Vancouver, British Columbia – Maybe you've heard about them, or someone you know has had their smile improved by wearing them. The number of Vancouver orthodontics patients being treated with Invisalign are increasing every day. Dr. Aly Kanani, a Vancouver orthodontist and Invisalign provider, explains what patients frequently ask him.
"For a lot of patients, Invisalign seems too good to be true," says Dr. Kanani, who is an Invisalign certified Orthodontist in Vancouver. "Completely clear and removable aligners that don't require you to alter your diet or oral care routine while wearing them? Invisalign is better than good and extremely effective at moving teeth."
What are the invisible aligners made of?
Invisalign aligners are made of a thermoplastic material and look very similar to trays used for teeth whitening. The plastic is soft and pliable, making them comfortable to wear while at the same time, being able to move teeth very well.
How do the aligners work?
Each patient receives aligners that are custom designed to fit over their teeth. Over the course of your treatment, you will use a series of different aligners. Each one is designed to make slight adjustments to your teeth, until at the end of treatment, your teeth have moved into their ideal locations. The aligners move teeth gradually, and studies have shown that gradual tooth movement is actually the most effective. Each set of aligners is worn for approximately two weeks.
The aligners use a controlled force to effectively move teeth into their proper position. The Invisalign technology uses controlled force to only move certain teeth during the process, so with each aligner, patients know that only the right teeth are being moved into a better position. At the end of treatment, all the teeth that need to be moved will have now be in their ideal locations.
How long will treatment last?
Just like with regular braces, treatment time varies with each patient. Teeth move at different speeds for each person, so there is no cut and dry length of treatment. However, in adult patients, the average treatment time is typically around 12 months.
How often should I wear my aligners?
To achieve the proper movement, aligners must be worn most of the day. Most orthodontists recommend they be worn between 20 and 22 hours per day. They should only be removed when eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
How does Invisalign affect my life?
The great answer to this is that there is almost no effect on the rest of your life while wearing Invisalign. Unlike regular metal braces, where patients have to avoid certain foods and maintain a rigid oral care process, Invisalign doesn't require you to alter your diet or habits.
How do I care for my aligners?
There is a special Invisalign cleaning solution that can be purchased, or patients can simply clean them with lukewarm water.
"Once my patients get these simple questions answered, they can't wait to begin their Invisalign treatment," says Dr. Kanani. "With Invisalign, patients can be on the road to a beautiful, straight smile in a comfortable and discrete manner." Visit http://www.invisibleorthodontics.ca/ for more details about Invisalign.
© 2013 Dr. Aly Kanani, Master Google and Invisalign Surrey. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Master Google and Invisible Orthodontics are credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this document is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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