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What Is Invisalign? Pros and Cons

A person’s smile is a very important physical feature. A good smile is warm and inviting, and makes socializing with others much easier. However, a bad smile filled with crooked or misaligned teeth can be a potential turn off to strangers. Although it may seem unfair to some to judge someone solely based on the appearance of their teeth, in fact, we humans do just that. That is why people spend so much time, money, and effort working on cleaning, whitening, and straightening their teeth. In the past, those with crooked or snarled teeth only had the option of shelling out thousands of dollars for braces. Now, Invisalign offers a new solution. How exactly does Invisalign work, and what are its pros and cons? Here’s everything you need to know about Invisalign.

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What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a clear aligner that is designed to straighten teeth and result in a better smile. As discussed before, straight teeth and a nice smile are very important, making Invisalign a very attractive option for those looking to improve their smile. The Invisalign process starts with a simple visit to your doctor and can blossom into a life-changing experience. Your doctor will be experienced in the Invisalign process and will walk you through it step by step. First, your Invisalign doctor will take a 3D image of your teeth using advanced technology. This 3D image will be used to plan out future adjustments and can even be manipulated to show you what your smile could look like when you’ve finished treatment. Next, your custom aligners will be printed out using state-of-the-art printing technology. These aligners can be placed into your mouth and will slowly straighten your teeth over time, much like traditional braces do. You wear every set of aligners for two weeks before changing into a new pair of aligners. Treatment can last as little as three months, but it really depends on how much your teeth need to be moved.

Pros

One of the biggest pros about Invisalign is the absence of those jarring braces. Braces can be a defining facial feature, and while they do help, they can be a pretty unattractive feature while they’re on. In addition, braces can be extremely painful for those that have them. They may cut your gums or move your teeth drastically, causing a lot of pain.  Invisalign does not cause this large amount of pain. Although each new aligner may cause some slight pain as your mouth adjusts to it and your teeth move, it will not be anywhere near the pain you would experience with braces. In addition, Invisalign is nowhere near as restrictive as traditional braces are. There is a set list of foods that you can’t eat while you have braces as you might risk breaking one of your brackets off or twisting your wires. Fortunately for Invisalign users, these restrictions aren’t there, meaning you can enjoy whatever foods you want when using Invisalign.

Cons

One of the biggest cons of Invisalign is its price. All of that comfort and convenience doesn’t come cheap. In addition, most dental insurance plans won’t actually cover Invisalign and will only cover braces, meaning that if you want Invisalign you’re going to have to pay out of pocket. There are also many attachments that go along with Invisalign, something that could raise the price, make wearing Invisalign more noticeable, and increase discomfort. Although many would consider Invisalign to be more convenient than braces, there is still some inconvenience that comes with them. They have to be removed before eating, which could lead to some awkward moments if you’re out to dinner or on a date. In addition, they need to be worn virtually all day long, meaning you won’t be able to take them out for important events. While most will agree that this is still more convenient than wearing wires and brackets 24/7, it is still something to consider. An Invisalign wearer can also experience pain and discomfort in the mouth when trying out a new aligner. While this pain might not be as much as brackets and wires cutting into your gums, it still is something you need to consider when deciding whether or not to use Invisalign. Invisalign is a product with many positives, but it does have its downsides and disadvantages. If you’re looking to make a fully educated decision, then you need to look at both equally.

 

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