Wearing clear dental braces: What do they look like? How long are they worn? Can teens wear Invisalign ®?

Invisalign ® orthodontic aligners are thin, clear plastic appliances that has been custom-molded so they fit snugly over the wearer's teeth. They can look very similar to the dental bleaching trays that dentists make for their patients so they can perform at-home teeth whitening treatments. In most cases, however, orthodontic aligners are made out of a thinner, stiffer type of plastic and one that is more optically clear (and therefore is less noticeable when worn). Invisalign ® aligners are also very similar, almost precisely so, to the clear plastic vacuum-molded orthodontic retainers that are sometimes worn by patients once they have completed their orthodontic treatment.

When clear braces are worn, how noticeable are they?

Since Invisalign ® aligners are constructed out of thin, clear plastic, when they are worn they really are relatively invisible. There can be, however, some tip-offs to others that you are wearing dental aligners.

One of these hints is that the aligners can add a slight sheen to the appearance of a person's teeth. Another is that the aligners sometimes have an effect on the wearer's speech, such as creating a slight lisping sound when they speak.

In those cases where a speech problem is initially noticed, most people will find that they easily adapt to the presence of their dental aligners and regain their regular speech patterns after just a few hours of practice. Since each sequential Invisalign ® aligner is very similar in overall shape to the previous one, the speech effects noticed when changing from one aligner to the next should be essentially nonexistent.

How often are Invisalign ® aligners worn?

Invisalign ® aligners should be worn around the clock except for those times when the patient is eating, drinking or brushing and flossing. For a person with normal habits, it is expected that they will be wearing their aligners on the order of 22 hours per day.

Clear braces can be removed for special events and occasions but any patient needs to understand that their treatment cannot progress unless their aligners are worn. Not wearing their aligners as directed will increase the length of the person's total treatment time, or worse, allow for a relapse of previous orthodontic progress. The latter can seriously complicate or compromise the original treatment plan, sometimes to the point where a new set of orthodontic aligners must be created (at new expense).

For how many days is each set of orthodontic aligners worn?

Each set of Invisalign ® aligners is typically worn for two weeks, in some instances more. A dentist will usually monitor their patient's progress by scheduling evaluation appointments every four to six weeks. This means that at each of these appointments the dentist will need to send at least one additional set of aligners home with the patient along with instructions dictating when the switch to a new set of aligners should take place.

How many sets of Invisalign ® dental aligners are worn over the course of a patient's treatment?

The specific number of Invisalign ® aligners that are required for a patient's treatment will vary case by case, depending on the severity of their malocclusion. An average number of aligners that are needed might lie between twenty and thirty sets. However, the actual number might be as few as ten or upwards fifty.

On our pages we usually refer to Invisalign ® aligners as being used in "sets," implying that one aligner is worn on the upper teeth and another on the bottom teeth and these aligners are replaced by new aligners at the same time. In reality there may be a different number of aligners for each jaw, with each being worn for a different treatment interval.

How long does orthodontic treatment using Invisalign ® invisible braces take?

In most cases orthodontic treatment utilizing Invisalign ® clear braces will take about as long as the same treatment would with traditional braces. Some published reports do, however, suggested that Invisalign ® treatment could be more rapid. You will simply have to ask your dentist or orthodontist what their experiences have been.

Align Technology, Inc. states that the typical Invisalign ® case is completed in less than a year. The expected time frame for traditional braces has classically been considered to be twelve to twenty four months. Our interpretation of this statistic would be, therefore, that it suggests (confirms) that invisible braces are typically more suited for treating relatively less involved orthodontic cases. Cases that are typically completed in comparatively shorter time frames.

It is easy for a dentist or patient to calculate how long their treatment is expected to take. All of a patient's aligners are manufactured before their treatment is begun. Since each set of aligners (upper and lower) is typically worn for two weeks, the math to determine the expected treatment time is easy. Simply multiply the number of sets of aligners by two weeks.

What patient age groups can be treated with Invisalign ® dental braces?

Invisalign ® can be used to treat adults and teenagers.

While the Invisalign ® system can be utilized with both adults and dentally mature teens, the specific minimum age at which Invisalign ® treatment can be started with teenagers varies. This is because the treating dentist will usually want to wait until that point in time when the patient's permanent second molars have erupted. This event usually takes place between the ages of 12 and 14 years.

Invisalign ® treatment for younger teens.

Align Technology, Inc. has announced plans to market a clear braces product called Invisalign Teen ® in the later half of 2008. This product will be targeted for treating less dentally mature teenage patients. Specifically, those who have lost their baby teeth but do not yet have a mature dentition.