8 Benefits of Invisalign Treatment for Teens and Adults

Most people recognize the Invisalign brand name and have heard that it can help adjust your teeth. However, do you know all the benefits that Invisalign can bring?

Invisalign is an orthodontic system that uses transparent, removable aligners to move teeth. Almost everyone who has healthy, permanent teeth can benefit from Invisalign treatment. Aligners can straighten teeth without metal brackets. They can be removed daily for eating, brushing, flossing and any social events. In addition, there are other benefits that are specific to teenagers and adults.

Benefits to teenagers:

1. Invisalign Teen protects teeth during contact sports. At Care Orthodontics we recommend wearing a mouth guard for all contact sports or gymnastics. It absorbs shock from any object that can shatter teeth and lacerate lips. For teenagers who are in braces, a custom fit mouth guard is expensive to fabricate and is difficult to fit over braces. With Invisalign, aligners already wrapped around the teeth to provide some protection. For heavy sports, aligners can be removed and a normal mouth guard can be worn without the added expense of a specialized mouth guard.
2.  Invisalign protects lip irritation for anyone playing "wind-musical instruments" such as clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horns, etc... Unlike braces, Invisalign has no raised metal brackets or sharp corners to cause scratches, canker sores or inflammation. Teenagers can remove aligners while practicing and playing in a band. Since aligner material is very thin, it is an ideal dental device for music lovers. 
3. Invisalign trains kids to be more responsible. Since Invisalign requires kids to wear aligners full time with an average of 22 hours per day, kids are treated like an adult and asked to be responsible for their treatment. Surprisingly, I find that kids enjoy their responsibility when being challenged on a daily basis. They comply better when they see their teeth becoming straighter. They are motivated to wear the aligners because they can see the changing results.
4.  Invisalign saves time. I understand that kids are busy with many school activities such as academics, sports, and after-hour curriculum, while parents are busy with work and commuting. Going to an orthodontic office and waiting to be seen for a monthly adjustment is a chore that both parents and kids are glad to eliminate. Invisalign offers a perfect alternative because they require a fewer number of office visits. There are no monthly adjustment, no dental emergencies such as loose bands, brackets or pokey wires, and no alteration in diet or flossing. For busy teenagers, Invisalign saves time and makes treatment a convenience.

Benefits to adults:

1.   Invisalign is a versatile therapy for adults.  Aligners can be removed to eat, brush, and floss. You don't have to worry about changing your diet or avoiding certain favorite foods as required by braces. You don't have to deal with special brushing or flossing tools. Without brackets, there is less plaque accumulation near the gum line, thus less risk of gum diseases and deep pockets. Adults also experience lighter force with aligners, thus making treatment more enjoyable and less painful. 
2.   Invisalign is a good solution for social settings. Many adults aren't sure if it is worth wearing braces to have straight teeth. They don't want to be noticed for having metal brackets in their mouths or having food stuck between their brackets. Now adults can achieve straight teeth, without the hassle of worrying about metal brackets.
3. Invisalign is a good fit for adults who have busy schedules.  Between works, meetings, picking up and dropping off kids at schools, groceries and meal preparation, adults usually have no time left at the end of the day. With Invisalign, there are virtually no emergencies or loose appliances, discomfort is minimized, and fewer visits to the orthodontist’s office are required. It is the preferred appliance for many busy adults.
4. Invisalign can help with teeth whitening. Patients can buy whitening kits over- the-counter and whiten their teeth while getting their teeth straightened. It is an ideal set-up for a beautiful and healthy smile.

For more information about Invisalign or Invisalign Teen, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Nancy Phan. She can answer your questions and concerns. The consultation is complimentary. Give us a call at (408) 971-2885 or visit us at www.CareOrthodontics.com . 

  

I heard things about Invisalign. Does it work?

I have patients who come in for an orthodontic consultation and tell me that they only want braces, not Invisalign. When I inquire further, they say that they have friends who have worn Invisalign and do not recommend it because, "Invisalign does not work." Their true concerns are, "can Invisalign give me the same results as braces?" and, "is it a good product?" Let's compare these two products and get to the bottom of these concerns.

The first question is: Can Invisalign move teeth? Yes, it can. If braces can move teeth then Invisalign can move teeth. Braces move teeth by fixed mechanics in which brackets and wires are attached to the teeth and cause tooth movement. Invisalign moves teeth by removable mechanics in which the plastic materials and added auxiliaries push on teeth.

The mechanics of which teeth move are the same in braces and Invisalign. The basic principle is that force applied to the teeth, whether through fixed or removable appliances, gets transferred from the crown of a tooth to the root of tooth then spreads through the adjacent bone. Eventually that original force triggers a bone biology process to cause cell turn-over to soften bone around a tooth and move that tooth in the direction of the acting force. A tooth can move forward, backward, up, and down, or it can rotate, depending on the direction and amount of force applied.

The next question is: What kind of bite can View Invisalign videos fix? Invisalign can fix almost any bite just as braces; however, the big answer depends on the experience and expertise of the treating doctor. As a patient, if you go to a general dentist who treats a few cases a year and has not gone through rigorous training of orthodontic forces and mechanics, then you may not get the same great results as you would with an orthodontist who treat many cases. In general, an orthodontist goes through additional two to three years after completing a general dentist degree and needs to take additional testing required to be certified as an Orthodontic Specialist. By definition, they are specialists in the field of biological forces, dental mechanics, and tooth movement. Just as a painter and the paint material, you need both a good paint product, and a great painter to give you the final masterpiece and long-lasting beautiful artwork.

At Care Orthodontics, Dr. Nancy Phan and team practice orthodontics exclusively. We use braces and Invisalign day in and day out and we can give you a beautiful smile that you yearn for. In rare instances, if you start out with Invisalign and for some reasons decide that it is not working for you, Dr. Phan can switch you to braces. For most cases, Dr. Phan starts and completes Invisalign treatment only by aligners and finishes cases beautifully. We are here to customize your treatment and provide you the best care and comfort.

You can schedule a complimentary exam with us by going to: www. CareOrthodontics.com. You can also check us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CareOrthodontics