Everyone deserves to have a beautiful smile, but it could be hindered by several dental problems. Fortunately, there is a new way of treating and correcting your teeth—Invisalign treatment. Invisalign treatment is a new way of fixing your teeth with clear aligners. The Invisalign treatment was first introduced in the late 1990s, and it has since gained popularity worldwide as one of the most effective alternatives to traditional braces. Invisalign Lafayette treatment can be used to treat a variety of teeth problems such as overcrowding, underbite, overbite, gapped teeth, and more.
Let’s dive deeper into the article to understand more about Invisalign treatments and how long they last.
What is Invisalign Treatment?
If you are planning to undergo any orthodontic treatment, you should know that two basic techniques are used for correcting your teeth; Braces and Invisalign treatment. The braces are the obvious permanent metallic aligners you easily notice on people’s teeth, while the Invisalign aligners are less conspicuous and almost invisible.
Invisalign treatment uses 3D imaging technology to create individualized aligners that are removable and transparent. This makes Invisalign treatment different from other orthodontic techniques.
How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Last?
The length of Invisalign treatment varies depending on the nature and severity of the dental issues, and it can take 6 to 36 months to complete your treatment. However, you’ll begin to notice visible results in weeks. If you wish to achieve significant results from Invisalign treatment, it’s best to wear your Invisalign aligners for 22 hours per day.
Though each patient’s response to Invisalign treatment is unique, below are some general estimates for Invisalign treatment duration for various dental issues.
- Teeth Gaps
Invisalign treatment can be used to close gaps between the teeth. For small gaps, it can take as low as 6 weeks for Invisalign treatment to close the space. For larger gaps, it could take between 3 to 6 months to close up the space. However, experts advise patients to use the right retention methods to help prevent new gap formation.
- Crowded Teeth
A person with a mild case of overcrowded teeth can get significant results after taking the Invisalign treatment for 6 months. For a severe case of crowded teeth, the dentist might start by removing some teeth and then create the right clear aligners to correct and keep the teeth in place. Invisalign treatment usually takes a long time to treat severe cases of crowded teeth.
- Crooked Teeth
Adult patients who undergo Invisalign treatment to straighten out their teeth and correct crooked teeth might spend a more extended period wearing the Invisalign clear aligners. However, the treatment period is mainly based on the severity of the case, the age of the patient, and how well the patient’s teeth respond to Invisalign treatment.
If you wish to undergo Invisalign treatment for any dental issue, endeavor to stick to the prescribed treatment plan.
How Does Invisalign Treatment Work
The Invisalign treatment works based on the concept of clear aligners and teeth shifting techniques. The clear aligners are designed for the upper and lower teeth and are transparent and removable. Once the aligners are built, the patients will wear them for a minimum of 22 hours. During this period, your teeth will gradually and precisely move into their rightful position. With the gradual alignment, you’ll require a new set of clear aligners after a few weeks to keep the teeth aligning properly. Depending on the case, the doctor might give you Invisalign treatment rubber bands to further align the teeth accurately.
Once you’ve completed your Invisalign treatment, you’ll be given retainers to help maintain the outcome of the treatment. The retainers will be worn every night for the first couple of months, and then the usage period will lessen afterward.
The Benefits of Invisalign Treatment
Let’s discuss the benefits of Invisalign treatment in detail.
- Greater Patient Compliance
The first benefit of the Invisalign treatment is greater patient compliance. Unlike other orthodontic techniques, the Invisalign treatment is completely transparent. Therefore, you can easily wear these aligners even when you go out to work or attend social gatherings, and the clear aligners will be unnoticed. This makes it easier for patients to comply with the treatment schedule.
- Easy to Clean
The Invisalign treatment also has the advantage of being easy to clean. You can easily remove the aligners whenever you want to clean them with a brush and water.
- No Gum Irritation
Besides, being very easy to clean the Invisalign clear aligners; it does not irritate the gums. Gum irritation is a common problem for people who wear braces, but with Invisalign clear aligners, you won’t experience gum irritation.