Having crooked teeth or any other orthodontic issue can leave you feeling self-conscious about the appearance of your smile. The obvious way to address this is with some form of orthodontic treatment.
You may have already considered teeth straightening to achieve the smile you want, but you may be put off when you realise you must wear an appliance for up to two years.
This is why Invisalign is such an attractive option to many people. Invisalign aligners are clear, comfortable, and removable. Many people ask, “How invisible is Invisalign?”
In this article, we’ll examine Invisalign treatment and shed some light on whether anyone will see your clear aligners.
Fixed braces have been the go-to method for straightening teeth for many years. Although the brackets and wires may have become more refined over time, the process is essentially the same as it was several decades ago.
With a fixed brace treatment, brackets are bonded to the fronts of your teeth. A wire is then fed through the brackets and held tightly in place using small bands. Traditionally, the brackets and wire are metal. However, modern braces are often clear or made from tooth-coloured ceramic material.
This type of fixed brace system is highly effective. It gives your dentist great control over the straightening process. We’ll adjust the tension along the wire throughout your treatment to guide your teeth into the perfect position.
For a more subtle option, you may consider Invisalign. Invisalign is a clear aligner system. Instead of being fixed in place, you can take your aligner out whenever necessary, such as at mealtimes or when you brush your teeth.
Instead of adjusting your aligner, we’ll replace it every two weeks, so there’s no need for appointments to tighten it. Every aligner is precisely designed to move your teeth a small fraction further. During your treatment, you could have anywhere between 12 and 48 or more aligners.
Invisalign is made from a patented translucent, medical-grade thermoplastic called SmartTrack. The meticulously designed layers within the aligner material apply a measured force to move your teeth. Best of all, this precision is achieved while remaining virtually invisible.
It’s unlikely anyone will notice you wearing aligners from a distance. Not only are Invisalign aligners clear, but they are also perfectly made to match your teeth. This means they won’t stick out or hang down from your teeth, keeping your smile looking completely natural.
Although your aligner is barely visible, you may worry you’ll occasionally feel conscious about it being there. Because it’s removable, it could be tempting to take it out as often as you like.
To achieve the results you expect from your treatment, you’ll need to wear your aligner for at least 22 hours each day.
This means you can take it out to eat and drink or brush your teeth. It does leave a small amount of time for spending brief periods without your aligner. For instance, you can take it out briefly for photos.
It’s important to remember to put your aligner back in. It’s often easy to forget. But without near-constant wear, your treatment could become delayed or ineffective.
The subtlety of your aligner is reliant on it remaining clear. Stains will make your aligner stand out more. And, although you’ll replace your aligner eventually, discolouration will affect the appearance of your smile in the meantime.
You should always remove your aligner when eating or drinking. Not only could chewing cause damage, or the temperature of your food and beverages could warp your aligner, but wearing your aligner while eating could also cause stains.
Although keeping your aligner clean is easy, certain items will leave their mark. Dark berries, spices, coffee, tea, cola, and tobacco smoke will all cause discolouration.
If you’ve consumed anything that could cause staining, brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth with water immediately afterwards is also a good idea.
Wearing your aligner all day and night means you will pick up bacteria from your mouth and trap food particles left on your teeth from mealtimes. It’s essential to clean your aligner often.
You should wash your aligner whenever you brush your teeth. Aligner cleaning products are available. However, you can use warm water, liquid soap, and a separate soft toothbrush from the one you use for your teeth.
You will need to take your aligner out several times each day. When you do, you risk damaging it or exposing it to bacteria. Avoid putting it loose in your pocket or bag. Don’t leave it lying around, and don’t wrap it up in tissue.
Put your aligner in a special case. Remember to keep the case clean, too.
Every smile is unique. As such, the position of your teeth will differ compared to others. Mild orthodontic issues can be treated with Invisalign in six months, whereas more severe cases will take up to two years.
Once you’ve finished your Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to wear a retainer for a while. A retainer is similar to an aligner, but instead of aligning your teeth, it retains them in their new position.
You’ll wear the retainer until your teeth permanently settle into their new position. As time goes by after your Invisalign treatment, the amount you’ll wear your retainer will be reduced until you only need it at night, and eventually even less frequently.
Invisalign is one of the most discreet ways to align your teeth and get the smile you’ve always wanted. This subtle treatment eliminates many of the self-conscious feelings experienced by wearers of traditional metal fixed braces.
Contact us today to arrange your Invisalign consultation.
