The Perks of Invisible Aligners

Taking your kids to the dentist can be, and should be, a very routine thing. What most kids are really afraid of is a particular paring of words that can equally send a shiver down the spine of adolescents and even adults: “you need braces.”

Regardless of the benefits of braces in correcting tooth alignment and enhancing the aesthetics of smiles, society has tended to depict braces as an article of the outcast. Teenagers are especially susceptible to terms like “brace-face” or “metal-mouth,” which is enough to discourage anyone—or even some adults—from correcting their teeth.

Fortunately, dental professionals have found alternative solutions to the stigma of wearing metal bracers: the product is called Invisalign.
The name alone says a lot about what Invisalign is meant to do; these are teeth aligners that are nearly imperceptible. The option should never be about whether or not you should align your teeth, but this new option of invisible braces of sorts is much more appealing to young patients as well as old.

Of course, the first thing to note about Invisalign is that it the more expensive option to traditional braces. However, the benefits of Invisalign go well beyond the aesthetic of aligning teeth without being called names. Invisalign creates tooth movement in a way that is smooth, comfortable, and is not irritating to the gums or cheeks. When you choose Invisalign, a series of custom aligners are made for you that you are supposed to switch out gradually—every two weeks or so—until your teeth are properly aligned.

One of the most appealing aspects of Invisalign is that even though you are required to wear your aligners about 22 hours a day, you can remove them when you eat, brush your teeth, or floss. This also means that you are not restricted from performing certain physical activities, like playing sports, due to fear of breaking a bracket or hurting your mouth with the metal from the aligners.

Of course, whether you’re considering Invisalign or traditional braces, it is always best to consult with your dental care specialist in order to go over the benefits of either procedure. The appeal of invisible aligners is appealing to most, especially when pictures and smiling are taken into consideration. With traditional braces you may experience the discomfort of wanting to smile but being too embarrassed to do so. With Invisalign that discomfort quickly disappears as you can smile with or without the aligners since they are nearly imperceptible.