The trendy new way to straighten teeth an invisible treatment system called Invisalign. This retainer can eliminate the metallic smile that traditional braces cause. The Invisalign system uses a series of plastic molds as “aligners” to gently move teeth to their correct alignment.

The dentist or orthodontist uses an imaging system to design your invisalign plastic braces. After taking bite impressions, the dentist or orthodontist creates a computer image of your teeth and then uses that to create a series of clear plastic retainers. The first set of plastic retainers will fit your teeth immediately and the additional ones will use gentle pressure to move your teeth to the correct spot.

Invisalign can take anywhere from 18 to 30 different sets of retainers and each is worn for two weeks, except during meals. The invisalign treatment method takes the same amount of time as traditional wire braces.

The biggest benefit of invisible invisalign braces is that most people do not want to spend two years with wires in their mouth. Some adults would prefer to have crooked teeth than have the wire braces for two years. The invisalign invisible system is much more aesthetically pleasing for many customers than wire braces

Another significant advantage of invisalign invisible braces is hygiene. The invisalign retainer can be removed and cleaned daily during meals, and the teeth of the wearer can also be cleaned with normal brushing and flossing. Mealtime is also significantly easier for invisalign patients as the retainer can be removed during meals.

Since invisalign braces are removable, some people do not wear it all of the time. This can lengthen the time it takes to straighten the teeth and can also add to the cost with more visits to the orthodontist or dentist. Properly worn, however, the invisalign can be a much less painful experience than wire metallic braces.

Invisalign costs a significant 20 to 50 percent more than wire braces. Some insurance plans will treat invisalign the same as wire braces, but others may consider it elective and require you to pay the difference. If you are thinking about straightening your teeth, you may wish to see a dentist or orthodontist to learn more about invisalign.