Many patients are skeptical about the effectiveness of Invisalign. But the success rate of Invisalign treatment is around 96%, which means that the failure rate is only 4%, or 1 in every 25 patients.
Obviously, this seemingly straightforward dental appliance known as Invisalign aligners has a lot to offer. Perhaps even more exciting is that virtually anyone can choose this orthodontic treatment approach for both small and big dental problems including gapping, cross biting, misalignment, and other forms of malocclusion.
The Invisalign treatment can last between nine and twelve months, though it can take longer depending on your individual case. But generally, it yields excellent results within a shorter time than conventional braces. Due to this, some patients question if the treatment will be as effective as traditional metal braces in such a short period of time.
What they don’t tell you about Invisalign
When it comes to straightening your teeth and achieving that dazzling, healthy smile, there are several options on the market, including Invisalign Teen and Invisalign. These two dental procedures are considered some of the most incredible innovations in orthodontics over the past two decades.
The option to straighten ones teeth without braces, by relying on a series of precisely calibrated, nearly-undetectable custom-made aligners that you change after every stage of your treatment, has encouraged millions of patients with dental issues to pursue orthodontic treatment.
But as exciting as this technology is, many people still have questions about Invisalign. For these people to feel comfortable with the technology, it is necessary to separate truth from myths.
Myth #1: Invisalign treatment takes twice as long as braces
Truth: Generally, teeth adjust at the same rate with invisalign as with braces. But actually, a patient’s intrinsic mannerisms, like bite force and bone metabolism, are what really influence how fast the teeth will move. This is why some patients improve faster than others. Furthermore, the intricacy of a patient’s bite, with regard to the severity of their overbite/underbite or crowding/spacing, also determines how long the treatment will take.
Myth #2: Invisalign is only for adults
Truth: Numerous patients over 60 and 70 years have been successfully treated with Invisalign, while Invisalign Teen makes it possible to treat patients as soon as baby teeth have been shed, or even earlier for kids over 8 years depending on the orthodontic problem. Invisalign can be done for people of all ages and season of life.
Myth #3: Invisalign is too expensive
Truth: Actually, the cost is comparable to traditional braces. Invisalign is an FDA approved treatment, which means that it can be covered under orthodontics insurance.
Many people are held back from seeking the treatment because they think that it is too expensive, and that it may affect their insurance benefits.
Fortunately, many big insurance providers cover a certain percentage of Invisalign, making the treatment more accessible for those looking to improve their smile.
Myth #4: Invisalign can only be used to correct simple problems
Truth: Invisalign can be used to correct nearly every dental problem, including both the simple and complex issues. As with other technologies, Invisalign has been constantly evolving, and has changed considerably over the past ten years. So, patients who may not have been suitable candidates for Invisalign may now qualify for the treatment
Myth #5: Any Orthodontist can successfully perform the Invisalign treatment
Truth: There is a considerable variation in the level of knowledge and experience of invisalign among orthodontists, so each doctor’s skill and training will be the determining factor for the success or failure of every case.
Myth #6: Invisalign intermittent fasting
When you start Invisalign treatment, there’s an assumption of “implied intermittent fasting” among participating patients. People usually have to take out the aligners before eating since they are uncomfortable to have in.
As a result, patients tend to eat less frequently due to their laziness to remove them just to eat. But this is not necessarily the case. In fact, modern aligners are made from a sturdy material that allows you to keep the aligners in when eating without the risk of damage.
Moreover, you need to change the aligners every 1-2 weeks, which is not enough time to damage them from chewing with the aligners in. But your dentist should advice you accordingly depending on other individual factors.
Myth #7: Invisalign weight loss stories
Many people say that you’ll lose weight on Invisalign. Mostly because the trouble of brushing afterward becomes so annoying that you avoid snacking and eat less.
As discussed in the previous point, your dentist may allow you to eat with your aligners in depending on your individual case. Moreover, you may not necessarily eat less. Instead, you may experience longer gaps in between meals but when you finally do eat, you compensate for any supposed losses.
Why invisalign is bad
Invisalign is an orthodontic procedure that effectively produces the intended outcomes. But the success of your Invisalign treatment largely depends on how long you wear the aligners for (minimum of 22 hours per day) and how closely you adhere to your dentist’s instructions.
You will have a flawless smile at the end of the treatment if you are determined enough, follow all the guidelines, and take all the necessary safety precautions when using Invisalign.
On the other hand, there are great odds that your Invisalign treatment will fail if you do not wear your aligners as prescribed by your dentist or do not follow the instructions, such as keeping good dental hygiene and wearing for the recommended time.
Not adhering to your dentist’s reactions can cause you to think that Invisalign is bad for you, despite its increasing success rate over the years.
Invisalign horror stories
There is a chance that Invisalign won’t produce precise or the intended results. Invisalign will not move the teeth adequately if it is not designed properly.
Patients occasionally experience unintended outcomes including protruding teeth, asymmetrical teeth, or teeth that haven’t properly straightened. Additionally, there is a chance for unstable outcomes, jaw issues, and gum disease, which represent the minority of Invisalign horror stories.
When you use low-priced Invisalign substitutes or other brands of transparent aligners that aren’t Invisalign, the risk of your orthodontic treatment going wrong increases.
The reason is that these alternative businesses do not employ actual orthodontists. They create their cases entirely using computer software, which can occasionally fail.
As a result, you may end up moving your teeth too fast, which might cause them to become loose or fall off. When using Invisalign alternatives, there is no doctor you may go to if any of these problems arise.
It is best to have an orthodontist analyze challenging orthodontic situations to make adjustments that computer software is not designed to manage.
Final thoughts
To increase your chances of a successful Invisalign procedure, it is important that you seek treatment from an orthodontist with advanced training and experience, because they understand diagnosis and tooth movement better than a general dentist.
