If you’ve been thinking about having your teeth straightened, you’ve probably also been wondering about the Invisalign^® alignment system and whether it’s a better choice than traditional braces. Yes, Invisalign does tend to cost more than traditional braces, but that added cost comes with lots of advantages. When most people think of Invisalign, they think about the clear plastic design — or more specifically, how difficult the aligners are to spot once they’re in your mouth. And it’s true, those aligners are completely clear and really hard to detect. That means while you’re wearing your Invisalign aligners, you don’t have to feel self-conscious about flashing a mouthful of metal brackets and wires.

But as cool as that clear design is, it’s just one reason why the system is so popular among teens and adults. Here are three other major reasons why you should consider Invisalign to straighten your teeth.

They’re created using state-of-the-art CAD/CAM technology

One of the major reasons why Invisalign aligners work so well: They use computers during both the design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM) phases. During your initial office visit, Dr. Evans will make impressions (or molds) of your teeth. These impressions serve as the basic model for your Invisalign aligners and your entire treatment. The impressions are sent to a dental lab that specializes in Invisalign products. Once they arrive, they’re scanned into a computer to create a series of three-dimensional models of your teeth. These models show how your teeth need to move over time in order to come into alignment.

Next, the computer system uses computer-aided manufacturing technology to create your unique series of aligners using a special type of plastic material that’s actually been patented by Invisalign. It’s even got a special name — SmartTrack^®. SmartTrack is designed to apply continuous, gentle pressure to your teeth, helping them move into their correct positions over time — without wires or metal brackets and without painful tightening appointments. Plus, SmartTrack is completely safe — it doesn’t contain any BPA, BPS or latex, and it’s even gluten free. SmartTrack is also super smooth so your aligners can slide on and of easily while still staying secure once they’re in place.

You can eat whatever you want

One of the major drawbacks of traditional braces: You have to be careful about the foods you eat. Really chewy foods can get stuck in the wires and brackets, which means you’ll need to make an appointment to remove that stuck-on material. Plus, chewy and hard foods can actually break the wires and brackets, interfering with your treatment and requiring more appointments for repair. With Invisalign, you remove your aligners before your meals. That means you can eat whatever you want, including chewy and hard or crunchy foods. And you can also remove them for brushing and flossing (and dental checkups), making caring for your teeth a lot easier. There’s no navigating around wires or brackets to try to remove food particles and plaque. Just slip the aligners off, brush, floss, and you’re done.

You won’t need as many office visits

Traditional braces depend on regular, monthly visits to have the wires tightened so your teeth keep moving toward alignment. While the tightening appointments are critical for the success of your treatment, fitting monthly appointments into your schedule can be tough. And those tightening treatments can leave you with a lot of discomfort. Invisalign’s SmartTrack plastic is designed to provide continual gentle pressure on your teeth so you don’t have to come in for monthly tightening appointments. Plus, because Invisalign sues a series of aligners designed just for you, once one set of aligners completes its purpose, you simply swap out that set for the next in the series. Most patients only come to see us every six weeks or so to make sure their treatments are on track. Visits are quick, and there are no painful after-effects to worry about. What’s more, Invisalign treatment often can be completed in less time than traditional orthodontic treatments, so you’ll have even fewer visits to think about.

Find out more about Invisalign treatment

Invisalign can be used to treat most of the same alignment problems as traditional braces, which means there’s a really good chance Invisalign can work for you too. To learn more about Invisalign treatment at Straight Teeth Orthodontics or to schedule a consultation visit wit Dr. Evans, book an appointment online today.