3 Surprising Benefits of Invisalign
When you think of Invisalign, what comes to mind? For most people, they think about an alternative to traditional metal braces used to straighten teeth for cosmetic purposes. While this is true, there are several surprising benefits of Invisalign that many people are unaware of.
What Is Invisalign?
Before we get into the benefits of Invisalign, it’s important to understand what Invisalign is and how it works. Invisalign uses a series of clear removable aligners to slowly move your teeth into a desired position. By wearing them at least 22 hours/day, the constant force is what works to transform your smile tray by tray. Invisalign has become a popular treatment option for people who want straight teeth but may not want to spend months or years with metal brackets on their teeth.
3 Surprising Benefits of Invisalign
The most obvious benefit of Invisalign treatment is a straight smile. When it was first introduced, that was the primary reason that dentists and orthodontists used Invisalign to treat their patients. But as clear aligner therapy progressed and dentists became more proficient utilizing Invisalign technology, they have discovered some surprising benefits for patients.
1. Preserve dental restorations
If you have dental fillings, crowns, or bridges then you probably want to do whatever you can to avoid having to replace them prematurely. Truthfully, many people end up wearing these restorations out earlier than expected because their teeth are out of alignment. This causes an uneven force every time you bite and chew, which wears on your natural teeth as well as any restorations you may have.
When your teeth are aligned well and you have a good bite, there is no excessive force wearing on your teeth and dental restorations. This enables you to not only keep them clean more easily, but also helps keep them from breaking or cracking. By aligning your teeth and fixing your malocclusion (bad bite), Invisalign can preserve your dental restorations and keep them in optimum shape for as long as possible.
2. Less Tooth Decay
Just as Invisalign can help you prevent the premature replacement of dental restorations, it can also help you avoid dental restorations altogether! Since you can keep your teeth cleaner, another surprising benefit of Invisalign is that it may actually help prevent potential tooth decay during orthodontic treatment.
Think about it this way; with traditional metal braces you are constantly having to clean around an appliance for the duration of your treatment time. For most people this is more than a year! Even the best brushers and flossers may find it difficult to keep their smile squeaky clean under those circumstances. With Invisalign, though, there is nothing to work around. You simply remove your clear aligners to brush and floss as you normally would.
An added bonus is that straight teeth are easier to clean altogether, resulting in less tooth decay overall.
3. Increased Self-Esteem
The self-esteem factor is a surprising benefit of Invisalign that doctors and practicioners have noticed especially in their younger patients who utilize Invisalign Teen. Many kids struggle with the self consciousness that often accompanies orthodontic treatment. But with clear aligners, people can hardly tell you are wearing them so there is nothing to be self-conscious about!
In addition, many Invisalign patients start seeing results much more quickly than they would with traditional metal braces. This only adds to the increased self-esteem benefit that Invisalign offers.
Conclusion
There are many benefits of Invisalign treatment, some surprising and some not as surprising. If you’re wondering whether Invisalign might be the right treatment option for you, the first place to start is a complimentary smile analysis. As a Platinum Invisalign Provider, River Run Dental has a team of Invisalign doctors who can walk you through the process and discuss all the pros and cons. Contact us to book your smile analysis today.
