What is Invisalign?

You may have heard friends, family or co-workers talking about how Invisalign has worked wonders for their smile. More and more people are opting for this popular teeth straightening treatment these days. But what is Invisalign, and how could it benefit you?

Here at Smile Stories, our Invisalign expert dentists are some of the best around. Today we’re delighted to explain exactly what Invisalign is.

In brief, Invisalign is a method of straightening your teeth that is virtually invisible. The effective treatment employs a removable, see-through aligner that fits snuggly over your teeth. The specially crafted trays gently move your teeth into a better position, leaving you with a perfectly straight smile.

Invisalign is essentially the modern-day alternative to metal train-track braces. You could think of them as clear braces that are a lot more comfortable and convenient than other ways of straightening teeth. 

What Are Invisalign Aligners?

Invisalign aligners are clear plastic trays that gently move your teeth into a more desirable position, whatever your smile goals may be.

The Invisalign clear aligners are transparent, plastic trays that fit over your teeth just like a gum shield. But don’t worry, you won’t look like you’re about to take part in a boxing match! The Invisalign aligners are much thinner and completely transparent. They’re designed to be invisible, so nobody can tell you’re wearing them.

After a consultation with a Smile Stories Invisalign expert, we’ll create a bespoke, personalised digital treatment plan with you.  It’s your smile, so we want you involved in the planning. You’ll then be provided with a series of custom-made clear aligners posted all the way from California. 

You wear each set of aligners for a week and then swap to a new set. 

How Invisalign works is clever, and each set of Invisalign aligners gently moves your teeth a little further towards the position that you have agreed with your Invisalign expert.

Over a short period, each Invisalign aligner moves and straightens your teeth, so they look dazzling, with the huge benefit of improved oral health. Straighter teeth are easier to clean, and clean teeth mean healthy gums and no holes! 

What Are Invisalign Aligners Made From?

Invisalign aligners are made from a thin, flexible plastic called SmartTrack ®, that is free of BPA, BPS, latex and gluten. This is thermoplastic and rather clever, created especially for Invisalign aligners, and is both thin and clear. They fit snugly over the teeth and are virtually invisible.

Invisalign aligners may look like any old aligner from a distance, but look closely and you’ll notice the SmartTrack ® material has lines and curves built within it. These curves place gentle forces on your teeth to help straighten them as efficiently as possible. No other aligner system can do this.

How Does Invisalign Feel?

One of the benefits of Invisalign is how comfortable they are to wear. As there are no brackets or wires that can irritate your mouth, they are a lot more comfortable than metal braces.

Although some patients do experience some mild discomfort when wearing the first set of aligners (due to the fact they are moving your teeth into a new position) this will subside after a few days. Within a week or so, you’ll hardly know you’re wearing them.

Who Can Wear Invisalign?

Invisalign can be worn by teenagers and adults to close gaps between teeth, and treat cases such underbites, overbites, crossbites, open bites, overcrowded teeth, spaced teeth or pretty much any other bite that you have. 

Advantages of Invisalign over Fixed Braces

From a purely aesthetic point of view, Invisalign aligners are invisible (unless you look incredibly hard), so most people won’t notice you’re wearing them. You can also take them out for any really important social events.

When it comes to dental health there are some more important advantages to using Invisalign over traditional braces.

Fixed braces, which have been used traditionally to align teeth, can result in visible plaque, inflammation, and gum recession in patients. As Invisalign can be removed, the aligners and teeth can be cleaned. This means that good oral hygiene can be maintained and the risk of poor oral health is negated.

Fixed braces are also associated with discomfort and pain which results in some patients using analgesics. Invisalign repositions the teeth gently, and generally without pain. This is because we can specifically program steady and safe tooth movements in our digital plan, compared to train-track braces where there is no computer simulation and a bit more uncertainty on timeframes. 

In Short…

Invisalign is a modern method of straightening teeth using clear Invisalign aligners. 

The Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible, so nobody will be able to tell that you’re wearing them.

As Invisalign’s aligners are made from a thin, flexible plastic that is comfortable, invisible and removable, Invisalign trumps other straightening systems in so many ways. 

They can be worn by both teenagers and adults looking to improve the appearance of their teeth.

If you’re looking for straighter teeth to create that perfect smile, book a consultation with one of our Smile Stories Bournemouth Invisalign experts today and see what Invisalign can do for your smile.