How Langley Invisalign Works to Correct Teeth

LANGLEY, British Columbia - April 17, 2018 - PRLog -- Unlike traditional braces, the aligners you wear with the Invisalign system are clear, plastic, and removable. This is the perfect way to perfect those pearly whites discreetly, but it makes many patients wonder: How could these flimsy-looking trays actually correct teeth?

How Aligners Move Teeth

Invisalign's removable braces systems are capable of drastic results. The entire system works because of the fit of the aligner over the patient's teeth. This tight and somewhat 'misfitting' tray generates enough force to ultimately straighten one's smile.

The 'Misfit' Is Intentional

"When you first start wearing an Invisalign aligner, you'll probably notice that it doesn't seem to fit quite right," says Dr. Kanani, "your trays are supposed to feel snug, or even a bit too tight, and this means they're working." In fact, aligners may be so tight that they are difficult to get in and out at first.

This difficulty is due to the design of the tray.  These trays are not created to fit teeth perfectly; they are designed to transition teeth into the next position. Each tray is individually responsible for a small correction. It is the compilation of these small corrections over time, and the series of Invisalign trays that contribute to the straightening of various orthodontic problems, like overbites, underbites, and crossbites.

One Step At A Time

When your Invisalign aligners are created, each one is designed based on an individual dental cast. The position of the teeth on each cast reflect a specific stage of correction. These stages work in a series to collectively straighten your smile.

One Tooth At A Time

The contour of each tray represents a goal or a future arrangement of teeth. They are not meant to reflect the current state, if they did, there would be no pressure being placed to encourage teeth into correct placement.  Because of this misfit, trays feel as though they fit right in some areas. These ill-fitting areas are the teeth that this specific aligner has been designed to move.

Getting Things Moving

As the aligner is worn, the "misfitting" area will apply a constant, gentle pressure to the corresponding teeth. Little by little, this pressure guides teeth into a configuration that perfectly matches the aligner's shape.

Evidence of this movement can be seen as the fit of the aligner gradually loosens. It is not the aligner stretching, but rather the teeth that are reconfiguring to the aligner's contours.

Individual aligners (https://www.langleyorthodontics.com/site/invisalign-clear...) only produce a small amount of tooth movement. Usually, about .25 millimeters. While this may seem insubstantial, consider this.  Invisalign treatment series can have 30 or more trays, making the total amount of tooth alignment quite impressive.

Think Invisalign is right for you? Let's find out. Call (604) 533-6696 to schedule a free consultation at Langley Orthodontics today to get the smile you've always wanted with Invisalign.

About Dr. Aly Kanani: Passionate about helping both children and adults achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they deserve, Dr. Kanani has extensive experience and success with Invisalign® (https://www.langleyorthodontics.com/site/invisalign-adult...) and Invisalign® Teen.