How Does Invisalign Work?
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Identification
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Invisalign works a lot like braces, except without any of the bracket, wires and other contraptions often used to straighten and enhance your smile. Your orthodontist will start off with an impression of your teeth. From there, a series of "aligners" will be fashioned (usually anywhere from 20 to 30 inserts), each crafted to gradually make subtle changes in the position of your teeth. Every two weeks or so, depending on your dental professional's recommendation, you'll switch out one aligner for the next in the series to progressively "shift your teeth into place," according to Align Technology, the makers of Invisalign. The easiest way to look at it is as a systematic modification in the position of your teeth in stages. As time goes by, the position of your teeth will slowly move closer to their intended goal, just like regular braces.
Design
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As your teeth move and shift during the stages of alignment, you'll continue to go back to your dental professional's office to essentially monitor the progress of your orthodontic treatment. Though the doctor will have already charted out the course of your teeth, your checkups will essentially allow your doctor to gauge your progress and make any adjustments needed to the next set of aligners you'll use to shift your teeth. This form of treatment is completely customized for your mouth. It isn't a cookie-cutter mode of care, and the devices cannot be used by anyone other than you. If you're interested in Invisalign, you should talk to your dentist or orthodontist. While it is said to work on almost all dental issues, such as overbites, underbites and other orthodontic problems, your dental professional can determine whether Invisalign will work for you.
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Invisalign Vs. Braces
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The real difference between Invisalign and braces is two-fold. The first benefit is that the aligners are totally removable, making it easier to brush, floss and even eat without having to deal with those bracket and wires used in traditional braces. It can really make dental care a lot less complicated, allowing you to use a simple toothbrush, standard floss and maintain your normal diet (not having to eliminate harder food products that tend to break off the brackets of traditional braces). The second benefit is the comfort factor. While you may experience some soreness or tenderness within your teeth or jaw as the aligners shift the position of your teeth, you won't experience any of the irritation inside the mouth that frequently takes place with traditional braces. The reason for this is that Invisalign is fairly smooth, so the insides of your mouth never rub or press into hard brackets.
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