Teeth straightening with Braces come with a lot of inconveniences, from poor dental hygiene, tooth staining, sore mouth to cuts inside the mouth the list goes on and on. Certain issues with Braces are unavoidable even with proper care.
Invisalign is an alternative for braces, Invisalign has tried to address all the issues that are associated with Braces. Invisalign is an Orthodontics treatment that helps to straighten teeth without braces. to get a detailed breakdown of how exactly the Invisalign system work, I decided to consult Doha Based German Board Certified Dr.Hana Hasse (Orthodontist & Invisalign Platinum Elite11 provider) for insight.
How does Invisalign works?
During treatment, you will be provided with series of invisible trays that gradually shift your teeth to their actual position. Every two weeks, you will have to change your aligner. the process of changing the trays every two weeks will continue until the teeth are straightened.
How long do you have to wear them?
Invisalign trays are supposed to be worn 22 hours a day, the more time you wear, the better the result. The aligner has to be removed only when you are eating. the problem arises when the patient wears it only at night says Dr.Hana, if you aren’t wearing your Invisalign aligners 22 hours a day, treatment duration is gonna increase, which may add up the additional cost with appointments and adjustments to your treatment.
Do you have to wear them all the time?
As I said, you can take off your aligners for eating, cleaning, and brushing. other times you are expected to wear it. the lack of commitment towards wearing the aligners will prolong the treatment duration. in worst scenarios, teeth will shift back to their original position, explains Dr.Hana.
How much do they cost:
The cost of the treatment varies from person to person. the actual cost is decided depending on the severity of the cases that require straightening. however, most people spend between 3000$ to 5000$ on Invisalign aligners.
Let’s look at the main factors that determine the cost of treatment.
The complexity of the cases: complex teeth issues require more adjustments and refinements with your Orthodontist. Generally, Invisalign braces are designed to treat milder alignment teeth issues. I am not here to suggest that Invisalign can’t treat complex issues but it requires more visits and aligner trays.
Experience of Dentist: The experience of your Orthodontist plays a key role in deciding the success of your treatment. Invisalign assigns a designation to its providers based on the number of patients they treated with Invisalign. doing the same thing over and over again makes you perfect, same with Invisalign, the Orthodontist who treats patients with Invisalign has an advantage over their colleague who treats with braces.
Where you live: The cost of the treatment varies based on where you live Retainers and Aftercare: Dentists recommend retainers after the Invisalign Treatment, that keep your teeth from shifting. retainers cost are usually not included in the Invisalign costs. This will cost an additional 400$- 1000$.
How long does Invisalign treatment take
Invisalign treatment usually takes 12 months however patients start seeing the results in the first few weeks. the length of treatment time depended on the factors such as:
The extend of teeth shifting required The pace of the teeth movement: it is solely dependent on the patients bone structure and composition that makes teeth shifting slower
The complexity of the cases- complex issues require more time and Invisalign trays
compliance of the patient towards pain: if not worn 22 hours a day it prolong the treatment time.
How is Invisalign treatment varies from Braces?
Braces and Invisalign both are designed to straighten teeth and overall health. Metal braces consist of metal brackets that are adhered to teeth. and tightened with wire in a way that will adjust the teeth into the desired place. whereas Invisalign uses invisible trays which are customized and removable.
Do I have to take my aligners when I eat:
yes, you need to take out aligners while eating because it is not designed to take the pressure of chewing, so wearing Invisalign while eating may damage the aligners, also the food particle may stain the aligners that will make the aligners more visible on your mouth.