Orthodontics has evolved considerably in recent years, with the creation of new appliances that make it possible to reduce the number of tooth extractions performed, improve the patient's aesthetics, or reduce treatment times considerably.
One of the most important new developments has certainly been the plastic orthodontic treatment that began with the foundation of Align Technology more than a decade ago, in 1997, by Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth, students of the Stanford University who thought of recovering an orthodontic model proposed by Kesling in the middle of the last century.
Two years later, in June 1999, some tests were carried out in Austin, Texas, and in 2000 it began to be marketed in the United States, with the approval of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration).
Since then, the technology used by the company to develop invisible aligners has made it possible to improve the predictability of treatment and, through their use in combination with other orthodontic elements, to treat increasingly complex malocclusions, making it easier for adult patients to enjoy a beautiful, pleasing smile without the need for braces.
How does it work?
The way the system works is simple: the orthodontist expert in this technique takes a record of the patient in polyvinylsiloxane (an impression silicone) and sends it to the Invisalign headquarters in the United States, where the impression is scanned and a stereolithographic model is generated from which the aligners are designed.
This, designed in careful planning with the expert orthodontistallows us to know in advance the duration of a treatment (each aligner must be worn for two weeks, a minimum of 22 hours a day), which will usually require 'refinements', to adjust occlusal details, as tooth movement does not always correspond to the 100% treatment plan, as this is influenced by the patient's biological response.
Will it work for me?
To determine if you are a patient who can wear plastic orthodontics such as Invisalign, your orthodontist will take a record of your dentition, as well as frontal and profile x-rays, which will allow him/her to define the degree of crowding and malocclusion you have, and the ideal treatment for your case.
What are the advantages?
The advantages of elastic orthodontics are numerous:
- It is more discreet than traditional brackets.
- It can be removed at times when this is necessary.
- Facilitates daily oral hygiene for the patient
- No discomfort due to chafing or brackets falling off
What are attachments?
Attachments are small elements of composite, a tooth-coloured plastic material that, when placed on the tooth surface, allow the aligner to exert control over the root.
These elements are an important part of the treatment, partly because they will allow us to guarantee a successful outcome of the case, stable over time and with maximum aesthetics for the patient.
How much does Invisalign cost?
The price of Invisalign depends to a large extent on the experience of the professional who treats you, since the more cases he or she has treated with Invisalign, the greater the discount on the aligners offered by the manufacturing company.
As a reference, we can say that the price in the Region of Murcia is around 4700 euros for a conventional treatment (18-24 months), which can be increased if the patient requires other auxiliary elements.
In this sense, the state-of-the-art dental clinics have financing systems available in easy instalments that will allow you to pay for the price of treatment and have a smile that lasts forever in an easy and affordable way.