Traditionally, when you are troubled with a misalignment or malocclusion issue such as crooked or crowded teeth; twisted or rotated teeth; gaps, crossbites, overbites and deep bites, you go through braces. To straightened and bring them to proper alignment, you need to endure life as a metal mouth. You know braces? You have probably seen them on other people—they are made up of small box-like metal components called brackets, wires and rubbers. They look absolutely ridiculous and can be very uncomfortable. Many people try to avoid going through braces even if they know that it is their only hope to getting a beautiful smile. Even with the introduction or better options such as ceramic and self-ligating braces, the very thought of having those things stuck on their teeth is discomforting.
Enter Invisalign
When Invisalign was introduced, the discouraging woes of patients met some resolution. It was something new and it was amazing; but for you to understand how it works, here is a discussion of its pros and cons.
Pros
- It is “invisible”. The most important feature of Invisalign is that it is relatively invisible. Your smile is not given a metal appearance because the aligners or trays are clear and snug fit, so it’s as if you’re not wearing it. It suits people who regard braces as something juvenile and cannot endure the appearance especially with their age, career and status in society.
- It is a do-it-yourself treatment. Given the nature of the treatment, a patient can make a decision to undergo treatment on his own (with minor supervision by his dentist). As long as the instructions are followed, patients may carryout the treatment by themselves. It is ideal for patients who are busy and cannot really come for regular appointments. If a patient is constantly travelling and going around—this is ideal because it requires very little supervision by a dental professional.
- It is more comfortable. Another very important feature is that you get to straighten your teeth without going through brackets, wires and rubbers. You will not have problem with food; you will have some discomfort from the pressure of the trays but will not develop sores that are almost automatic with braces; and you can continue with your physical activities—even contact sports—which is a contraindication for braces.
Cons
- It is costly. The technology is exclusive and with the sophistication, you can expect heightened cost. Imagine having straighter teeth without going through braces—it is absolutely amazing. Traditional orthodontic treatments are already expensive; this highly specialized technology is a whole different league.
- It can only tackle a limited type of cases. While Invisalign typically does the job, it is believed to be limited in terms of dealing with cases. More complicated cases that require active manipulation will be a roadblock for it—proper diagnosis is key to determining whether or not Invisalign is ideal.
- It is technique-sensitive. The aligners or trays are delivered along with the treatment plan. It comes with instructions that patients and dentists have to strictly follow. Failure to do so may nullify the rest of the aligners. Say, if a patient fails to wear the tray and his teeth alters (as most teeth naturally undergo shifting) the succeeding trays may no longer fit. This is a worst-case-scenario but it is important to note that it can happen.
The above discussion gives a detailed discussion of you should know about Invisalign before making a decision about it. As a patient, it is your duty to make an informed decision about your treatment.
