Although people often ask about Invisalign clear braces at our York practice, Invisalign actually uses a series of clear aligners to straighten your teeth. You change these aligners every two weeks to apply the correct forces to move your teeth into alignment.

But what differences are there between Invisalign clear braces/aligners and fixed braces?

Invisalign aligners are removable

One of the biggest differences between Invisalign and fixed braces is that Invisalign aligners are removable. Although they should be worn for at least 22 hours a day to be fully effective, you can take them out every time you want to eat, drink or clean your teeth. This means that having orthodontic treatment won’t affect the foods you enjoy or compromise your ability to brush and floss.

If there’s a special occasion that you’d rather take your aligners out for, you can do so although, as Invisalign is almost invisible, most people find this isn’t an issue.

Nearly invisible treatment

Speaking of nearly invisible, this is also one of the appeals of orthodontic treatment with Invisalign. Many adults and teens feel self-conscious about having their teeth straightened, so systems such as Invisalign and Invisalign Teen mean that you can have treatment without obvious wire braces.

Although many modern fixed brace systems use clear brackets and tooth colour wires, Invisalign clear braces take discreet ‘invisible’ orthodontics to the next level.

Irritation-free

One of the common complaints about fixed braces is that they can initially irritate the soft tissues in your mouth. With Invisalign, each smooth aligner has no brackets, wires or fittings that can irritate the tongue, lips or gums, so you can depend on a high level of comfort. Most people report that it takes them a day or so to get used to speaking with their Invisalign aligner in their mouth but that they soon adjust.

Complex cases

Invisalign has evolved over the past decade and is now increasingly being used to treat complex orthodontic cases. While some other aligner systems and clear braces focus on the ‘social six’ teeth, i.e. the ones people see when you smile, Invisalign can treat a wider range of problems.

Shorter treatment times

The length of time your teeth straightening treatment takes will depend on the complexity of your case. As a rough guide, Invisalign treatment typically takes between nine and 12 months, which is significantly shorter than with traditional fixed braces.

If you would like to find out more about Invisalign clear braces in York, book a free initial consultation by calling us at Blossom Dental Care on 01904 653356.