Invisalign Can Benefit Your Health
by Vicki Fidler
The Invisalign teeth straightening system is a clear, see-through alternative to traditional metal braces. Correctly aligned teeth can alleviate wear on tooth enamel, as well as speech and chewing problems. Many patients prefer the appearance of Invisalign to conventional braces, but Invisalign’s advantages stretch beyond appearance considerations.
Unlike traditional braces, Invisalign teeth alignment devices can be removed for eating, drinking, and tooth brushing. Because Invisalign devices can be completely removed, patients often find that they are able to maintain better oral health and hygiene through regular brushing and flossing. Traditional metal braces inhibit proper oral hygiene by trapping food and making it difficult to reach spaces above and below the brackets. Proper oral hygiene prevents tooth decay and promotes better breath, but can also prevent oral infection. The American Dental Association has found that oral infection can lead to a host of health problems including heart disease, stroke, pneumonia and diabetes.
Other types of orthodontic treatment can have undesirable effects on gums and supporting tissues, causing the roots of teeth to shorten in a process known as root resorption, and accelerating tooth decay. Root resorption is the breakdown of the root structure of a tooth, caused by pressure on the root surface. When the damage extends to the entire tooth it is called “tooth resorption,” a serious condition which can lead the extraction of the tooth. The most common cause of root pressure in Western societies is orthodontic work. Because Invisalign devices are removable and fit over the tops of teeth, they do not exert the same pressures on root surfaces as traditional metal braces.
If you have been told you need braces and would like more information about the potential health benefits of the Invisalign System, call Fidler on the Tooth today at 206-526-1437, or fill out our Seattle dentist online contact form.
