Dental invisible aligners are orthodontic devices used to correct the position of teeth and achieve better dental alignment. They are especially used to correct malocclusion and dental crowding, and they can also be combined with surgical cases.
What are invisible aligners?
The aligners are made of transparent plastic material that fits perfectly thanks to the 3D dental scanner technique we use.
The invisible aligner treatment has a very easy and light process. Steps of invisible aligners:
- First visit: the orthodontist will evaluate your teeth and jaw, and assess your treatment goals and expectations.
- Study, evaluation, and planning phase: a complete examination of your mouth will be performed, which includes x-rays, a 3D scanner, and photographs of your teeth. With this information, a personalized treatment plan will be made.
- Aligner Design: Based on the initial evaluation, the orthodontist will work with a dental laboratory or aligner company to design a series of custom aligners. These aligners are made of a clear material and will fit your teeth exactly.
- Placement and use of aligners: once the aligners are ready, we will carry out the placement in the clinic, where the aligners will be checked to see if they fit perfectly. Each aligner is worn for approximately 1-2 weeks, then changed to the next one. This allows your teeth to gradually move towards the desired position. The duration of treatment with aligners can vary depending on the complexity of the case and the treatment objectives, but on average it is estimated from 6 months to 2 years.
- End of aligners and retentions: when you have worn all the aligners stipulated by the orthodontist, we place the retentions, which can be fixed, removable, or a combination of both. Retentions prevent the teeth from returning to their initial state or making any unwanted movement and are generally worn at night.
Check-ups: once the treatment is finished, it is advisable to do annual check-ups to check the status of the retentions and see that the teeth and occlusion remain in the same state.
What advantages do they have over traditional braces?
The aligners are transparent, which makes them less visible than traditional braces, therefore, they are more aesthetic and discreet. The biggest advantage for patients is that with the use of dental aligners, there is less irritation to the mucosa. This prevents sores and chafing, thanks to its smooth surface and soft material.
Another advantage is that they are removable, which means that patients can remove them to eat, brush their teeth, and floss, making it easier to maintain good oral hygiene and a lower risk of cavities or gingivitis during treatment. By removing the aligners to eat and drink, there are no food restrictions or diets to follow.
Visits to the dental specialist are also reduced, since with the aligners a monthly visit is not necessary. They can be extended or even monitored online thanks to Virtual Care, which is an application that allows us to provide virtual healthcare including telemonitoring to check on patients and virtual health consultations.
