How invisible will your Invisalign clear braces be to other people?

One of the most appealing characteristics of the Invisalign system is that the patient's teeth are moved via the use of clear plastic aligners. This makes having Invisalign braces much less noticeable, at least from a relative standpoint, than traditional orthodontic treatment that involves either the use of bonded brackets and wires or else a removable appliance composed of plastic and metal.

Even so, although Invisalign aligners are unquestionably less visible than other types of orthodontic appliances, they are not totally invisible. For those interactions where the other individual is three or more feet away, your removable braces will probably be totally undetectable. If the person is closer however, and especially in those cases where the individual is the type of person who pays close attention to detail, your aligners may be visible to them. Here are some of the reasons why.

a) The slick plastic surface of Invisalign aligners can make your teeth appear extra shiny. This is especially likely when you are standing in direct sunlight or an intense artificial light source.

b) In some cases a person's Invisalign treatment may need to rely on the use of tooth "attachments" to help direct an aligner's forces. Invisalign attachments are small lumps of white filling material that have been bonded directly onto a tooth's surface. In some instances these attachments may be placed on teeth or tooth surfaces that are not readily visible. In other cases, however, they may be readily apparent and can be a clear tip-off to others that you are wearing clear braces. Your dentist will be able to tell you if attachments will be needed for your case before your treatment is begun.

d) One aspect of some patient's Invisalign treatment will involve closing a fairly large gap that lies between two teeth (a diastema). The Invisalign aligners that are worn during that time period during which the gap is being closed will need to involve a small bridge of plastic that spans across this space. Depending on the specific characteristics of the diastema (location, width and length), this plastic bridge, and any saliva or debris that may accumulate in it, may be visible to others.

e) Invisalign aligners are intended to be taken out when you eat and drink. You will have to anticipate that sooner or later there will be times when you will be forced to do so in a setting that is, at best, only semi-private.