arranged and beautiful teeth. Invisalign can correct teeth misalignment and abnormalities without using metal braces. Instead of the traditional braces that you are used to or know, invisalign are made as custom made, clear braces. It is also known as clear aligners or invisible braces.
You may think because it is made of plastic, invisalign cannot correct the teeth as opposed to metal braces that can straighten crooked teeth. This is false as both metal braces and invisalign can work well on the teeth and give good results.
ARE INVISALIGNS AS EFFECTIVE AS BRACES
Reports from people who have used this type of dental device stated that invisalign are as effective as metal braces, they can be used to treat wide range of dental issues. The American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in 2017 conducted a research and reported that invisalign can be more effective in some dental issues than others.
Some dental issues that can be corrected with invisalign are:
- Overcrowded teeth
- Spaces and gaps in teeth
- Open bite
- Overbite
- Underbite; and
- Crossbite.
BEFORE AND AFTER INVISALIGN
Before choosing invisalign as a dental device, there are some things you should consider like:
i. You will need pre-treatment before invisalign: Before fixing the clear aligners to your teeth, the orthodontist will do some pre-treatment like shaving your teeth or removing some teeth to make space. This is done to get your teeth ready.
ii. You will have to wear the invisalign for 22 hours a day: Wearing the clear aligners for 22 hours is recommended, you only have to remove them when you need to eat, drink or brush after which you put them on. Wearing them always will help the aligners to work on the teeth faster.
iii. Wearing invisalign for the first time can cause some pain and discomfort. With time, you will be used to it.
iv. You cannot use toothpaste on your aligners: Anytime you need to brush your teeth, you remove your invisalign and replace them after brushing. There is a cleaner that is meant for cleaning aligners.
v. Once you are done wearing invisalign, you will have to wear retainers. The retainers helps your teeth to remain in their new shapes and positions. They will help your teeth maximize the effective results of the invisalign.
vi. You must always clean your aligners to avoid germs and bacteria getting stuck in the nook and cranny of the aligners.
vii. Invisalign are easy to be loosed if care is not taken. You will always place them in their case when you are not wearing them.
During the invisalign procedure
The first step to getting clear aligners is to visit your orthodontist to take an image of your teeth which will be used to create customized aligners for you. The image will used to map out a plan for shifting your teeth into their right positions. From the plan that has been developed, your orthodontist can create different invisalign that will be rearrange your teeth.
From the series of invisalign created, you will be changing one set of aligners for a new one at least once every two weeks. You will also be instructed to always wear your invisalign for 22 hours every day to give the aligners much time to work on the teeth.
After the invisalign
You will have to wear retainers, they are like post treatment devices that help your newly positioned teeth to maintain their alignment. Without the retainers, the teeth will easily go back to their misaligned shape and position.
OVERBITE BEFORE AND AFTER INVISALIGN
When the upper teeth extend beyond the lower teeth, it is called an overbite (Smile Perfectors, 2020). Mild or little overbite may be normal in some people but when it is extreme or severe, it can cause gum problems and other dental issues. Most people ask if invisalign can treat overbite as well as metal braces, although Invisalign are made of plastic, they can correct overbite.
Invisalign are not made with wires or bracket like the traditional braces but it is designed in a way that they fit into the teeth to correct them. If you follow the instructions given to you by your doctor and change the aligners within a period of time, your overbite will be corrected with time.
TEETH CROWDING BEFORE AND AFTER INVISALIGN
Teeth crowding is when there is not enough room in your mouth for your teeth to develop properly. This can make it difficult to brush or floss your teeth. They can even cause biting of the tongue or inner cheek when eating or talking, speech problems and can affect facial appearance.
Invisalign can correct crowded teeth and straighten them. Just like other dental issues, your orthodontist will take images of your teeth which will be used to replicate aligners for you. The invisalign will gradually push the teeth into proper places by moving each teeth one-quarter of a millimeter. The more the teeth moves, the more the mouth has space. The treatment time may take two or three months, others may take 12 to 18 months depending on how overcrowded the teeth are.
GAPS IN THE TEETH BEFORE AND AFTER INVISALIGN
Some tooth gaps are small and does not affect the arrangement while some may be too large. The large tooth gaps can trap in food particles which can cause bacteria to attack the gums and teeth. The orthodontist will take an x-ray of the teeth to locate the gaps and make aligners to work on them.
The invisalign will gradually shift the teeth to fill the spaces and gaps. The aligners will be changed once every two weeks. To correct gaps in the teeth, the aligners can be worn between six months or 18 months.
UNDERBITE BEFORE AND AFTER INVISALIGN
Underbite occurs when the lower front teeth are in front of the upper teeth, this makes the jaws to be too forward. Underbite can cause speech impairment, difficult to chew properly and the teeth may start to wear out more quickly.
If the underbite is as a result of misaligned and improper teeth position, then invisalign can correct it. Severe underbite can be treated with surgery. Invisalign corrects underbite by moving the teeth into their right positions gradually. If the underbite is minor, it can take about 3 to 4 months to be aligned but if severe, it can take 12 months.
EXPRESS INVISALIGN BEFORE AND AFTER
Express invisalign is the same as the traditional invisalign but the time duration is shorter than the traditional. Apart from having short time duration, express invisalign gives faster results and can give efficient results. Express invisalign is best for mild to moderate dental misalignment. To get express invisalign, images of your teeth are taken which will be used to produce aligners. After the first visit, you will see your orthodontist to fix the invisalign and also give you instructions on how to care for it.
You will also visit your doctor from time to time for monitoring and adjustments if there is need for them. It will take around 6 months to correct misaligned teeth for an express invisalign. One major difference between the traditional and express invisalign is that the express invisalign uses few aligners (10 or less) as compared to the traditional that can use between 20 to 30 aligners.
HOW QUICKLY DO TEETH MOVE WITH INVISALIGN
The speed at which the teeth are repositioned differs, we are all different and the dental issue will differ as well. There are many factors that will determine how fast your invisalign will give you results.
- The extent of your dental problem
- The shape of your jaw
- Genetic factor
- How long you wear the aligners
- Your diet and lifestyle
- The condition of your gum
However, it may take from 6 to 12 months for your teeth to move into the correct position with Invisalign (Dental Health Society, 2020). Others may see results two months after wearing the aligners. There is no fixed time, give your teeth enough time to reposition themselves.
COST OF GETTING INVISALIGN
The cost of getting an invisalign is similar to the cost of getting traditional braces . The cost is usually around $3,000 and $5,000, this price is dependent on factors like your location, the severity of your teeth issues and how long you will need to wear the braces. You can check if your insurance plan covers dental treatment like invisalign.
CONCLUSION
Invisalign is an orthodontic device that works as well as the traditional braces. It is used to treat mild and moderate teeth misalignments. It can be used for overbite, underbite, overcrowding and gaps. Invisalign is recommended for people who do not want others to notice they are wearing braces. Your orthodontist will determine if clear aligners are the best for your teeth problems. You should also know that wearing invisalign needs more care so as not to entrap germs and bacteria in them.