Taking on the twenty-first century requires a certain amount of mental as well as physical strength. In a world where confidence plays a strong part in how we get on, it is good to know that Invisalign Leicester is helping us to look and feel better equipped. In previous years we may have regarded our teeth as just a functional piece of equipment that helped us chew our food. The smartphone has made us rethink that and we now realise that our teeth are more than a functional item, they are also a way in which we display our personality. When we smile, grimace or frown we use our mouth, and in many cases our teeth, to show our emotions.
Misaligned teeth no longer a hindrance
It is unfortunate but there are many of us who suffer from a variety of dental problems that can now be corrected far easier than in the past. Crooked, gapped or overcrowded teeth have often caused people to hold their hand in front of their mouths when they wanted to smile. Overbites, underbites and a myriad of problems that prevent our teeth from meeting together properly, not only cause aesthetic problems, but practical ones as well. Traditional metal braces used to be the only recourse to correct a number of these problems. That has now changed!
Braces and aligners
The dental industry has been working hard to create and develop different apparatus to help orthodontists to target specific conditions. The traditional metal aligner has been remodelled and is now a very different, more efficient and comfortable way of correcting dental misalignments. Other braces have been developed made from a variety of materials that blend in more naturally with our teeth. There is even a brace called a lingual brace which fits onto the backs of the teeth making it less conspicuous. These all use blocks, wires and bands requiring regular adjustments as they correct the misalignment. More recently a new type of brace has been introduced which is called an aligner and which does not use wires and bands.
Invisalign aligners
Invisalign is a type of aligner which is fitted over the teeth in much the same way as a gum shield. Together with some very advanced technology these aligners are created from a clear dental material which makes them almost invisible. The software and hardware used allows for a dental image to be taken, without the use of dental putty, to make an impression. This image can be transmitted digitally to a laboratory where the aligners can be created. This speeds up the process and is also extremely accurate. In addition it is possible to show a patient a virtual image of what the result will be before the treatment has even begun. A series of aligners, referred to as trays, are created. Each tray has a slightly different orientation which will gradually move the teeth to the desired position. The trays must be worn for at least twenty-two hours per day, but can be removed to allow for brushing, eating and drinking. The duration of the treatment depends on the condition being treated, but is anywhere from six to twelve months.
Treatment results
At the end of the treatment it is necessary to wear a retainer for a designated period to allow the teeth to settle in their new position. Once the settling period is over it is time to smile confidently and show the world a lovely straight set of teeth.
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