How Clear Braces Work To Straighten And Align Teeth
Getting braces is often an exciting event for teenagers, but most adults do not want to wear metal braces on their teeth. If you are an adult who longs for straighter, nicer teeth but do not want to wear metal braces, you could consider Invisalign. Invisalign offers a way to straighten your teeth with clear braces, and this method works really well. If you are wondering how clear braces work, here is an explanation to help you understand.
The Theory Behind Braces
With any type of braces, the goal is to gradually shift teeth into the proper alignment. Because your teeth are a permanent part of your mouth, you cannot move them overnight. Over time, however, teeth will shift when there is pressure on them to move, and that is how all types of braces work.
Clear Braces Work With This Theory Too
Invisalign is often referred to as clear braces; however, the clear aligners you wear during this treatment are not really braces. These aligners are small trays that are custom-made for your mouth, and you will need to wear them at all times, except when you eat.
When your dentist makes these aligners for you, the goal is to make each set a little closer to the goal of how your teeth should look when you finish the treatment. In other words, each set of aligners will change. When you start off with your first set, they will feel tight in your mouth. This is because they are custom-made to fit your teeth with the goal of moving them slightly into the right position. As you wear the aligners for the next two weeks, you may begin to notice, near the end of the two weeks, that the aligners are not as tight anymore. That is because your teeth will shift to fit in the aligners during the two-week period.
When you complete the two-week period, you will get a new set of aligners to wear for the next two weeks. This set will also feel tight in your mouth at first because it will be designed to shift your teeth a little more. Little by little, your teeth will move into place, but you must wear the aligners to make this happen.
How Dentists Make the Aligners
When you initially visit a dentist to get Invisalign, your dentist will take impressions of your mouth. The dentist will then examine what needs to happen with your teeth in order for you to have straight teeth that are properly aligned. With these impressions and this evaluation, the dentist will begin creating the aligners for you. During your entire treatment, you may end up with 20 or 30 sets of aligners; however, some people require more or less.
The average time it takes to straighten a person's teeth with Invisalign is around 12 months, but this also varies depending on the severity of the problems. The time it will take for your teeth to shift into place will also depend on how often you wear your aligners.
When you initially meet with a dentist, he or she will give you an estimate on how long it should take for you to complete the treatment plan. He or she will also tell you approximately how many aligners you will need during your treatment plan. Additionally, the dentist will tell you how often you must come in for visits. Patients typically need to visit their dentist every four to six weeks with Invisalign. During each visit, the dentist will examine the progress of your teeth and will give you new aligners to wear.
If you are interested in having straighter teeth through Invisalign, contact a dental clinic today that offers this service, like Galloway Dental Care.
