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Invisalign is a clear plastic dental aligner that is used as an alternative to braces for orthodontic treatment to straighten teeth. In recent years, Invisalign’s popularity has grown significantly because, compared to conventional metal or ceramic braces, Invisalign clear aligners are more comfortable and less intrusive. Because the invisible liners can be removed, they allow users to eat whatever they want, unlike traditional braces.
The official Invisalign website claims that more than 10 million patients have used Invisalign until now, and it has also become a widely accepted orthodontic treatment among dentists. Invisalign has proven to be a very useful invention for those who want to straighten their teeth but don’t want to compromise on their smile or their lifestyle.
When was Invisalign invented?
Zia Christi was an MBA student at Stanford University when he came up with the idea for Invisalign. He was undergoing orthodontic treatment, but found conventional braces (used to keep teeth from moving after braces were removed) very uncomfortable and struggled to wear them as often as needed. He realized that this was a common problem and considered an alternative treatment using transparent aligners instead of orthodontic appliances.
Chisti worked on a solution in her dorm, with the help of her friends, including Kelsey Wirth, Apostolos Lerios, and Brian Freyburger. Freyburger and Lerios worked with fellow graduate student Marc Levoy to develop the technology for the Invisalign system, using computer imaging and 3D printing to create the new type of orthodontic bracing.
After graduating from Stanford in 1997, Chisti and his comrades founded Align Technologies, LTD. The following year, the Invisalign device was approved by the FDA and had attracted more than $ 140 million in venture capital.
The company went public and was listed on the NASDAQ in 2001, with a valuation of approximately $ 1 billion. Invisalign has turned out to be a very successful invention. Apart from the practical ease of use, the credit for its success can also go to a $ 31 million advertising campaign launched by Align, to help it overcome resistance to the new product from orthodontists, who were skeptical that a plastic aligner could replace standard treatment for orthodontic appliances. The company has also organized training for orthodontists – in 2000 alone, 75% of orthodontists in the United States received Invisalign training.
Zia Christi sold her company’s shares in 2003, but Invisalign continued to grow. Meanwhile, other similar dental solutions have also been launched by brands such as uLab and Spark, although these may match the success of Invisalign.
The number of Invisalign users has more than doubled in two years, from 80,000 in 2002 to 175,000 at the end of 2004. At that time, the product was widely accepted by orthodontists. By 2020, more than 2 million people have undergone Invisalign treatment.
What is Invisalign made of?
Invisalign clear aligner is a transparent dental device designed using computer software that uses 3D technology to develop a hardware known as SmartTrack. This multilayer polyurethane plastic is specially designed for the treatment of gutters. It is designed to effectively fit the teeth and apply gentle, continuous pressure.
SmartTrack also allows the Invisalign to be almost invisible and durable, the material is also free of gluten, latex, bisphenol-A and other harmful substances. Due to its highly elastic nature, SmartTrack always regains the ideal tooth shape even when under pressure. So if you accidentally walked on the Invisalign tray, it wouldn’t break or warp.
Compared to conventional orthodontic appliances, which are attached to the teeth and can only be removed by the orthodontist, Invisalign aligners are designed to be worn over the teeth, allowing better control of dental movements and longer treatment times. fast.
What dental problems does Invisalign solve?
Research from 2017 suggests that Invisalign is effective in correcting dental problems such as overbite, open bite, and underbite. It is also useful against other clutter and spacing issues that can lead to gaps between teeth or misalign them.
However, Invisalign has been modified several times by Align since its first launch, and there has not been much clinical research to demonstrate its effectiveness against specific orthodontic problems compared to more conventional treatments. Even if, some studies have shown that Invisalign is more efficient than other aligners, and its 2010 version was a good improvement that turned out to be quite decent in handling tooth movement.
Dentists recommend that patients wear Invisalign clear aligners for 22 hours a day. They can be removed for eating and for dental hygiene, but should be worn at all other times. In the case of conventional braces, users are not allowed to eat many foods as these can get stuck in braces. There is no such restrictions with Invisalign because users can remove Invisalign aligners while eating or drinking. As with braces, however, Invisalign may increase the likelihood of tooth decay if users do not brush regularly after each meal. This is because the linings can interfere with the ability of saliva to “flush out” food particles after eating.
Users are also cautioned not to use hot water to clean their Invisalign as it may damage the plastic body of the aligners.
Limitations of Invisalign treatment
Despite the comfort, ease and standard of oral hygiene offered by Invisalign removable aligners, several factors indicate that this may not be the best option for treating a complex orthodontic malocclusion.
- Invisalign treatment may not be as effective if a patient has previously applied dental bridges or crowns to their teeth.
- Invisalign treatment is able to fill dental gaps smaller than 6mm only, for larger gaps the treatment is ineffective.
- In complex cases, where patients’ teeth are either crooked more than 45 degrees, or their shape is too disoriented to fit in the tray, Invisalign treatment will not be appropriate.
Source: Quang Tri NGUYEN / Unsplash - Invisalign treatment is more effective in moving front teeth than molars, therefore, compared to traditional braces, Invisalign may not be a better option if you want to see all of your teeth at the same height.
- Ceramic braces are able to treat serious bite problems, but Invisalign clear aligners are only effective for normal or moderate bite problems.
- The cost of Invisalign treatment varies widely, but can offer some advantages over braces, especially for those who only need a small correction.
The future of Invisalign invisible braces
The 3D technology used to design Invisalign not only provides a great fit, but also gives patients the ability to see the pre and post treatment impression of their aligners. Additionally, the invisible appearance has played a big role in making Invisalign a favorite choice among teens as the futuristic design draws them in and relieves them of the stress of their change of look with suspenders.
The first Invisalign device was sold in 1999 and since then it has undergone various developments and modifications to meet the dental needs of patients around the world. The growing demand for Invisalign can be understood by the fact that in 2020 the market capitalization of Align Technology Crossed $ 2.47 Billion; of this figure, 85% of turnover comes from the sale of transparent gutters.
Millions of young people around the world have adopted Invisalign treatment, and their numbers are growing rapidly because most dental problems at an early age do not require complex treatment, so compared to braces, Invisalign is a dental solution option. more discreet and practical and its effect on the busy lifestyle of adults is minimal.
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