What is Invisalign?
Q. What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment option that allows doctors to straighten teeth using a series of clear, removable, nearly invisible, plastic appliances called aligners.
Q. How does Invisalign work?
The patient meets with Dr.Platt who takes orthodontic records of the patient’s teeth, including impressions, and fills out an Invisalign treatment planning or prescription form and sends all the material to Align Technology. At Align, a computer model of the patient’s teeth is created from the impressions. Align then uses its advanced, 3-D imaging software to generate a graphical representation of the doctor’s treatment plan—almost like an animated movie of the way the patient’s teeth will move from the current position to the final desired position. The Dr.Platt reviews and approves the rendering of his treatment plan (the 3-D movie) on a secure portion of Align’s website. Align Technology produces a series of clear, plastic aligners that correspond to the stages of tooth movement in the 3-D movie. The patient wears each stage of aligners for approximately two weeks before switching to the next set in the series. Week by week, the patient’s teeth arestraightened millimeter by millimeter.
Q. Is this a new way to straighten teeth?
Doctors have successfully used removable appliances for years. With the application of 3-D computer technology and masscustomization, Invisalign can be used to treat almost anyone who wants straighter teeth.
Q. What are the primary benefits of Invisalign?
Invisalign is nearly invisible: You can straighten your teeth without anyone knowing. • Removable: You can eat and drink what you want. • Better oral hygiene: You can brush and floss normally to maintain healthy gums and teeth. • Comfortable: There are no wires, metal or brackets to cause mouth abrasion.
Q. Who can benefit from Invisalign?
Invisalign is mainly intended to correct the cosmetic look of teeth, oral hygiene and to distribute eating forces more equally over the entire mouth. Invisalign typically will not correct the shape of a persons skull or the relationship of the upper to lower jaws. Large orthodontic corrections must be done when someone is in their teens and requires headgear, extractions and lots of rubber bands or traditional orthodontics. Otherwise major orthodontic corrections in adults can require surgery.
Q. How long does treatment take?
Like traditional braces, the length of treatment depends on the complexity of the case. Treatment time is about half the time of conventional braces—about a 6-12 mos.
Q. Can any doctor treat patients with Invisalign?
Yes, many dentists are now trying Invisalign cases with a weekend course. Dr. Platt a great deal more experience and knowledge. His advanced education includes 2 yrs training in traditional orthodontics, the highest training certifcation level offered by the company as well as national recognition for advancement from Invisalign.
Q. How many people are in treatment with the Invisalign System? This year Invisalign recent shipped it's millionth aligner.
A long & interesting technical video on Invisalign manufacturing.