If you are considering choosing Invisalign braces for teeth alignment, either for yourself, or for your child, then there are two very important things you need to know which could seriously affect your decision. No matter how appealing the concept of invisible braces might be, as with anything, there's a catch. In fact, there are two catches.
Invisalign braces are often referred to as either invisible braces or clear braces, and they offer a revolutionary alternative to the traditional metal brace which has so often typified the teenage years. Metal braces are obvious - there's just no denying the fact that you're wearing them, and this can seriously affect the way you look.
This is one of the main reasons why teeth alignment has for so long been the preserve of teenagers and the young, since most business professionals would not wish to undergo a treatment which would so obviously affect the way they look for up to three or four years. Especially when the look is so commonly associated with children and teens.
Clear braces are made from an almost completely transparent silicon material, which is not only soft and comfortable to wear, but is virtually undetectable when worn. This means that anyone wearing Invisalign braces no longer has to worry about the way they look, since hardly anyone will even know they're wearing braces at all. This opens up the concept of teeth alignment to adults and business professionals for what is really the first time in effect.
So anyone considering teeth alignment and looking in to the idea of braces would certainly find the Invisalign alternative a very attractive option. But there are two things which it is very important to bear in mind before committing yourself or your child. Although most people aren't put off by these two factors, some people are, and so it's well worth being fully aware of the implications.
The first thing to be aware of is the fact that having Invisalign braces fitted doesn't mean that you walk out of the dentist's surgery, and that's it for 18 months or so. In fact, once you leave the surgery you'll have just two weeks before you'll need to go back. Then you'll need to go back again two weeks after that. And every two weeks throughout the entire treatment. This means that over the course of an 18 month treatment you'll need to see your dentist almost 40 times.
For some people this isn't a problem, but if you have serious concerns about visiting a dentist in the first place, or you're often abroad because of work, or you're planning a long six week holiday somewhere then you may find that this causes you a problem. It's worth discussing the situation and your commitments with your Invisalign dentist as there may be a way round it, but this commitment will certainly be a significant factor in the overall treatment, and definitely something to be aware of right from the start.
The second factor to be aware of is that you can remove the braces at any time. In fact, you're encouraged to remove them as it enables you to clean your teeth far more effectively and thoroughly than with braces in all the time. Surely this sounds like a good thing?
However, for someone with a little less will power than most the risk is that they will be tempted to leave the braces out for longer than advised, or keep removing them regularly. Unless the Invisalign braces are worn for a minimum of 23 hours out of every 24 hour period they simply won't work. If you feel you might be tempted to 'forget' to put them in again, or you feel your child might be tempted to remove them whilst at school then you may feel they aren't the right choice for you.
Invisalign braces are often referred to as either invisible braces or clear braces, and they offer a revolutionary alternative to the traditional metal brace which has so often typified the teenage years. Metal braces are obvious - there's just no denying the fact that you're wearing them, and this can seriously affect the way you look.
This is one of the main reasons why teeth alignment has for so long been the preserve of teenagers and the young, since most business professionals would not wish to undergo a treatment which would so obviously affect the way they look for up to three or four years. Especially when the look is so commonly associated with children and teens.
Clear braces are made from an almost completely transparent silicon material, which is not only soft and comfortable to wear, but is virtually undetectable when worn. This means that anyone wearing Invisalign braces no longer has to worry about the way they look, since hardly anyone will even know they're wearing braces at all. This opens up the concept of teeth alignment to adults and business professionals for what is really the first time in effect.
So anyone considering teeth alignment and looking in to the idea of braces would certainly find the Invisalign alternative a very attractive option. But there are two things which it is very important to bear in mind before committing yourself or your child. Although most people aren't put off by these two factors, some people are, and so it's well worth being fully aware of the implications.
The first thing to be aware of is the fact that having Invisalign braces fitted doesn't mean that you walk out of the dentist's surgery, and that's it for 18 months or so. In fact, once you leave the surgery you'll have just two weeks before you'll need to go back. Then you'll need to go back again two weeks after that. And every two weeks throughout the entire treatment. This means that over the course of an 18 month treatment you'll need to see your dentist almost 40 times.
For some people this isn't a problem, but if you have serious concerns about visiting a dentist in the first place, or you're often abroad because of work, or you're planning a long six week holiday somewhere then you may find that this causes you a problem. It's worth discussing the situation and your commitments with your Invisalign dentist as there may be a way round it, but this commitment will certainly be a significant factor in the overall treatment, and definitely something to be aware of right from the start.
The second factor to be aware of is that you can remove the braces at any time. In fact, you're encouraged to remove them as it enables you to clean your teeth far more effectively and thoroughly than with braces in all the time. Surely this sounds like a good thing?
However, for someone with a little less will power than most the risk is that they will be tempted to leave the braces out for longer than advised, or keep removing them regularly. Unless the Invisalign braces are worn for a minimum of 23 hours out of every 24 hour period they simply won't work. If you feel you might be tempted to 'forget' to put them in again, or you feel your child might be tempted to remove them whilst at school then you may feel they aren't the right choice for you.
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