Removable brace types have seen a surge in popularity over the past 20 years, especially with adults – but why? We explore why treatments such as Invisalign (which treated its 5 millionth patient in November of last year), continue to appeal to over 18s – in fact 66% of patients undergoing orthodontic treatment are aged between 26-40.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign treatment consists of a set of custom-made clear aligners, created for your tooth structure. They are transparent in appearance and do not include brace hardware such as brackets and archwires as part of their design. Invisalign can be used to treat a number of orthodontic issues from mild problems to more serious issues, including:
- Crooked teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Spacing issues
Patients must wear the aligners for 22 hours each day in order for treatment to be a success, so they have 2 hours in which to remove the aligners to eat and brush their teeth – this also allows for time to perform a presentation at work, give an important speech, or to remove them for a one-off special occasion.
Exploring Invisalign’s popularity
So what is it about removable brace types like Invisalign that is so appealing to adults?
In 2018, we live in a particularly image-conscious society and in client and customer-facing roles, appearances matter, with your smile being one of the first features that people see. The fact that the aligners are removable offers benefits that are particularly appealing to adults who would perhaps have put off having orthodontic treatment in the past.
- Comfortable – Comfort is at the helm of their design and if you’re going to be wearing a brace for 22 hours each day, this is a pretty important factor for patients. Traditional metal braces possess brackets and archwires that can sometimes cause some discomfort and inconvenience for patients, as food can easily become lodged between them. In contrast, Invisalign is hardware-free.
- Easier to maintain good oral hygiene – Brackets and archwires are not compatible with chewy foods such as caramel, starchy breads like bagels, and chewing gum; these foods become stuck when there is brace hardware present. Invisalign offers patients the benefit of being able to brush and floss without hassle, as you do not need to take extra care to weave your way around the brackets to remove food particles. This makes your overall dental hygiene easier to maintain.
- No compromises on eating the foods you love – With traditional brace models, there is a certain degree of discipline involved when it comes to your diet, as eating the foods mentioned above can hinder your oral hygiene throughout treatment. With Invisalign, there is no need to amend your diet, as chewy foods will not hinder your treatment or damage any brace hardware.
Adult patients evidently wish to have treatment that is as non-invasive to their daily lives as possible and Invisalign offers them this freedom and flexibility.
If you would like more information about removable braces at Park Lane, please do not hesitate to contact us.