Dentistry today is increasingly focused on painless and increasingly aesthetic treatments, which is why the branch of orthodontics does not want to be left behind and this is how invisible orthodontics arises.
Invisible orthodontics is the great revolution, especially in adult patients. Invisible orthodontics is not only more esthetic but is just as effective as orthodontics with braces. We have already written other articles in which we explain the differences between the two types of treatment.
When is this type of treatment performed?
It will be your dentist who will diagnose a dental malposition, from there, you will need to:
- Perform a complete orthodontic study.
This consists of molds of your mouth, a panoramic x-ray, a lateral skull x-ray and oral and extraoral photos. With all these records, you will be able to know what type of treatment is best suited for your case. Invisible orthodontics can be done in 90% of cases but not all cases are possible. That is why your orthodontist will have to study all the parameters well. Once the case has been diagnosed, if it is possible to perform invisible orthodontics, the next step will be to take measurements.
- Taking measurements
In order to begin invisible orthodontic treatment we need very precise records of the patient’s mouth, these records are scanned and with them a virtual video is made in which we can see what the result of our treatment will be. If the result observed is the desired result, we begin with the invisible orthodontic treatment using transparent aligners.
- Beginning of the treatment itself
From the beginning of the treatment, we will know how many aligners we are going to need in the treatment and with this, we will also estimate the time of the treatment. The aligners will be changed every 10 days. Each aligner has a modification that transfers small movements to our teeth, that is, at the beginning of placing an aligner, we will notice a little more pressure on our teeth that will be yielding until the tenth day, when we will change the aligner again.
- Refinement
It is possible that at the end of the invisible orthodontic treatment we may need some small modification, although it is not always necessary. For this, new measures will be taken to request an additional aligner that will correctly position all our teeth.
- Retention
Once the treatment is finished, it is necessary to maintain the treatment with a retention phase. This retention phase consists of a transparent splint on the upper part, which will have to be worn to sleep and in the lower arch a fixed bar placed on the back of the teeth (from canine to canine). This retention phase is important to maintain the invisible orthodontic treatment.