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invisalign
Invisalign® - the invisible way to straighter teeth.
Whilst you can dye your hair to cover grey, or dress carefully to disguise the parts of your body that you dislike- there is little you can do to hide your teeth. They are always on show and if they happen to be crooked and uneven, the chances are that you will feel self conscious about the way you look, smile and even talk. We often feel that there is nothing that we can do about our teeth, or that any treatment involved will be painful and unpleasant. Whilst that might have been the case a few years ago, we are fortunate enough to live at a time when technology can do amazing things to help us transform the way we look- without pain and embarrassment.
How does it work?
Invisalign® uses a pair of transparent aligners which are moulded to the exact shape of your teeth using 3D computer imaging. These aligners are so comfortable to wear that you will soon forget that they are there- they are also invisible when worn and so there is none of the embarrassment that comes with wearing large metal braces. The aligners are removed for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing your teeth, but otherwise are worn continuously. Every fortnight the aligners are replaced by the next pair in the series so that your teeth are slowly moving and straightening without pain or discomfort. The use of aligners exerts a controlled force on the teeth: at different stages in the process, only certain teeth will be allowed to move. Thus the whole process is gradual, controlled and painless.
What is involved?
Your first visit will involve a consultation with the orthodontist in which you will have the chance to explain what you want the treatment to achieve and agree upon your final look. At the same time, the whole process will be thoroughly explained to you and any concerns that you may have can be addressed.
The next step is to take an impression of your teeth which is sent away to the laboratory where plaster moulds are made. Using 3D imaging technology, the computer is able to chart a sequence showing how your teeth will move and change until they are in their final position. Laser scanning is then used to make sets of aligners for each progressive stage of the straightening process.
These aligners are sent back to Hallcross and passed on to you the patient. You wear each progressive set of aligners for two weeks, removing them only to eat, drink and brush your teeth.
You will continue to visit Hallcross every 6 weeks to ensure that the whole process is continuing smoothly and to review your progress. The average time for the straightening procedure is usually somewhere between 9 to 15 months, as the process is steady and controlled. This involves the use of between 18-30 different sets of aligners. As each individual case is unique, it is hard to predict exactly how long the treatment will take, but patients who have already used Invisalign have told us that the waiting is worthwhile for the end result.