They are a series of clear aligners that are made for each patient individually and gradually straighten the teeth, without the need for braces and wires. These aligners are made of a special patented plastic. The orthodontist sends a special digital scan / impression to the manufacturer in order to create a series of clear aligners that will be worn gradually by the patient.
Then, with the help of advanced 3D technology, a numbered series of clear aligners is created. The patient wears the aligners one by one in the order prescribed by the doctor. Each aligner should be used for about one to two weeks and then replaced with the next one.
Using the latest developments in 3D computing technology and always according to the dentist’s instructions, a series of clear aligners are created on the outside. These aligners activate controlled forces on your teeth, forcing them to move millimeter by millimeter, exerting pressure on specific parts of the teeth.
Each aligner is a little different from the previous one. Also, the pressure points are not the same throughout the appliance but they change gradually so as to push the teeth to the ideal position for each patient.
Invisalign® aligners are made of a special flexible, thermoplastic material, taking the shape of each patient’s teeth. They look a lot like teeth whitening splints, but Invisalign® aligners are specially made to move your teeth.
During orthodontic treatment with Invisalign® aligners, low pressure is exerted on the teeth, thus minimizing any discomfort. If necessary, one can take a simple painkiller for the first twenty-four hours, but this is highly unlikely.
The aligners are removable and can be taken out at meal time or when brushing your teeth. It is a good idea for the patient to wear them for the rest of the day and night. Orthodontic treatment without braces is effective when the Invisalign® aligners are applied 20 – 22 hours a day. Otherwise, there will be a delay in the orthodontic treatment.
Soft aligners are not cleaned with toothpaste, as one might assume. You can clean Invisalign® aligners with liquid soap and rinse with lukewarm water.
Orthodontic treatment without braces only works when you wear the aligners 20 – 22 hours a day. The treatment and its duration vary depending on the patient’s case. The average duration of the Invisalign treatment is from 6 to 18 months. During the treatment, you will need to visit your orthodontist every 3-4 weeks.
Visits are usually made every four (4) weeks and less frequently every six (6) weeks. This depends on the severity of the orthodontic malocclusion and the progress of the treatment.
The advantages are many, in short it is worth mentioning that:
- Invisalign aligners are the ideal choice of orthodontic treatment for adults (and not only), who wish to have a perfect smile but do not want to wear braces.
- Invisalign aligners are almost invisible.
- They are removable. When you eat or brush your teeth, you can easily pull them out. This means that during the treatment you can eat whatever you want, contrary to what applies for treatments with traditional braces, where you have to be very careful with hard foods but also sticky ones (chewing gum, candies, etc.).
- Their application does not prevent the maintenance of excellent oral hygiene.
- Treatment with Invisalign aligners is painless.
- Invisalign aligners do not irritate the gums.
- They do not cause any speech impediment, unlike traditional braces.
- The application of removable Invisalign aligners does not preclude a visit to the dentist or periodontist for the necessary cleaning or other treatments.
The first step is to schedule an appointment with the orthodontist. You will receive a final answer about the suitability of the method after your examination by the specialist. This means that a clinical examination and radiographic examination (tooth panoramic / cephalometric X-ray) will be performed and if the orthodontist determines that orthodontic treatment is possible for your case, they will take your dental scan / impressions which, together with your X-rays, will be sent abroad. Then, when your case has been processed digitally, you will receive a final answer about the suitability of the method for you.
Of course! Invisalign® invisible aligners can correct almost all cases of orthodontic anomalies, even very difficult ones. The same applies for the correction of teeth displacement occuring after the completion of an older treatment with traditional braces (or other methods).
However, because there is no absolute truth in medicine, we could say that the success of the treatment – in some very rare cases – may depend on how well the previous treatment has worked and what the problem is now.
It is true that, in the past, tooth extraction as part of orthodontic treatment was a common practice. With the current methods of orthodontic treatment, however, extractions are limited to those cases that are absolutely necessary.
We could not calculate the exact cost of an orthodontic treatment before the dental anomaly has been assessed with clinical examination. We must also emphasize that prices are formed on the basis of free market rules.
Only a visit to a certified and experienced orthodontist will enlighten you about the cost.
Some enlightening facts about the cost of Invisalign treatment:
- It costs a little more than a similar treatment with common clear aligners, but this difference is by no means prohibitive.
- Its cost depends on the complexity of the case and its duration.
- According to market research, prices may vary, depending on the case, for dual arch treatments (upper & lower jaw). For Invisalign® LITE from € 2,300 to € 3,000 and for Invisalign® FULL from € 3,200 to € 4,400.
The cost for your case will be determined after the clinical examination, during the first visit, but also upon discussion with your treating doctor, with whom you will agree on a possible financial settlement adapted to your own repayment possibilities.
What is certain is that the cost is not prohibitive and also a beautiful smile is an investment in both your appearance and your health!
Because teeth tend to return to their original position after orthodontic treatment with either braces or aligners, it is helpful for patients to wear a retention aligner overnight in order for the teeth to maintain their new and ideal position.
In case one does not wish in any way to wear a retention splint at night, there is the alternative of a permanent retainer with either a wire or immobilizing bar on the back (lingual) side of the teeth, which is invisible to others. However, the patient must get more intensive periodontal check-ups at the Clinic.
In order to start treatment with Invisalign® aligners, you first need a clinical examination from a certified orthodontist, a panoramic x-ray, oral cavity photographs and additional a cephalometric radiography.
Smoking does not affect the course of treatment with invisible aligners. The downside of smoking during treatment is that nicotine will turn the aligners yellow. Using them for fewer days will make this problem seem less important.
What happens depends on the duration of use of the aligner before it is lost or destroyed. If the aligner has been worn for several days and needs to be changed soon, the orthodontist may recommend the earlier use of the next aligner in a row.
If it is lost or damaged in the first days of application, a new aligner may need to be ordered. In this case, the patient will wear the previous aligner until the new one arrives.
Because the aligners are removable, there are no dietary restrictions. However, chewing gum should be avoided because it sticks on the aligners and smoking will discolor them, so they will cease to be transparent. Also, highly pigmented substances (such as red wine) can cause discoloration.
No, this is not the case at all. You may feel a slight difference but the effect on speech is minimal and transient.
Most people who wear invisible aligners get used to them within one to two days and their speech is completely normal.
In some cases this is true. Transparent removable aligners are usually suitable for correcting crowding teeth in adolescents and adults. In case there is a serious occlusal problem, conventional braces might be deemed necessary, either transparent or invisible ones, ie placed on the inner side of the teeth.
Invisalign® invisible aligners are a state-of-the-art product, tested for nearly two decades with spectacular results.
At the same time, the knowledge and experience of the orthodontist who will properly plan the treatment and maximize the potential of digital technology is a key factor.
What is true in all cases in medicine (but also in general) is that machines alone do not automatically produce good results. As much as the invisible Invisalign® aligners offer us due to their advanced technology, the orthodontist guides the system.
The knowledge and experience of the orthodontist allows him to know and determine whether what appears digitally during the design of the treatment, can be achieved in reality.
Of course not. Experience to date indicates a huge difference between the different companies that make invisible splints, which significantly affects both the result and the cost. There are companies whose splints can cure even more severe problems to a great degree, and others that so far have only shown results in milder cases. The cost, then, is adjusted accordingly.
