5 Benefits of Invisalign

A lot has changed in the field of orthodontics in the past few decades. One of the most significant changes is the increased popularity of clear aligners for straightening teeth. If you’re thinking about getting Invisalign treatment, here are five benefits to consider.

For some patients with traditional metal braces, an orthodontic diet isn’t a big deal. For others, having a list of forbidden foods is a miserable experience. It’s not only the obvious foods, like chewy, sticky candies, gum, and popcorn. You’ll have to give up hard nuts, you’ll need to get used to cutting your apples into bite-sized pieces, and even steak can be a no-go.

The good news is that with Invisalign no foods are off limits. Because you can remove your aligners for eating, you can eat whatever you like. You’ll never have to worry about a bracket coming off when you bite into something or sticky food getting caught in your braces.

Who wants to draw attention to the fact that they’re undergoing orthodontic treatment? No one––especially if you’re an adult who wants straighter teeth. Invisalign aligners are practically invisible. Only people who look very closely will be able to notice your aligners. If you’re giving a speech at a conference or standing up in front of a classroom, no one will know you’re wearing Invisalign.

From a dental perspective, this is perhaps the biggest advantage of Invisalign over traditional braces. While it’s possible to practice good oral hygiene habits with metal braces, and many people do, it’s a lot harder––you’re not just brushing your teeth, but cleaning your braces too. This means flossing and brushing around your brackets and wires. If you don’t do a thorough job, you’re likely to have stains on your teeth when your braces are removed or even cavities.

You can remove your Invisalign aligners, so your brushing and flossing routine will be unchanged. You’ll just add the extra step of cleaning your aligners with a soft bristled toothbrush or soaking them in a specially formulated disinfecting and cleaning solution.

Metal braces are uncomfortable. They’re bulky, the wires poke at your cheeks, they hurt when they get tightened. They do the job, but you never forget they’re there. 

With Invisalign, there are no brackets, no wires, and no painful wire tightening every four weeks. You might feel some slight discomfort when you switch to a new set of aligners, but it’s nowhere near as uncomfortable as getting your braces tightened would be. Adult Invisalign patients who had traditional metal braces as teenagers are shocked by how different the experience is.

One thing we love about the Invisalign system is that it’s constantly improving and innovating. It’s made with advanced SmartTrack® material, which provides more predictable, controlled tooth movements than metal braces. When Invisalign first launched, many patients were not a fit for the treatment, but as it has advanced, it has become a viable option for most people. Of course, there are still some particularly complex cases where Invisalign is not appropriate, but if you have a case that can be treated by Invisalign, you can feel confident that Invisalign will work just as well as metal braces.

If you’d like to learn more about Invisalign treatment and whether it’s right for you, contact us today at 631-928-7500 to schedule an appointment.