Dental Implants: Pros and Cons

Understanding Invisalign Treatment

by Brett Clark

Here are a few facts you need to know about invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

This is a treatment aimed at straightening your teeth with a series of clear, removable aligners.

Applications of Invisalign

Gapped teeth: Gaps occur due to abnormal growth of your jawbone. Missing teeth also cause shifting of surrounding teeth because of the extra space, and this creates gaps. Gaps and spacing issues can cause gum problems (because of the lack of protection provided by the teeth) and the risk of periodontal disease (a gum disease that leads to tooth loss).

Overbite: This occurs when your upper teeth bite over your lower teeth. The main causes are genetics, excess development of the bone that acts as a support for your teeth and bad oral habits. This usually leads to gum irritation, wear on your lower teeth and painful jaw problems.

Under bite: This occurs when your lower teeth go past your front teeth. It is mainly caused by the overgrowth of your upper or lower jaw. It may also be brought about by missing upper teeth. An under bite prevents the normal functioning of your front teeth and could cause tooth wear.

Open bite: This is where some of your teeth cannot contact your opposing teeth to form a proper bite. It results from excessive sucking of the thumb and abnormal jaw structure. This condition leads to painful chewing, as well as speech impairment.

Overcrowding: This is where there is no room for all the teeth to fit properly. If ignored, this condition can get worse and lead to severely crooked teeth. It could also result in tooth decay and increased risk of gum disease.

Crossbite: This happens once the lower and upper jaws are not aligned. The result is that one or more of the upper jaw teeth bite inside the bottom teeth. This condition causes wear down of the teeth, gum disease and bone loss.

Procedure of Invisalign Treatment

Your invisalign provider examines your teeth and takes an impression to determine whether invisalign is the appropriate straightening treatment. Once your dentist confirms that invisalign will work for you, they will develop a treatment plan that shows the movements your teeth should go through as the treatment advances--this allows you to see how your teeth should look like when the treatment is over.

Once you begin treatment, you are required to wear a set of custom made aligners after every two weeks. As you advance through this series of aligners, you will notice your teeth moving gradually towards your desired position. You may have to go for regular checkups with your dentist so that they may monitor your progress.

For more information, contact a business such as Dr Peter Vaughan Specialist Orthodontist.

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