From research you will be able to find that many adults and teens do rely on orthodontic treatments at some point during their lives, you may think that brackets and wire are just par for the course. But, they don’t have to be! If you are looking to straighten your smile without having to deal with the “brace face,” there’s a better way.
Invisalign clear braces offer the teeth-straightening power of braces without the bulk and pain of the metal brackets. Gaining in popularity, there are a number of reasons why teens and adults are turning to Invisalign to straighten their teeth. Some of differences between invisalign vs braces are:
Invisible Appearance
You could be wearing Invisalign and no one would ever know. Unlike braces, Invisalign does not involve any sort of permanent apparatus. Instead, the system works using a variety of different clear mouth-guard like molds. These molds are completely transparent, allowing the user to wear them day and night undetected. It’s perfect for teens who are image conscious, or for those who don’t want to face the embarrassment of braces in adulthood.
Increased Comfort
Braces are adhered to your teeth using durable glue. Once in place, the brackets will not budge. While it’s an efficient way of correcting oral health issues, it can also be uncomfortable. With Invisalign, there’s no need to worry about your brackets rubbing against your lips or gums. There are no loose wires. In fact, each molded piece is custom made to fit your mouth and teeth perfectly. The mouth guards are removable and can easily be replaced by eating or drinking.
Duration of Treatment
The duration of orthodontic treatments depends on a great deal on the moral issues at hand. On average, a teen can expect to spend one to three years wearing braces. Invisalign has an expected treatment time of one to one and a half years. The reduced treatment time alone is a huge selling point for those looking to invest in orthodontics.
Less Time at the Dentist
With braces, you are required to visit your dentist or orthodontist every month or two to have your wires tightened. Not with Invisalign. Instead, you will simply replace your mouthpiece with a new one every 2 weeks. There’s no need to take additional trips to your dentist or deal with the hassle of scheduling appointments. It’s a quick and efficient way to get the smile you’ve always wanted.
Whether you’re on Invisalign treatment or you’re just considering it, it’s important to understand the various factors that surround it and how it works. Invisalign acts as an alternative to the ordinary braces we’re used to. They are virtually invisible! The aligners are made of thermoplastic material. They are designed to look the same as the teeth whitening trays.
Over the course of treatment, the patient is supplied with different aligners. The series or aligners will gradually make slight adjustments to the position of your teeth and give you straighter teeth. It’s carefully sought out process that is mapped out by your doctor.
This brings us to our central question, how long does Invisalign take to work?
The period for treatment usually depends on each case. However, on an average, the case for an adult may only last up to 12 months. A simple case can be treated in as less as 3-4 months. When the complexity of the case increases, it may go up to 24-30 months. For teenagers, treatment usually varies with the severity and how well they follow through with the procedure.
If you want to accelerate your results, consult your doctor on the Propel or AcceleDent treatment. The technology helps stimulate treatment by the movement of the teeth.
If you’re considering Invisalign to the traditional braces, the Invisalign aligners give you the added benefit of having the ability to remove them when eating or brushing your teeth. You should wear them at least 22 hours a day. For the traditional ones, you have no other choice but to wear them 24/7.
Throughout the use of the Invisalign, the aligners will move your teeth by placement of appropriate force. It’s primary difference to the traditional ones is that it not only works by controlling the force, but by also controls the timing of force application. In each stage, only certain teeth are prompted to move. Your doctor will determine these movements while mapping out your unique dental treatment plan.
There are various benefits of this treatment plan. If you’re looking towards getting this treatment, no one may notice it! It is virtually invisible. It will seamlessly blend in with your lifestyle. Doctor appointments will take minimal time since it will not involve any wire adjustments as the traditional braces.
After treatment is over, most doctors recommend that you use retainers. This is normal for even the traditional braces. It functions by preventing your teeth from shifting back to their previous position. Nonetheless, each case is different. Yours might not necessarily need post-treatment retainers.
An orthodontist is majorly concerned with repairing and straightening a person’s teeth as well as alignment and misaligned jaws. One of the popular reasons why most people go to orthodontists is to get braces. There are other reasons such as correcting an underbite or overbite or even altering the shape of the jaw.
For one to be an orthodontist, there are various educational qualifications that he or should have attained. One of the minimum educational requirements is a doctorate degree in dentistry with specialized training in orthodontics.
Step By Step Educational Path
Bachelor’s Degree
It’s a requirement that you first complete the undergraduate studies before you join a dental school. These undergraduate studies equip a student well before seeking higher education to become a fully qualified orthodontist. Maintaining a good GPA is very key for the undergraduate studies. This is because most of the dental school applications consider the GPA regardless of the passion that one has to become a dentist. Students are also advised to look for opportunities that will add value to the application in the dental schools of choice by simply participating in other extra-curriculum such as volunteer work, clinical experiences among others.
Dental School
In a dental school, there are four years of intense studies. The first two years, one focuses majorly on the scientific coursework to prepare him or her for clinical components in the following years.
Internships
Most of the dentists are subjected to further training to become an expert orthodontist. During the training, students study behavioral and basic sciences and more in-depth biomedical and also practices the various skills of tooth movements among other activities.
Licensing
For one to become an orthodontist, it a requirement that you first pass the exam and become a licensed dentist which comes from certification exams during different times while in the dental school.
Easy, right? Good luck to your journey to all the future orthodontists out there!
