Invisalign braces are a really discreet way to straighten your teeth. Almost invisible to the casual eye they are made up of a series of clear aligners which you can remove with no need for metal brackets or metal wires. That is why they are one of the most popular braces systems in the world.
Cosmetic dentist Dr Brendan Murphy gives us a quick run down on what you need to know about Invisalign braces. The top line:
Click to watch Dr Murphy's video
Invisalign aligners are made of clear strong medical grade plastic. Each aligner is worn for two weeks and only removed to drink, eat and clean your teeth. Little by little as you wear each of your aligners, your teeth will move into the position we want.
You will need to visit our dental practice every six weeks so we can monitor your progress of treatment, with total treatment time being on average nine to fifteen months and the average number of aligners required being between eighteen to thirty aligners. However this may vary according to your individual needs.
The custom aligners apply a gentle force to align your teeth. Each aligner only concentrates on particular teeth. This makes for a very efficient treatment plan.
As Appletree is a leading Glasgow Invisalign clinic, we are big fans of the treatment. However your needs always come first and Invisalign will not suit everyone. On the whole however Invisalign is great for treating gaps between your teeth, overbites and over crowding.
There will be mild discomfort when you first wear your aligner. Don't worry, that is not unusual with dental braces and most patients find this goes away after a couple of days.
There is also a possibility that the aligners will affect your speech, but this also tends to be a short-lived inconvenience.
There are no restrictions on what you can eat during treatment - as long as you take your aligners out first - and you can brush your teeth and aligners afterwards.
Smoking is discouraged as it can lead to staining of the aligners, and we don't advise chewing gum.
The best way to clean your aligners is by brushing them with a toothbrush, and don't forget to clean your teeth while you are at it!
Aligners should be worn for around 22 hours per day. The other two hours should give you enough time to eat and clean your teeth and aligners.
When treatment is complete you may need a retainer to wear at night to make sure your teeth stay straight.
Patients who choose Invisalign in Scotland find it offers a very discreet option for teeth straightening. They are removable, which means you can eat and drink without any hardship and this also makes cleaning your teeth and of course the aligners a lot easier.
What is more you are likely to find Invisalign aligners a lot more comfortable than metal braces. Using a virtual treatment plan we can even show you how your treatment will progress before you start.