Achieving a straighter smile has become easier than ever before. With Invisalign aligners, you can straighten your smile without anyone even noticing you are undergoing treatment. Invisalign is a removable orthodontic appliance that is offered as an alternative to more traditional orthodontic solutions. Introduced in 1999 by Align Technologies, Invisalign incorporates a series of invisible, clear aligners that comfortably fit over your teeth and are designed to gradually move your teeth to their desired position. Our dentist serving Chicago, IL, and River Forest, IL is available to help you understand Invisalign and how it works.
Invisalign vs. Traditional Braces
Invisalign may not be appropriate for certain cases of misalignment or complex bite problems, but traditional, fixed orthodontic appliances can be used for complex malocclusions. Traditional braces, though not as esthetically appealing as Invisalign, have been improved so they are smaller, less visible and more efficient than in the past. These wire-and-bracket braces help to correct misalignment faster than before.
Only our Chicago and River Forest area dentist can determine which treatment is best for straightening your smile. Invisalign is used for the following conditions:
Overly crowded teeth
Widely spaced teeth
Overbite-overjet
Crossbite
Mild relapse
Simple bite irregularities
How Invisalign Works
A simple method for straightening teeth, Invisalign first requires a set of impressions and photographs of the teeth. The impressions are used to create a three-dimensional computer projection of how the teeth could be moved in increments. These increments will help develop a series of custom-made aligners to accomplish the movement of the teeth.
The impressions are then sent to the Align Technologies dental laboratory. Using the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) the aligners will be created from the impressions. Once complete, the aligners are sent to your dentist who will dispense them in groups of one or two at a time during regular check-up appointments so that treatment can be properly managed.
Each aligner must be worn for its specified time, approximately two weeks. During this time, your teeth will move in small increments of about .25 millimeters to .33 millimeters. Your aligners are removable for eating, drinking certain beverages, and brushing/flossing. Although removable, they must be worn at least 20 hours a day in order to successfully reposition your teeth.
Interested in Invisalign from Lynch Dental Center? Call our Chicago, IL office at (312) 263-3235 or our River Forest, IL office at (708) 366-6411 today!
