History

• Invisalign is made by a company called Align Technology. The company began in 1997 and a year later began selling the Invisalign system. Since that time, the company has made more than 32 million clear plastic tooth aligners. About 30,000 dentists and orthodontists have been trained by the company to administer the treatments to patients. The aligners have been used in more than 500,000 mouths all over the world.
  
  

Function

• The Invisalign treatment is a lengthy plan specially created for each patient. At the beginning of the treatment, a computer analysis of the work needed to be done results in an exact treatment plan. This treatment then begins with a custom fitting for the first plastic tray, called an aligner. That aligner is worn for two weeks before it's replaced with a new one. Each aligner moves the teeth slightly, resulting in a significant movement over time.
  
  

Benefits

• The system is a self-esteem boost for those who would be embarrassed by metal braces. Adults who want their teeth straightened make up a large segment of the Invisalign market. Because the plastic aligners are clear, adults can wear them and not look like an adolescent. The aligners can also be taken out of the mouth, unlike metal brackets. This allows users to eat without getting food stuck in their braces and to brush their teeth normally.
  
  

Considerations

• Invisalign generally costs more than the cost of metal braces. The system can also fail if the user is not sufficiently motivated to keep the trays in for at least 20 hours a day. There is also a higher instance of Invisalign users having a reversal of their tooth straightening after the program is over. To get Invisalign, it's necessary to find a doctor who has been specially trained, which may not be possible in small towns.
  
  

Time Frame

• The average time for a patient to complete their Invisalign treatment is one year. This is shorter than the average time that most patients wear metal wire braces. The time that the system takes for each individual patient, however, depends on how much correction they need done. For instance, an overbite takes less time to correct than teeth that need to be turned. For patients with extensive correction needed, the program may take significantly longer.