Invisalign Wagga is a type of clear alignment device that operates somewhat like a braces, but dentists understand why that comes across as confusing and weird. These clear plastic forms don’t seem to have any way of moving teeth and yet they do! And very well too!
Unlike a traditional brace which relies on tension being stored in and arch wire, to which each tooth is connected via a bracket, which has been adhered to the front of the tooth, the pressure that is applied from a clear aligner onto the wire is applied far more intelligently and the energy to do so is stored in the springiness of the plastic form itself. So how it works is far less interactive and far less obvious at a cursory glance.
What doesn’t help is that a clear aligner usually isn’t even noticed at a cursory glance; they are thin and light and entirely translucent meaning that if you’re not paying close attention, somebody could walk past you or even hold a conversation with you wearing clean aligners without you ever noticing that they are undergoing orthodontic treatment at all.
How clear aligners are fitted
The fitting is very different to that of fitting a brace, a brace is a permanently attached device which you’re expected to wear for the entirety of your orthodontic treatment; the bracket is glued in place and the arch wire is a fixed overall this process can take an hour or more depending on the complexity of your tooth position at the start of treatment. Getting fitted for an invisible aligner is far more similar to attending a tailor. The purpose of the fitting session is to take very accurate measurements of the current locations of your teeth so that a series of aligners can be designed which will coax your teeth into new straight better meshing positions.
The best way to take these highly accurate measurements in a rapid and repeatable way is through the use of an oral scanner. This scanner is placed inside your mouth where it operates like any other 3D scanner creating a model of your teeth from the inside of your mouth! It’s faster and more comfortable than the traditional dental moulding techniques, as well as being less prone to error and much easier to communicate via an email than a plaster mould!
Designing and creation of clear aligners
With 3D models of your starting position and the use of computer software, a set of aligners can be created. These aligners are extremely personalised to each patient and should be used in the correct order, each one nudging their teeth further on to their new position. In many ways each aligner is almost like a freeze frame of a brace with you switching aligners every two weeks in much the same way as an orthodontist would adjust a brace in order to alter the forces being placed on the teeth as they are progressively moved into their new positions.
Because each invisible aligner is only expected to have a useful life span of two weeks, they can be made thin and lightweight in order to reduce their impact in your everyday life and be more comfortable to wear and talk in.
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
