How Does Invisalign Work?
Would you really like to straighten your teeth and have a prettier smile, but are you always postponing your plans because you don't want to wear braces that are showing all the time? Then you might want to know what Invisalign is and what this treatment can offer. Developed after two decades of experience, research and testing, this system can deliver results 50% faster than traditional methods – and without compromising your aesthetics during treatment.
What is Invisalign?
The Invisalign method is also ideal for those patients who want to wear discreet braces, where they can be assured that their smile will not change much during their treatment. Without using brackets or metallic wires, this system consists of a set of removable and practically invisible trays. These trays are produced after a thorough analysis of the patient's dental structure, including a digital mapping that indicates the steps to be followed in the treatment. In this way, all procedures are based on state-of-the-art technology to offer faster and more accurate results. Invisalign is indicated to treat from the simplest to the most complex cases, including orthodontic problems such as overbite, prognathism, crossbite, diastema, open bite, crowded teeth and other types of misalignments.
How does Invisalign treatment work?
The Invisalign treatment consists of using a sequence of custom trays (aligners) produced with a transparent and comfortable material, which goes practically unnoticed – very different from a traditional device. Each of these trays is usually worn for one or two weeks, about 22 hours a day, and then replaced with the next aligner. Thus, the trays act in sequence to promote the necessary movements to align your smile.
As Invisalign aligners are not glued to the teeth, unlike fixed braces, they provide more convenience, as you can remove them at mealtimes or at a social event. That way, it's much easier to clean and you avoid any embarrassment on important occasions. Visits to the orthodontist take place every six to eight weeks to allow progress to be assessed. At each consultation, the patient receives three or four sets of trays to be able to proceed with the treatment at home.
The development of Invisalign trays is a process that involves very advanced technology in the field of orthodontics, in order to offer more predictability and control over treatment results – in addition to greater speed. After the initial evaluation by the orthodontist, they may request resources such as photographs, radiographs and other exams to confirm the diagnosis and elaborate the treatment plan.
How Invisalign aligners work
With the digital plan drawn up with the help of the software, move on to the stage of making the trays. They are produced through a high-tech printing that uses SmartTrack, a transparent and smooth material that adapts easily to your mouth – unlike the common plastic used in other types of aligners. Because everyone's gum line is different, aligners are cut individually. This makes them offer much more comfort to the patient and have a super discreet appearance. In addition to trays, the Invisalign system has SmartForce features, small pieces of the same color as tooth enamel that are attached to the teeth before or during treatment. These little pieces offer a "support point" for the aligners to firm up, allowing them to do the work of traction of the teeth depending on the needs of each patient.
At the end of all steps, Invisalign still offers a resource to keep your smile always beautiful and aligned. These are Vivera retainers, transparent and practically invisible trays that are made with the same technology as the aligners and allow you to preserve the results of your treatment.