INVISIBLE BRACES

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Straight teeth and a revitalized smile may no longer need to come from a mouth full of unattractive wire and bracket braces. Enhancing self-esteem and physical confidence, invisible braces offer an esthetic and barely visible alternative to conventional wire/bracket braces. The clear aligners (also called clear braces) are manufactured using advanced computer technology that predicts tooth movement, making it possible for the removable orthodontic appliance to gradually straighten teeth.

Conditions Treated with Invisible Braces

While invisible braces may not be suitable for certain misalignment cases or the complex bite problems that are better addressed by traditional orthodontics, invisible braces can be used to treat the following orthodontic conditions:

Overbite or overjet
Crowded or widely spaced teeth
Crooked teeth
Gum Disease

Invisible braces are designed for adults and older teenagers; invisible braces are not recommended when baby teeth remain. Children and younger teenagers faced with orthodontic problems will require traditional metal braces with brackets/wires on the front of the teeth. However, only your dentist or orthodontist can determine if you are a candidate for invisible braces. The clear aligner treatment was designed primarily for adults due to the need for absolute and rigid cooperation; the trays are worn 22 hours per day and should not be forgotten or lost.

Types of Invisible Braces

Popular types of cosmetic braces include ceramic brackets, inside braces and clear aligners. Ceramic braces are just like metal braces, except that they use tooth-colored brackets (and sometimes tooth-colored wires) rather than metal to straighten teeth. Generally non-staining, the tooth-colored ceramic “blends” with your teeth, making them less noticeable than metal, but not as “invisible” as inside braces or clear aligners. Inside braces — also called inside invisible braces, lingual braces or “iBraces” — and clear aligners go one step further, making treatment virtually invisible. Each alternative has its advantages and disadvantages.

 

“Ceramic, or “clear,” braces are made of composite materials that are weaker and more brittle than metal braces. Ceramic brackets are larger than metal brackets and require small rubber bands, or ligatures, (or built in spring clips on “self ligating” brackets) to hold them to the arch wire. Because the ligatures are white or clear, they can stain. However, staining is not a big problem because ligatures are changed every time you get an adjustment (generally monthly). The “self ligatiing” clips do not require retying with wires or elastics.

Also like metal braces, ceramic brackets are not removable until treatment is completed, can produce irritation and discomfort, and may complicate regular tooth care, eating and speaking.

Because they are not as strong as metal braces, clear braces require a longer treatment time, since your orthodontist may need to apply a slower, more gradual force to ensure the strength capabilities of the clear brackets are not overtaxed. Ceramic brackets also are usually more expensive than traditional metal brackets (about $500 more). As a cost-saving measure, some patients may opt to have ceramic braces placed only on the most visible teeth — typically the upper teeth or just the upper center teeth — while using traditional metal brackets on the remaining teeth that need straightening. Also, there is some possibility of tooth abrasion if the incisal edges of the upper front teeth touch the lower ceramic brackets.

Inside braces (including such brands as 3M’s Incognito Orthodontic Braces) are attached to the back of the teeth so they are hidden from view. Current iBraces use scanned images of the insides of the teeth to create special, computer-designed custom brackets that are attached to the insides of the upper and sometimes lower teeth. This makes them appealing to people who are often in public and might feel self-conscious about wearing clear aligners or braces with metal or ceramic brackets/wires on the front of their teeth. Whereas clear, removable aligners can be misplaced or lost, thereby delaying treatment, iBraces are fixed and not removable. Elastics can be used with iBraces to help hasten treatment. Such elastics are available for use with clear aligners but are more difficult to use.

Disadvantages of iBraces include a higher cost than traditional braces used on the front of the teeth due to the computer customization required to make the brackets. Since computer manufactured iBraces represent a newer technique, many orthodontists are not comfortable or experienced in performing invisible braces treatment and, therefore, shy away from offering them as a treatment plan. Speech, comfort, maintaining dental hygiene and removing dental plaque may pose challenges with iBraces

Clear aligners (including such brands as Align Technologies’ Invisalign and ClearCorrect Inc.’s ClearCorrect) are a series of clear, removable aligners custom-fit to your teeth to provide virtually irritation-free treatment with minimal adjustment discomfort. Clear aligners are nearly invisible, minimally invasive and resistant to clouding from wear. With clear aligners, there are no brackets to come off or wires to break and poke. Clear aligners can be removed for eating, drinking and special events, making it easier to brush and floss.

However, since clear aligners are removable, they may require more motivation and self-discipline to wear consistently, and they are easier to misplace or lose. Lost clear aligners may result in treatment delay and additional replacement costs. While fairly comfortable, clear aligners can cause discomfort or mild pain, particularly at the beginning when new aligners are placed and exert pressure on the teeth to move them. Additionally, clear aligners are available only from dentists or orthodontists manufacturer-certified and trained to offer them; they also may require special and costly maintenance. For example, Invisalign’s custom brand cleansers are available only from its manufacturer and are relatively expensive (nearly $100) compared to traditional cleansers used for orthodontic retainers.

