If you’re planning to get your teeth aligned, you might have heard of invisible aligners or clear aligners. Much like traditional metal braces, these aligners can correct misaligned or crooked teeth. Invisible aligners are fairly new but have become quite famous in orthodontic treatments.

Invisible Aligner Benefits:

Practically invisible
This is usually the number one reason why most people choose invisible aligners over traditional metal braces. The idea of having metal on your teeth for several months or years isn’t appealing to most people.

Feels comfortable
People who’ve used traditional braces know just how uncomfortable and painful they can sometimes be. They have sharp edges that can cut into your lips and cheeks. However, this problem doesn’t exist with invisible aligners. The aligner trays are designed to be comfortable and gentle on your gums and teeth. They have smooth edges and are made from a soft material, so there’s no risk of injury or pain. Moreover, they’re custom-made, so they fit snugly and don’t come out when talking or laughing.

Makes dental hygiene easier
Another crucial benefit of an invisible aligner is that it makes oral hygiene effortless. That’s because these are removable! When you want to brush your teeth, remove the invisible aligners, brush and floss your teeth as you normally would. And when you’re done, you can put them back. This is a significant advantage over traditional braces as bits of food and plaque get stuck in and around the metal brackets, making cleaning difficult. Traditional braces can even give rise to problems like tooth decay and gum disease.

You can consume your favourite food and beverages
It’s no secret that metal braces come with a long list of dos and don’ts. Since metal brackets can snap off or the wires can bend, you are not allowed to consume anything sticky, hard and crunchy. Thankfully, with invisible aligners, no food and beverages are off-limits. Just remove the tray before you consume something and enjoy your meals. However, rinse your mouth well before putting the aligners back in place.

The treatment period is relatively short
Invisible aligners offer so many benefits, and they also get the job done faster than metal braces. Treatment time with traditional braces can range between eighteen months to two years or even more, depending on the complexity of a particular case. Invisible aligners, on the other hand, take around a year. In some severe cases, it may take longer though.

Fewer dentist appointments
People who wear traditional braces need to visit a dentist regularly to get their braces adjusted and tightened. The procedure may involve steps like removing or replacing a bracket and changing wire size, all of which may take up to several hours per visit. On the other hand, if you choose invisible aligners, you are required to visit the dentist once every six weeks or so. And since no complex procedures like tightening are involved, these visits usually take little time.