This article takes a look at Invisalign treatment, how it works and what patients can expect from their experience of getting a straighter, healthier and more beautiful smile.
Invisalign is a revolutionary orthodontic treatment that has generated tsunami-sized waves in New York because of its ability to treat a wide variety of common dental problems without the need for painfully sore and painfully obvious metal braces. In this article, an experienced Invisalign dentist in NYC explains how the treatment works and what NYC residents can expect on their journey to a healthier, more beautiful smile.
How Does Invisalign Work?
The Invisalign system consists of a series of totally translucent aligners or mouth trays. You begin with the first aligner, which you wear for a period of two weeks and throughout the day and night, except when cleaning your teeth or eating. After a fortnight, you change over to the next aligner in the series.
"How Invisalign works is quite simple," explains a cosmetic dentist in New York. "Each aligner is custom fabricated to fit over your teeth but with the smallest difference in configuration so that it actually applies a pressure to the surface of the teeth that aren't oriented correctly. At first, the patient will be conscious of this pressure, but that will soon dissipate as the tooth or teeth move into their newer, better positions.
"After two weeks, the patient will discard their aligner and insert the next in the series, which is once again very slightly different to the existing alignment and configuration of their teeth. The teeth will, again, be forced into better positions and treatment continues this way for anywhere between 12 and 24 months until the teeth are in the best possible positions."
What Problems Can Invisalign Treatment Correct?
Invisalign can be used to treat most common orthodontic problems, from skew and crooked teeth to a badly aligned upper and lower dentition: bucked teeth, over bites, under bites and cross bites included. While there are some advanced orthodontic problems and severe cases of the afore-mentioned conditions that will need to be addressed with more conventional treatment methods, Invisalign can help most New York residents achieve the smile of their dreams!
Key Differences Between Invisalign and Traditional Braces
Traditional braces can almost look quite charming on a child, but for adults, they could very well be a considerable social and professional impediment. The biggest and most immediately noticeable difference between braces and Invisalign is that the former is painfully obvious while the latter is wholly discrete and actually invisible to the casual observer.
"It is this benefit that has compelled many New York residents to seek orthodontic treatment, whereas before the introduction of Invisalign, the idea of having to wear metal braces for more than a year might have put them off," explains one NYC cosmetic dentist.
Other Benefits of Invisalign Include:
- The correction of badly aligned teeth.
- The promotion of good bite function.
- The prevention of tooth decay associated with skew, overlapping teeth, which are difficult to keep clean.
- The prevention of dental trauma and uneven wear patterns associated with badly aligned upper and lower teeth.
- Much better and more beautiful smile aesthetics.
- Greater self-confidence.
- No pain and discomfort! The Invisalign aligners are smooth and comfortable and don't cause the ulceration of the cheeks and tongue as traditional braces typically do.
Considering all of the above, it's not hard to understand why Invisalign has become the recommendation of cosmetic dentists and of New Yorkers who demand only the highest standard of aesthetics.