Clear braces: a brief guide to Invisalign

When you are an adult, it is more common than you think to have teeth that may be moving slightly out of line. Or, perhaps you grew up with misaligned teeth and now want to resolve the issue?

Either way, you can get the straighter smile you want and deserve with Invisalign’s clear aligners!

At Spa Dental Sydney, we are happy to fit our suitable patients with clear braces Sydney like Invisalign and can advise on how to care for them in daily life to ensure that you get the most out of this treatment option.

In this guide, we provide a short introduction to clear braces Sydney, so you can get a better idea of whether or not they are the right treatment to correct your misaligned teeth. Enjoy!

How does Invisalign work?

Clear braces Sydney like Invisalign works with the same underlying principle as regular braces; by applying force to your teeth, the aligners can move your teeth into new positions.

However, unlike traditional braces, Invisalign is an aligner, which can be moulded to the shape of your teeth and moves them by you changing the aligners that you wear throughout your treatment.

We will take an accurate image of your teeth at the beginning using an intraoral scanner, and then computer technology will move your teeth digitally and print out the required aligners to match the computer simulation.

Suitability

To be suitable for treatment with Invisalign, you will need to have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment, which does not involve your molar teeth.

You also must have good oral health, and any incidents of tooth decay or gum disease have to be resolved before you begin this treatment. You also have to be committed; as Invisalign is removable, it is tempting to leave it out of your mouth for extended periods, which can negatively impact the outcome and treatment time.

Treatment time

For most people who are undertaking Invisalign, the treatment will take an average of 3 to 6 months to complete, but this will vary depending on the severity of the misalignment being treated.

As mentioned earlier, you have to wear the aligners for a set period each day to get the most out of them, which is typically around 22 hours or as directed by our dental team.

Contraindications

If you have gum disease or tooth decay, this can halt or slow the treatment time, as our team will need to resolve these issues before proceeding.

You should also refrain from smoking or drinking alcohol while wearing Invisalign, as these activities can cause your gums to recede and your teeth to come loose, which is not a good idea when you are attempting to move them.

Retainers

It is common for people who have undertaken treatment with Invisalign to assume that they do not need to wear retainers after the aligners come off.

But this is false; retainers are designed to hold the teeth in their new positions and prevent them from reverting. So, if you do not wear your retainers after using Invisalign, you may not be able to retain your newer, straighter smile for very long.

DISCLAIMER

All treatment carries risks. Individual consultation is required with one of our practitioners to ensure that the treatment is right for you.