All at a glance – the advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign

A tooth straightening with the Invisaign therapy brings many advantages, especially in comparison to the conventional treatment methods. A short treatment time and the inconspicuous design are only a few of many. But every positive also has a downside and so also the Invisalign treatment has some disadvantages. To give you a good overview, we have listed all the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of Invisalign – unobtrusive and uncomplicated

The most important advantage of Invisalign for most patients is probably the optical aspect. The transparent design of the rails makes them almost invisible and is therefore very inconspicuous and discreet. Thanks to modern technology, the treatment is very effective, which can greatly shorten the duration of treatment depending on the case. During sporting activities, the splint offers additional protection for the teeth. Where conventional braces make sports almost impossible and severely restrict the patient, the splints protect and do not interfere with the wearer.

In addition, the treatment with the splints has the advantage that it is almost painless. A slight pressure is described by patients after a splint change or after prolonged wearing of the splints. However, pain is not common during treatment. The maintenance of the splints is very simple, as they can be removed and cleaned easily with a toothbrush and some toothpaste.

Advantages of Invisalign – everything at a glance:

• optically hardly visible due to transparent design
• the handling and maintenance is very simple
• protect teeth additionally during sports or other activities
• does not cause pain during treatment
• almost all malpositions can be treated with Invisalign
• modern technology is effective and moves teeth very precisely
• the tooth movements can be precisely planned and controlled
• has a shorter duration of treatment than conventional methods

Disadvantages of Invisalign – these problems may occur

There are also disadvantages with Invisalign rails. However, these are very minor. While the splint is worn, food and colouring foods such as coffee, black tea and sugar-containing sweet drinks must be avoided. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that the splint can discolour and thus become visible, but on the other hand, the health of the teeth is endangered by drinks containing sugar, as tooth decay is favoured. Smoking must also be avoided to a large extent during the carrying of the rail, as this can also discolour the rail.

In some cases, wearing the splint may cause a slight speech defect in the form of lisp. In most cases, this phenomenon is worn after the first few hours, but no longer noticeable. Invisalign therapy requires good cooperation from the patients. The conscientious wearing of the splints is at the sole discretion of the patient. In order to achieve the desired success of the splints, however, they must be worn regularly, otherwise the desired result cannot occur.

Disadvantages of Invisalign – everything at a glance:

• the consumption of sweet drinks during the wearing of the splints promotes the formation of caries
• staining foods and cigarettes must be avoided, otherwise the rails may discolor
• patients have to actively participate in the process and wear the splints regularly
• in the first hours of wear there may be a slight speech defect in the form of lisp

Pro and Contra Invisalign

The Invisalign Therapy – everything you need to know to treat

Anyone who has not yet dealt with the subject of Invisalign will first encounter many open questions. What is Invisalign anyway? Am I suitable for the treatment? How much does the transparent rails cost? And how long does a treatment like this take? In order to answer all your questions, we have summarized the most important information about Invisalign. Any more questions? Visit the SmileClub and find out more about the topic Invisalign and arrange a free consultation near you!

Invisalign Treatment – What is it anyway?

Invisalign are transparent rails made of a proprietary SmartTrack material. They are manufactured individually for each patient and enable tooth movements. They are clinically tested and have many advantages over conventional models such as metal braces. They improve the control of tooth movement and can even rotate it.

Invisalign splints can be used to treat malpositions, such as over-, under- and cross bites, but also tooth gaps, open bites, crowding or a general malposition of the teeth. With the help of small tooth-coloured burls, also called attachments, which are attached to the teeth, tooth movement is only possible. The splint holds on to the small anchors that are placed at important turning points of the teeth and thus enables an individually coordinated tooth movement for each patient. Due to this technique the system works very effectively and the duration of treatment can be shortened compared to conventional treatment methods.

The rails are very easy to clean as they can be easily removed. This facilitates the handling of the rails and their integration into everyday life. This makes cleaning and care very easy and uncomplicated for the patient. The splint must be removed for eating, drinking is possible with the splint without any problems. Activities such as sports can also be carried out with the splints, as they do not impair the teeth but provide additional protection.

• invisible rails made of proprietary SmartTrack material
• nearly all malpositions can be treated with Invisalign
• Attachments in combination with the splints also allow difficult tooth movements
• easy to clean handling

Tips for carrying your rails

The costs – to be determined individually for each patient

The costs for orthodontic treatment cannot be determined in advance. In addition, the costs are different for each patient, as each case has different characteristics. How much the treatment really costs in the end depends on many different factors. This naturally includes the degree of malpositioning and the resulting number of splints required and the duration of treatment. These factors vary from patient to patient and determine the final cost of treatment.

• a lump sum cost estimate cannot be made
• The strength of the malposition of the teeth significantly determines the costs and the duration of treatment
• the costs are different for each patient

The duration – depending on many factors

The duration of the treatment varies greatly from case to case. In general, the duration of the treatment always depends on the degree of malposition, but also on the type of malposition. Thus no general statement can be made about which tooth malposition can be treated faster than another, since the degree of the malposition is always decisive.

