It seems that almost everywhere you go, there is an advertisement for straight teeth. Whether it be magazines, posters, or television commercials, odds are you have seen an ad for braces recently. Straight teeth are everywhere!  They’re so popular it’s sometimes hard to believe we’d want our smile to  look any other way. But do we need to straighten our teeth? Straight teeth  have more function than just being purely cosmetic.  

What are the benefits of having straight teeth?

Teeth are like gears on a wheel. They are made to fit together in a certain way to do a certain job. If they don’t fit together, they can’t do their job, and this may lead to a variety of oral health problems. Firstly, straight teeth are much easier to clean at night. If you have crowding or crooked teeth, plaque can be much more difficult to remove when brushing or flossing. Plaque buildup can result in cavities, gum inflammation, and eventually gum disease, also known as periodontitis. Periodontitis damages the soft tissue around your teeth and,  if left untreated, can result in gum recession and the loosening of teeth. 

Another benefit of straight teeth is the elimination of uneven wear from teeth grinding. Properly aligned teeth can even help reduce grinding. When our teeth do not come together properly, it can lead to uneven wear of the enamel and cause small chips in the teeth.

Invisalign is a great way to straighten your teeth and avoid these dental issues. It can be utilized for patients who have mild to moderate misalignment and can also align the bite. Patients with an overbite, crossbite, or underbite can enjoy Invisalign treatments. Treatment involves wearing clear plastic aligner trays molded to fit your teeth perfectly. 

Trays are worn daily for at least 20 hours. After 2 weeks, patients begin a  new tray. While worn, they apply steady, controlled pressure to align your teeth into the proper position. Only specific teeth can move with each new set of aligners. Invisalign uses clear aligners developed from computer-generated images and impressions taken from your mouth by your dentist and their team to change the position of your teeth. While the traditional brace uses fixed wires to “pull” the teeth into alignment, Invisalign aligns the teeth by using a series of molds that, over a series of months, force your teeth into their new and improved position. 

How is Invisalign different than traditional braces?

Invisalign has many benefits over traditional braces. The trays are easily removed, allowing patients to maintain their oral health and wellness,  flossing and brushing as they normally would without having to worry about brackets and wires that can make it complicated. Since the trays can be removed, you are free to eat many foods that are usually off-limits for braces wearers. Another benefit is the clear appearance of the aligners. Some patients do not like the look of brackets, and they can be uncomfortable on the lips. However, the clear Invisalign trays are hardly noticeable and are much more comfortable to wear. Another benefit of Invisalign is the treatment time. You usually have to wear Invisalign for a shorter period. On average,  Invisalign is generally six months shorter than metal braces. 

Who can use Invisalign?

Invisalign is suitable for almost anyone wanting to improve their smile or  arrange their teeth more orderly. The trays are ideal for teens because, as mentioned earlier, they use clear aligners to achieve a glowing  

smile and improve dental health. This is particularly useful as the teenage years are so often fraught with self-consciousness. More and more adults are  choosing correctional dental work and taking control over their own health.  Invisalign is ideal for adults who want flexibility with their alignment procedure and want to achieve that improved smile without using a highly visible metal brace. 

If you want to begin your journey to a straight and perfect smile, Invisalign  will make the process as easy as possible, allowing you to finally have that perfect smile that you have always wanted.