Invisalign: What is it? Invisalign is a series of clear alignment trays that you wear in order to straighten your teeth. Is it a true alternative to traditional metal braces? Somewhat. Is it a way to avoid the awful teenage years of having a mouth full of metal and a head-gear as a best friend? Definitely.

So how does this too-good-to-be-true braces thing actually work? First, have a consultation with your orthodontist to decide if Invisalign is right for you. If you decide to move forward with it, your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth, work up a treatment plan and send the molds and the plan off to Invisalign. The company then makes a series of clear “alignment” trays that you wear continuously except when you’re eating and brushing. Typically, you wear a new tray every two weeks until you’ve completed your treatment plan; at which time your teeth should be perfectly straight!

Now let’s talk advantages and disadvantages. The most obvious advantage is that it isn’t obvious. Because it’s clear. You also won’t get a sore mouth from metal wires sticking into your cheeks and gums. And they’re removable so you can brush and floss like you normally would, whereas with metal braces you need some sort of 007 special gadget to get the floss under the wire and between the brackets.

A disadvantage is that Invisalign’s effectiveness is limited. It can only correct your teeth so much, so if you have a serious over-bite or massive structural problems, Invisalign probably won’t do the trick. And then there’s cost. I can’t tell you what your orthodontist is going to charge you, but I can tell you that his office has to pay up front for all of the trays, which means it’s likely you’ll be required to pay a much larger down payment than you would with metal braces.

In a dentistry.com  forum, you can read about patients’ experiences with Invisalign. One popular complaint is that when the trays are removed to eat, patients just forget to put them back in. If you’re eating at home it’s not such a big deal, but if you’re stuffing your face at Mc Donald’s and you wrap the trays in a napkin for safe keeping, you can kiss them goodbye. Of course you could always try your luck at dumpster diving, but chances are you won’t find them. After all, they’re invisible.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Invisalign, visit a Doctorbase orthodontist and discuss it. Decide whether you’re going to try this new, stealthy method or kick it old school with metal.