If your dentist recommends orthodontic treatment to correct a malocclusion (the technical term for a dental misalignment), proceeding with treatment sooner rather than later is important. Correcting a misalignment can help you guard against a range of issues, such as:
- Speech difficulties
- Chewing difficulties
- Challenges maintaining oral health
Luckily, you might not have to wear traditional metal and wire braces to address a dental misalignment. Ask your dentist if you’re a candidate for Invisalign treatment instead.
Invisalign treatment involves addressing a malocclusion by wearing transparent aligners. The following information will explain in greater detail how Invisalign treatment works and why you may consider this option.
What Does Invisalign Treatment Involve?
The specifics of the Invisalign treatment process may vary to some extent from one patient to another. Generally, though, this form of treatment involves the following steps:
- A general evaluation to confirm whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign
- Taking impressions of your teeth and generating images to send to Invisalign’s lab, where Invisalign’s team will generate your custom aligners
- Receiving your aligners and wearing them for a certain length of time every day
- Using the same set of aligners for a specified length of time before moving on to a new set
During the course of treatment, the aligners will shift your teeth into the proper position. Carefully following the instructions your dentist offers regarding when to wear your aligners and how to care for them will play a critical role in the effectiveness of your treatment. If you have any questions about Invisalign, be sure to ask your dentist for clarification.
Tips for Ensuring Invisalign is Effective
Along with following the instructions of your dentist, you may optimize the results of Invisalign treatment by:
- Staying on top of your oral hygiene, which involves brushing and flossing when you’re not wearing your aligners
- Cleaning your aligners according to a set schedule
- Attending all follow-up appointments during treatment
- Keeping your aligners in a safe container when you’re not wearing them
Depending on your needs, your dentist might also recommend taking additional steps after Invisalign treatment ends, such as wearing a retainer. Follow their advice to preserve the results Invisalign treatment delivers.
Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign offers a range of unique advantages that distinguish this treatment method from braces. They include the following:
Cosmetic Benefits
Unless you tell them, no one will know you’re wearing Invisalign’s clear aligners throughout the day. Patients who choose Invisalign over traditional braces often do so because Invisalign has no negative impact on their smiles.
Lack of Dietary Restrictions
Eating certain foods during treatment has the potential to damage traditional braces. Thus, when patients wear braces, they typically have to modify their diets accordingly.
Invisalign treatment is different. Patients remove Invisalign aligners before meals. Thus, they usually don’t have to avoid foods they might otherwise have to eliminate if they wore braces.
Faster Treatment
According to a study in the journal BMC Oral Health, correcting a malocclusion with braces often takes longer than correcting the same type of misalignment with Invisalign. More efficient treatment is among several ways Invisalign offers a degree of convenience that traditional braces may not match.
Speak With Your Dentist for More Information About Invisalign
Only an oral health professional can determine whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. Discuss the topic with your dentist to learn whether this treatment option is ideal for your needs. Their insights may also help you better understand what Invisalign treatment consists of.
Learn More About Invisalign in Framingham, MA
At Metrowest Prosthodontics, we’d be glad to answer any questions you may have about Invisalign. Call us today at 508-620-6622 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.