Many people have heard of Invisalign, an invisible option for braces. But few people are aware that the process is still evolving, and that the aligners involved are being put to new, exciting uses. Derek M. Busciglio, D.M.D. runs Busciglio Orthodontics, a family business which serves the Brandon, Florida, and Plant City, Florida areas. Here he talks about how Invisalign can be used for several purposes.
Invisalign is a method of moving teeth. It is not braces but clear plastic liners that are made in sequence to move the teeth. So what happens is that we change the aligners every two to three weeks, moving the teeth slowly as you go.
It is better than traditional braces. In some cases, you cannot use it as there are too many problems to fix. If you can use it, however, Invisalign is nice, the main reason being because the aligners are clear, you can hardly see them.
Another reason that Invisalign can be preferable to wearing traditional braces is because typically the time you wear them is shorter than traditional braces. On average, you wear Invisalign aligners from six to 12 months of treatment compared to much longer with braces.
How Invisalign Works
- Wear each set of aligners for about two weeks.
- Remove only to eat, drink, brush and floss.
- Your teeth will move gradually each week.
- Visit us every 8 to 10 weeks.
- Total treatment time averages 6 to 15 months.
- Average number of aligners is between 18 and 30.
Evolving Process
We are doing more and more with Invisalign. As the process evolves, it is getting better and more efficient, and we are able to do more with it now than in the past.
Some new things we are doing include some extraction treatment, taking out a tooth and enclosing the space with the Invisalign aligners. You take the tooth out, giving you the space to correct the crowding. You correct it by bringing the teeth together to close the gap. Improving your smile with Invisalign is really moving forward all the time, and we look forward to exciting developments with it in future.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
