One of the amazing things to come out of the digital age is 3D printing. It’s kind of hard to get your head around until you see it in action, but 3D printers can print almost anything, including devices to straighten your teeth.
At Sutton Dental & Implant Clinic in Sutton Coldfield, we love new technology and while Invisalign clear aligners have been around for more than 15 years now, the fact that they are 3D printed somehow still seems incredibly cutting-edge.
In Sutton Coldfield, Invisalign does not work like traditional bracket and wire braces, which are fixed onto the front of the teeth to pull them into place. Invisalign uses ultra-thin, clear plastic tooth trays that snap into place over the teeth and become as good as invisible.
When you come for Invisalign at our clinic we will begin by digitally scanning your teeth and gums to create pinpoint accurate measurements that are fed into a CGI programme that will create an animation of how your teeth look now, and how they can glide into alignment. Before you even sign up for treatment, you will be able to see how Invisalign can give you the smile you want.
Those measurements are then sent to the Invisalign laboratory in the USA, where they are used to create your own personal series of very thin, rigid clear plastic aligners. Each is a tiny step forward in the path your teeth will take to become aligned, and, depending on your case, there will be 12–48 of them. You will wear each one for about two weeks before swapping it for the next in the series.
As Invisalign is made of smooth, clear plastic there are no sharp edges to create sores inside your mouth. These clear aligners need to be removed when you eat, or drink anything other than water, so you get to retain freedom of choice around food.
You may find you lose a bit of weight when using Invisalign; the aligners cut out mindless snacking and coffee drinking, because you have to wear them for at least 20 hours a day.
To find out more about Invisalign in Sutton Coldfield, come in for a free consultation.