Normally between 7 and 80 pairs of rails are required. Each splint is worn for two weeks. The maximum duration of treatment for very severe malpositions is therefore about 3 years. For mild to moderate cases, a treatment period of about 6 to 18 months is usually planned. It often happens that one jaw needs less or longer treatment than the other. That a jaw needs more or less splints is so by no means unusual. However, the individual duration of treatment must be assessed and determined by a physician and cannot be stated in general terms.

• the duration depends on the individual malposition of the teeth
• normally, the treatment lasts between 6 and 18 months
• the duration depends on the amount of rails required

Experiences with invisible braces – Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg1p9Vyherc

Invisalign trays – step by step to straight teeth

The principle of the Invisalign splints is based on the idea of allowing the teeth to move step by step. Therefore, different splints are needed for the treatment. Each new splint comes a little closer to the final result, realizing the desired tooth movement. Dentists for Invisalign specialize in the treatment and are located throughout the country. Find out now what the treatment looks like and how you too can achieve beautiful, straight teeth!

The consultation – all important information for your treatment

A detailed consultation and education in the field of Invisalign technology is important so that customers know what to expect and what the technology can do. From attachments, to the insertion of the splints and the technology behind it, everything is explained here and all questions answered. The experts explain all the steps directly on the model, so that all customers can directly get an idea of the material and the appearance of the splints.

A free scan with the iTero can be performed during the first consultation. This shows a graphic image of the dentition in its current state. The system then uses the recorded data to calculate how the treatment would proceed. Customers can therefore view a direct digital before-and-after comparison at the first appointment and admire the possible result.

The iTero scan also serves as a basis for estimating the duration and cost of treatment. This data is largely dependent on the teeth and the degree of misalignment. If the customer decides to undergo treatment, the splints can be ordered directly based on the data from the scan. The treatment can therefore start immediately.

The practice appointment – attachments and the first splints

Once the rails are ordered, it doesn’t take long for them to be manufactured in the USA and sent to the experts in Germany.

The second appointment is for the attachments and the first insertion of the splints. The attachments are small, tooth-colored nubs that are attached to specific, individually calculated points on the teeth. They serve as anchors for the Invisalign splints. The transparent trays can ‘hold’ to these anchors, allowing for strong tooth movement. The attachment does not take long and is not painful for the patient. Due to the discreet color, the attachments are almost not noticeable on the teeth.

Once the attachments are in place, the first splint can be inserted. One of the experts shows how the splints are best put in and taken out again. If everything goes well, the customer will receive a set of splints, because these must now be changed every 1-2 weeks, depending on the treatment plan.

Everyday life – treatment with transparent splints

The transparent splints are relatively easy to integrate into everyday life. Ideally, they should be worn for 22 hours a day. Eating and drinking is not possible with the splints, unless it is water. After each meal, the teeth should be cleaned before the splint is put back in place to avoid discolouration. The trays themselves should also be cleaned at least twice a day, preferably with a toothbrush and some toothpaste. Sports are no problem with the transparent splints! They even have a protective effect on the teeth. The Invisalign splints do not restrict the patients and allow a pleasant integration into everyday life.

Speaking is not affected by the splint. The habituation time is very short, because the mouth quickly gets used to the thin piece of plastic. With the splint, each customer receives a storage box for the splints, so that they can be easily stowed away during meals and so that there are no problems with the splint when travelling. Pain is not common during treatment. Many patients report a slight pressure that the splint exerts on the teeth.

The control appointments – new rails for treatment

Depending on how long the treatment lasts and how many splints are needed, there are more or fewer check-ups. These are simply to check that the tooth movement is keeping up with the pace of treatment and that the teeth are ready for a new pair of splints. At these check-ups, patients also receive a new set of trays for the next stage of treatment.

In the case of minor tooth straightening with a short treatment period, sometimes no check-ups are necessary and the patients receive all the splints required for the treatment directly when the attachments are inserted. How many splints are needed for the treatment and how many can be taken home must be assessed by the experts individually for each patient and tooth malposition.

The follow-up – aftercare and long-term result assurance

As soon as the treatment with the entire splints is completed, another visit to the practice is scheduled. At this appointment, the result is compared with the ideal result. If there are still discrepancies or if the customer is not satisfied, almost all dentists offer free follow-up treatment with another set of splints.

If the result is satisfactory or the post-treatment is completed, it is possible to secure the result in the long term with a retainer. This measure is particularly useful for patients who have undergone a major change in their teeth. In this case the securing of the result should be given all the more. A retainer is available in different designs. One example is a pair of splints that reflect the current state of the teeth. This pair is only worn by the patient at night to prevent the teeth from shifting in the wrong direction again. However, which retainer is the most suitable for each patient must be determined in each individual case. At the last appointment in the practice, the attachments are of course removed. These are no longer needed.