When you are an adult who has misaligned teeth, it can impact every part of your life. From your ease with smiling in photos, to your self-assurance when talking to strangers, having misaligned teeth is not something that should be overlooked in adult life.
Misaligned teeth can cause issues with your dental health too. For most people, they create a breeding ground for plaque and bacteria, because there are more hiding places between and around the teeth. They can also cause issues with biting into and chewing food too, making issues like acid reflux and heartburn more likely.
So, with that in mind, you may be looking for a straightforward way to straighten your teeth without the hassle of braces and this is where Invisalign Ryde comes in.
In this article, you will be walked through a simplified guide to this aligner, to help you see all that is involved.
The initial consultation
Before you can undertake treatment with invisible aligners your dentist will need to check that you are suitable. For most people, this will involve having the position of your teeth assessed concerning the suitability for the aligners. If you have a mild to moderate case of dental misalignment on your front teeth, then it is highly likely that you will benefit from this type of invisible aligner. If, however, your misalignment is a bit more complex and involves your molar teeth, then you may be more suited for a clear brace.
But if your dentist decides that you are suitable for aligners, they will take an intraoral scan of your teeth.
The aligners creation
This scan is then sent to a laboratory where it is used as a base for a digital realignment. Using a computer, a dental team will move the digital images into their desired location and will aim to do so in around 12 to 14 steps. Each step will then have the vector points mapped out and will then be used to create an aligner. Using a 3D scanner, a set of dental aligners will then be printed using clear plastic and will be sent back to your dentist.
The placement
The placement of your clear aligners is not going to be as dramatic as the placement of a brace. Your dental team will simply need to assess that they fit and will instruct you on when to change them and how to care for them. Generally, it is advised that you change between the aligners every 14 days or when they begin to feel loose.
Daily care
Because they are made of plastic and are removable, aligners are a lot easier to care for than fitted braces. To keep them clean, you simply need to rinse them under a cold water tap and remove any debris from them with a toothbrush and toothpaste. While it can be tempting to rinse them under hot water, this is not advisable as it can cause the plastic to warp out of shape. So, avoid putting them in the dishwasher and aim to keep them at a stable temperature.
The app
There is an associated app which is downloadable for smartphones, which is used to track your progress with the aligner. You will need to send your dental team a photo of your smile once a week using the app, so they can assess whether or not everything is going to plan
DISCLAIMER OFFSITE
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
