Invisalign ® removable clear braces: What are invisible braces?

The Invisalign ® system (sometimes referred to as "clear braces" or "invisible braces") is a proprietary method of orthodontic treatment whose unique set of features often makes it a very attractive alternative to traditional braces. Unlike dental braces composed of brackets and wires that are firmly attached to a patient's teeth, the Invisalign ® system produces tooth movement by way of the patient wearing a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that fit snugly over their teeth.

Read through our pages and learn how a clear braces system works and how its unique set of characteristics creates inherent advantages and disadvantages for this orthodontic method. Our pages also examine issues such as: How invisible are the orthodontic aligners? How often/how long are the aligners worn? Can teens wear Invisalign ® invisible braces? How long does clear braces treatment take?

To wrap things up, our topic illustrates and discusses: Cost and price ranges associated with both Invisalign ® and Invisalign ® Express. Before-and-after simulations illustrating some basic orthodontic principles often utilized in conjunction with the invisible braces systems. Side effects associated with wearing removable orthodontic aligners.

Invisalign is registered trademark of Align Technology, Inc.

A comparison of the appearance of Invisalign ® vs. traditional braces.

What is the Invisalign ® system?

The Invisalign ® system is simply one method by which a dentist can provide orthodontic treatment for a patient. With traditional braces, the forces needed to realign the patient's teeth are generated and directed by way of brackets, wires, springs and elastics. With Invisalign ®, the needed orthodontic forces are created by wearing a series of essentially invisible clear, removable "aligners" that have been custom-molded so they fit snugly over the patient's teeth in a very specific fashion.

Equivalent terminology for the Invisalign ® orthodontic system.

The Invisalign ® system is often referred to as "clear braces," "invisible braces" or "removable orthodontic aligners." On our pages we use each of these terms interchangeably. The trademarked name Invisalign ® is sometimes incorrectly spelled as or referred to as "invisiline."

Next page: How do invisible braces work? >>

The Invisalign ® system is manufactured by Align Technology, Inc.

Align Technology, Inc. is the inventor of the Invisalign ® orthodontic system. They first brought Invisalign ® to the marketplace in 1998. Since that time (as documented in their annual report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2007) Align Technology, Inc. claims that over 48,000 dentists and orthodontists worldwide have been certified to participate in the Invisalign ® program. They also report that collectively these dentists have initiated invisible braces treatment for over 730,000 patients (since the program's inception).

Invisalign ® is available to dentists and orthodontists in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin American, and Japan. In this country, Align Technology, Inc. claims that over 27,000 general dentists and 8,000 orthodontists have been certified to use Invisalign ®.

What is the history of treating orthodontic cases with removable aligners?

The concept on which the Invisalign ® system is based has been around since the 1940's. In 1945 Dr. H.D. Kessling suggest that a series of tooth positioners could be used to produce the types of movements that are needed for orthodontic treatment. And while these types of removable appliances have been used to some degree in past decades, the laboratory steps needed to create them has always been tedious. It seems to be this fact that has, historically, limited the widespread adoption of removable aligner technique by the dental community as a whole.

Now, as a result of the pioneering efforts of Align Technology, Inc. and their work in melding computer technology and custom manufacturing processes, the picture has changed. Removable orthodontic aligner technique has now become a practical treatment alternative that practitioners can offer to their patients.

Is Invisalign ® the only type of clear braces product?

There are other invisible braces products that are, or have been, available to dentists. Some of them are:

OrthoClear, Inc.: For a time there was a competing, directly comparable clear braces product manufactured and marketed by OrthoClear, Inc. (founded in 2005). This product is no longer available. In 2006, in response to on going litigation, Align Technology, Inc. and OrthoClear, Inc. reached a settlement. As a part of this settlement, OrthoClear, Inc. agreed to stop accepting new clear braces cases.
AOA Orthodontic Laboratory, Inc. and Sybron Dental Specialites, Inc.: [ For more information about the Simpli 5 ®, Red White & Blue ® and RW II ® invisible braces systems. >> ]
From the standpoint of the experience of the orthodontic patient, there are at least three other essentially identical clear braces systems available to your dentist. These systems are not, however, directly comparable to the Invisalign ® system from a standpoint of their manufacturing process or their treatment capabilities.
In most instances these clear braces systems are used to treat orthodontic cases that only involve the realignment of anterior (front) teeth. Because of this a fewer total number of aligners is involved, usually five or fewer sets (whereas with the typical Invisalign ® case as many as twenty to thirty sets may be worn). The manufacturing process associated with these other invisible braces products is substantially less technologically sophisticated than Invisalign's ®, although the appearance of the aligners that the patient wears is essentially identical. The brand names associated with these systems (manufactured by Sybron Dental Specialites, Inc.) are: Simpli 5 ®, Red White and Blue System ® and RWII ® aligners.

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The Invisalign ® removable clear braces system.

What is the Invisalign ® system?

Equivalent terminology for the Invisalign ® orthodontic system.

The Invisalign ® system is manufactured by Align Technology, Inc.

What is the history of treating orthodontic cases with removable aligners?

Is Invisalign ® the only type of clear braces product?