What are Invisalign braces?
Invisalign braces are useful for correcting an overbite or underbite or for straightening teeth with greater aesthetic appeal. Unlike regular metal braces that alter one’s appearance, Invisalign braces are colorless, and therefore, unnoticeable. They are also removable for eating, drinking, brushing, or flossing. However, in order to be of maximum benefit and to minimize the duration of treatment, patients should wear their aligners for a minimum of 22 hours per day. The dentist (who must be certified by Invisalign) first takes impressions and images of the patient’s teeth, and then digitizes them into a 3D image. At this stage, the dentist plans the tooth movement for the duration of treatment, giving the patient an idea of the changes that will occur during and after the treatment. The dentist then customizes aligners for the patient, using a different level of force on specific teeth at each stage of the process. Generally, full treatment with Invisalign braces requires between 20 a