What Do Invisalign® Invisible Braces Look Like?

Invisible braces like Invisalign® are transparent plastic aligner trays that are used to move a person's teeth to a better alignment. They are the most discreet way to straighten teeth, and they make teeth straightening possible for those who would rather not deal with highly visible metal braces.

The process of getting invisible braces

For many patients, the journey toward straighter teeth starts with a consultation with a dentist. During this appointment, the patient's teeth will be evaluated, looking for signs of poor alignment. The dentist might use tests like X-rays to evaluate the position of the patient's jaw.

The patient is educated about invisible braces like Invisalign® and other appliances used to improve teeth alignment, like lingual braces, traditional metal braces and ceramic braces. Invisible braces can be used to fix most teeth alignment problems, but the most severe cases can sometimes only be fixed with traditional metal braces.

Once both parties are in agreement that invisible braces like Invisalign® are the way to go, the dentist will take digital images of the patient's teeth. The photos are displayed on a screen to show simulations of what the patient's teeth will look like over the course of the treatment. Once the dentist is satisfied, the data is passed on to a dental lab that makes appliances like invisible braces. It takes about two weeks for the lab to make the patient's customized braces and get them back to the dentist.

Once the aligner trays are ready, the dentist calls in the patient for a second appointment. The patient is educated on how to insert, remove and clean their oral appliance. They also get instructions for when to take out the aligners and how long they should wear them each day. For most patients, this is somewhere between 20 to 22 hours per day.

From that point, it is up to the patient to be disciplined about wearing their aligner trays. They will get a number of trays at the start of their treatment, and these should be worn in a specific order. Each tray is worn for two weeks before it is due for replacement. Each tray further down the line gets the patient's teeth closer to the desired position.

The biggest benefit that patients can get out of invisible braces is the fact they are hard to notice when being worn. Since that cannot be said about traditional metal braces, it is not much of a surprise that many people prefer to straighten their teeth with clear aligners.

Benefits of invisible braces

Here are the reasons that patients should consider getting invisible braces:

• While not really invisible, these devices are rarely noticed when worn
• Clear aligners provide more comfortable treatment
• Invisible braces do not get in the way of meals or oral hygiene
• Treatment times are often shorter

Get straighter teeth

Call or visit our Chicago clinic if you have poor teeth alignment. Our dentist will educate you about your different options.

Request an appointment here: https://smilesonmichigan.com or call Smiles On Michigan at (312) 509-9492 for an appointment in our Chicago office.

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