What are some of the advantages of the Invisalign ® orthodontic system?
Invisalign is registered trademark of Align Technology, Inc.Clear braces have inherent advantages and disadvantages.
There are a number of advantages, as well as disadvantages, associated with Invisalign ® orthodontic treatment. In general, the two biggest advantages (the fact the aligners are removable and fairly difficult to detect when they are worn) are features that might be most appealing to those people who simply will not consider wearing traditional braces, such as adults. These people may feel that even if using clear braces does present some treatment difficulties, utilizing them will at least make some orthodontic improvements possible where otherwise they would not be.
Many of the disadvantages associated with using removable orthodontic aligner technique are rooted in the fact that this method does not offer the treating dentist or orthodontist as much control over certain types of tooth movements as traditional braces do. The importance of these disadvantages will vary case by case depending on the specifics of the malocclusion being treated. If utilized appropriately, invisible braces technique can produce good results. But a patient attitude that their case must only be treated using this technique or a situation where an ill-trained dentist attempts to treat any and all malocclusions with this single methodology, can end up producing substandard results.
What are some of the advantages of clear braces?
The fact that the Invisalign ® invisible braces system involves the use of clear, removable orthodontic aligners rather than the fixed brackets and archwires of traditional braces can make it an attractive alternative in a number of ways.
A) The aligners really are fairly invisible to others.
One of the most appealing aspects of using the Invisalign ® system is that the aligners are made out of transparent plastic and therefore are relatively unnoticeable to other people when they are worn. Additionally, for those special occasions when the patient might find even the slightest hint of any type of appliance objectionable, the aligners can be removed.
B) Removable orthodontic aligners allow for easier oral hygiene than traditional braces.
A great advantage of the Invisalign ® system lies in the fact that the aligners being used to reposition the patient's teeth are removable. This is very different from traditional braces, which are composed of wires and brackets firmly fixed to the patient's teeth.
The removable nature of invisible braces makes achieving adequate oral home care (tooth brushing and flossing) much easier than when traditional braces are involved. Being able to regularly and adequately perform good oral home care can certainly help to minimize the patient's risk for tooth decay and periodontal (gum disease) complications during their treatment.
C) Clear braces may be less irritating to teeth and oral tissues than traditional braces.
A case can be made that the soft tissues of the mouth are typically less affected (scratched, irritated, poked at and jabbed) by removable aligners than the wires and brackets associated with traditional braces, although some soft tissue irritation can occur.
D) With an Invisalign ® orthodontic case, the patient can see what the projected outcome of their treatment is expected to be.
Due to the nature Invisalign's ® manufacturing methodology, prior to the initiation of treatment a computerized three-dimensional simulation demonstrating the realignment of the patient's teeth is created. This simulation can be shared with the patient so they can see, before hand, the results that are anticipated. This imaging is, however, somewhat out of context in the sense that it only demonstrates the realignment of the patient's teeth and does not show the realigned teeth in conjunction with their face and smile.
