Invisalign: Less Painful and Convenient Way for Teeth Alignment | History, Brief and Important Facts

Invisalign is a relatively new way of aligning teeth using a transparent plastic substance. Most aligners are made from PMMA(polymethyl methacrylate) plastics due to their durability and heat resistance. The popularity of Invisalign treatment has increased rapidly in recent years almost replacing braces, and the reason for that is convenience and comfort. You can easily remove them easily while eating food and wear them afterwards. They are made from plastic and might break or deform easily, so need to be extra careful when wearing or removing them.

History

Invisalign is a relatively new treatment founded in 1997 while braces were invented back in 1819. There is an interesting story behind the invention of Invisalign. Zia Chishti credited with the invention of transparent aligners, had no relation with Orthodontics. He was studying at Stanford University and was waiting for his braces to be removed which was taking a lot of time. When his braces were finally removed, the dentist gave him a plastic retainer to keep his teeth in place without braces. This plastic retainer gave him the idea and with his friends he invented Invisalign.

Invisalign is a more complex treatment than braces that requires constant dentist supervision. Regular checks are done at regular intervals which decides the course of further treatment by comparing the current results with the previous one. There are small details in the treatment that need expertise like the small button-like plastic structures called Invisalign attachments placed on the teeth, these are almost invisible small dots that help guide the Invisalign to fit properly.

Invisalign VS Braces–How to Choose What’s Best for You

Both Braces and Invisalign are used to align crooked teeth in a straight line. Braces have been used in dental treatment for centuries and the first set of modern dental braces was invented in 1819 by Christophe-Francois Delabarre.

Braces and Invisalign both show promising results but before choosing what’s best for you there are several factors that you need to consider and some of them are listed below:

• Looks: Invisalign is made from a transparent plastic material PMMA and people can hardly notice the difference, while braces are metal wires that stand out a lot and look a little funny. If you want to keep your teeth alignment a secret you should choose Invisalign.

• Eating and Drinking: You can eat or drink anything without any worries with Invisalign because they are easy to remove and wear. But you should not eat or drink while wearing Invisalign food items can stain the transparent aligners and leave germs and bacteria. In the case of Braces, eating is difficult as food particles may stick to braces, you can drink anything but drinks containing sugar can lead to erosion in teeth. It is advised to cut the food into smaller pieces before eating.

• Treatment pain: Everyone had a childhood fear of dentists due to the pain that comes with dental treatments, Dentists are famous for their scary-looking equipment. Teeth aligning with braces can be painful when they are installed and pain can be persistent for a couple of days or longer. Your braces are then tightened to move your teeth to their place over time, which again causes persistent pain for a couple of days. Pain during Invisalign treatment is significantly low when compared with traditional brace alignments. Invisalign feels more comfortable to wear but the new Invisalign may feel tighter at the start but the pain is mild and tolerable.

• Cost: The cost of Invisalign depends on the kind of procedure you want and the condition of your teeth. But generally, the cost of Invisalign is significantly higher than metal brace alignment.

How long does Invisalign take for Teeth Alignment?

The duration of Invisalign treatment can vary from short-term(3-6 months) to long-term(up to 3 years), and it all depends on the condition of your teeth and the kind of treatment you want. Invisalign treatment needs to be done only under dental supervision as an inexperienced Orthodontist may cause dental injuries. Orthodontists will constantly check the updates through physical attendance or internet conferences, this will give them an idea of whether the treatment is going according to the plan or not.

To give you a general idea, it can take about 3-6 months for minor alignments that do not require moving the teeth much. In case your teeth are not showing much movement or the degree is misalignment is severe, the treatment might take 2-3 years. After considering every detail, your Orthodontist will decide the duration of treatment. It is not advised to remove Invisalign permanently without confirming with your Orthodontist, as it can affect your teeth and gum health.

Invisalign Cost, Precautions and What to Avoid During the Treatment

The total cost of Invisalign treatment may range from $2000 to $10,000 depending on the quality of the material, duration of alignment and the fees of the Orthodontist. Invisalign treatment is more expensive than traditional brace alignment because the process of designing and developing the aligners requires high-quality labs and the supervision of an experienced orthodontist at every step of the process.

Precaution and things to avoid

• Wear the Invisalign for at least 20 hours daily for a smooth treatment, remove them when eating, drinking and brushing your teeth. When the aligners are removed keep them inside a container to save them from contamination.
• Avoid eating while wearing Invisalign, doing so can lead to stained and germ-filled aligners. Aligners are made of plastic and they can removed comfortably before eating. Be careful when removing the Invisalign and applying unnecessary force may break the aligners.
• You should not smoke while wearing aligners, doing otherwise will affect your teeth health and alignments.
• You can avoid or limit the use of high-sugar food items as they can increase the risk of cavities.

How to Deal with the Pain during Treatment?

Pain during the Invisalign treatment is significantly low as compared with traditional metal brace alignments. The degree and severity of pain may differ from person to person and their health conditions. Still, if you feel any pain or discomfort below are some ways you can reduce pain:

• You can use prescribed painkillers like acetaminophen or aspirin, do not take these medicines without consulting with your dentist.
• Using a cold compress can limit the blood flow in the area to relieve pain and discomfort. You use ice cubes as an alternative, take the ice cube and press it against the area causing discomfort.
• Invisalign has sharp edges that rub against the soft tissues of your gum, causing irritation, you can use dental wax to get rid of the discomfort. Ask your doctor for instructions when using Dental wax.
• Jaw massage also provides pain relief in Invisalign treatment, use two fingers of each hand to gently press your jawline.

Conclusion

Invisalign is a popular treatment for aligning your teeth and giving you a sweet smile. To proceed with the treatment with Invisalign there are things you should consider like cost, duration, precautions and others. Invisalign treatment requires constant dental supervision from a professional. This treatment requires experience and expertise in the dental field, a good dentist can make your treatment pain-free.

For more information, you can search online for an Invisalign doctor site to enquire about the procedure and cost. The cost of the may vary according to the material and the duration of the treatment.