|
What
is the Invisalign Treatment?
One
of the new technologies used by our practice is Invisalign. This
technology enables an adult patient to avoid conventional braces
while aligning their teeth and achieving a great smile.
The
Invisalign treatment involves wearing a series of clear plastic
trays that progressively move the teeth a little at a time with
each tray. The trays are very similar in appearance to a bleaching
tray, but are constructed by a computer aided manufacturing process.
Using special molds of the teeth, records and a treatment plan from
the orthodontist, a three dimensional image is created by scanning
the molds. The images are manipulated to simulate tooth straightening
in small increments. A series of images is created for each step
of a tooth aligning process. Accurately fitting trays are fabricated
per increment, and each tray is worn full-time (24 hours per day
except for brushing and eating) for two weeks. A patient may wear
a series of 20-30 trays during the course of treatment.
Just
like any other treatment modality, there are positives and negatives
associated with it. Some of the good points are as follows :
-Because this is a very aesthetic appliance, it is difficult to
detect that a person is undergoing treatment.
-Discomfort is minimal during the course of treatment
-The appliances are removable, and oral hygiene is easily maintained.
Some
of the negative points of the Invisalign system are:
-This is a tooth aligning process only. Bite discrepancies are
not addressed.
-The treatment has its limits. It is mostly for correction of
mild to moderate crowding or space of the front teeth.
-Treatment is more expensive than conventional orthodontics due
to the technology and proprietary process involved.
You
can visit Invisalign's web site at www.invisalign.com.
For
more information or to schedule a free
consult with Dr. Gluck, call us at (770) 664-6003.
|