Clear aligners are orthodontic devices that are a transparent plastic form of dental braces used to adjust teeth. They are an alternative to traditional metal braces and are designed to help guide teeth to their correct position. Invisible dental aligners are clear, tight mouthpieces that are placed over the teeth. They use a gradual force to control the movement of the teeth, but without wires or metal supports.
The aligners are made of a sturdy plastic material and are manufactured to fit each individual's mouth. If a series of aligners is needed, each aligner moves the teeth in slopes until the desired movement is achieved. In 1997, two Stanford University students, Zia Chishti and Kelsey Worth, invented the world's first complete system of transparent aligners known as Invisalign. This concept included a series of removable transparent plastic aligners intended for adults looking for discreet orthodontic treatment. Clear aligners slowly change the position of your teeth over time, just like traditional metal braces.
Made of clear plastic, the aligners fit snugly around the teeth and are barely noticeable compared to metal braces. Accessories such as small teeth-colored “bumps” and buttons (small auxiliary elements used to fix or anchor elastic bands) can be placed in precise locations to allow the aligners to hold the teeth while guiding them to their new locations. Clear aligners have gained popularity over the past two decades as an option for straightening or realigning teeth. You can choose to wear your aligners 22 hours a day or use night aligners for 10 hours a night. Although Invisalign aligners may not be completely invisible, these clear covers fit well over the teeth and are much less visible than the brackets and wires of traditional orthodontic appliances. Invisalign appears to be more effective than other types of clear aligners.
What was even better was the fact that this type of transparent dental aligner was the first to be replicated using a series of computer-assisted models taken from a single impression. Since then, more clear aligners from other brands have come to market, such as Spark, ClearCorrect and ULab. Clear aligners are a great alternative for patients who want a straighter smile, but don't want to use traditional metal braces. Many people find it easier to do this with plastic aligners, since the retainer is the same as the retainer in the alignment trays.