Clear aligners are made after your dentist/orthodontist takes three-dimensional impressions of your teeth and sends them to a manufacturer-specific laboratory that fabricates your custom-fit clear aligners using computerized technology. These aligners are then sent to your dentist/orthodontist to be tried on and evaluated for suitability. Clear aligners are provided in sets. The number of aligners will depend on your specific orthodontic problem. You will wear each new aligner set for a specified amount of time, removing them only to eat, drink, brush and floss. With each new aligner set, your teeth slowly adjust and gradually realign to your desired smile. At periodic visits, your dentist/orthodontist will provide the next aligner set and evaluate your progress throughout treatment. Revision aligners are often requested at the end of the first series of aligners to correct any unfinished detailing

 

        

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The Cost – The cost of orthodontics is generally considered to be very expensive. Invisalign treatment may cost more than traditional braces because the patient may require longer treatment time, compared to the time it takes for traditional braces to move the teeth into their correct position. Because Invisalign is not made directly in the dental office, losing or breaking an Invisalign retainer will add additional costs for the patient. When you lose a bracket, band, or break an archwire, their typically is not any additional charges necessary in order to repair the braces.
Patients that require Invisalign treatment may be required to wear traditional clear braces for a short period before they are able to advance to the Invisalign retainers. There may also be extra charges on top of the cost of the Invisalign system if you are in fact required to undergo pre treatment before you are able to begin wearing Invisalign braces. On average, Invisalign treatment may cost between $5000 and $8000.

Your Speech – The idea of the Invisalign system being discreet is very appealing to most people, until they learn that they will be wearing clear retainers in place of traditional braces. For some patients, these retainers may cause a slight speech impediment, due to the extra bulk on the back of the teeth caused by the retainer. There is also a chance that patients may experience bouts of excess saliva. This, again, is caused by the extra bulk on the back of the teeth from the Invisalign retainer. Most patients report that their speech returns to normal one to two weeks after wearing their Invisalign retainers full-time however, when they are required to advance on to the next retainer, their speech may become impaired slightly again.
Remembering to Wear the Retainers – Wearing the Invisalign retainers as prescribed by your dentist is the most important aspect of the Invisalign system. Patients are required to remove the retainers when brushing, flossing, and before eating. For some patients, remembering to replace the retainers after eating or brushing becomes a problem for them. There are also may cases where patients end up losing their Invisalign retainers because they have taken them out to eat, and then forgot to replace them when they were finished their food.
Grinding and Clenching of the Teeth – Patients that grind or cleanch their teeth together excessively may find that their Invisalign retainers take a real beating. Grinding on the Invisalign retainers may cause the biting surface of the retainers to wear thin, and eventually cause a hole in the clear plastic material. Patients that normally wear a bruxism splint at night will be unable to do so, because the Invisalign retainers need to be worn overnight, in order to keep a constant force on the teeth. In some cases, patients that are no longer able to wear their bruxism splint at night report their TMJ symptoms return or even worsen.
Coffee and Tea Drinkers – If you can’t forego savouring your cup of coffee or tea throughout the day while you wear your Invisalign retainers, you may find that the retainers begin to pick up the stain from these beverages. Also, the temperature of the beverage may affect the shape of the retainers, causing them to warp and not fit correctly.

 

        

[drsushant]

Remove the Invisalign retainer from your mouth and rinse it under tepid water. Tepid water is neither too hot, nor too cold.

Apply toothpaste to a soft-bristled toothbrush or retainer brush. Using small circular motions, gently brush the entire retainer, both inside and out. Once you have completely brushed the Invisalign retainer, rinse the retainer again under tepid water.

Inspect the retainer for any calcium build-up. Like your teeth, retainers are susceptible to tartar (calculus) build-up. Calcium build-up appears as a cloudy white film on the retainer that is hard to remove with a toothbrush.

If you notice any calcium build-up, soak the retainer in a denture or retainer cleaning solution as instructed on the package. The Invisalign website sells a cleaning product designed specifically for Invisalign retainer called the "Invisalign Cleaning System".

Once you have completed cleaning your Invisalign retainer, you can place it back into your mouth.

Tips:

Do not soak your clear Invisalign retainers in mouthwash. Because most mouthwashes contain a color pigment, the resin material may pick up the color from the mouthwash, leaving you with tinted retainers.
Clean your retainers each time you brush your teeth. Any plaque or food particles that are trapped inside the retainer will also sit on your teeth, potentially causing the decay process to begin.
It is important to note that because Invisalign retainers are constructed from a resin (plastic), you should avoid using warm or hot water. Water that is too warm can distort the retainers, causing them to become ill-fitted. If you have used warm or hot water in the past, bring the retainer to your dentist to ensure that it still fits correctly.
When you are instructed to move on to the next set of retainers, it is advisable to thoroughly clean the previous retainer and store it in its case. There are instances where patients are required to wear a previous retainer. Ensuring it is clean and bacteria-free will help eliminate any odor and residue left on the retainer.
What You Need

Toothbrush or retainer brush
Retainer cleaner or denture cleaner
Toothpaste

 

        

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