What is Invisalign?
Founded in 1997 by a couple of college graduates, Invisalign teeth straightening began like many other business start-ups … in a garage in California. Experimentation with incremental retainers, CAD/CAM technology, and the addition of individuals with the expertise needed to formulate this innovative way to correct an overbite, underbite, or crossbite led to the creation of Invisalign.
A couple of decades later, and Invisalign leads the way in utilizing clear aligners to straighten teeth. The model involves replacing aligners every two weeks with each new aligner fitting snuggly. At the end of the two week period, teeth will have shifted slightly allowing for the next in the series to continue to move teeth to their correct occlusion. This process is repeated until the final result is achieved.
Caring for Invisalign Aligners
Aligners are designed to be worn 20 to 22 hours every day in order to achieve the desired results in the time frame outlined in your treatment plan. And since each aligner is disposable at the end of a couple of weeks, their maintenance is simple.
You will remove aligners before consuming meals and snacks. Brush or rinse your teeth as well as your aligners before replacing. You can rinse Invisalign aligners with water and mild soap making sure to thoroughly rinse before placing back in your mouth.
At night before bed, gently brush aligners with your toothbrush to keep them fresh and clean. Invisalign does offer a cleaning kit for patients, which may provide the ideal way to care for your Invisalign aligners.
Once teeth straightening has concluded, a very important step is needed for you to secure your newly straightened teeth. A retainer is issued with a prescription for wearing it … the retainer is required while teeth and the bones that hold them in place develop a memory of their new location. Failure to wear as prescribed may allow teeth to shift back to their original placement. Protect your investment and wear the retainer!
To learn more about Invisalign, contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
