Invisalign In Singapore: Your Ticket To A Perfect Smile

Tired of dietary restrictions and dealing with cuts and ulcers in your gums brought about by conventional metal braces and orthodontic wires? Then Invisalign may be your best bet to straighten crooked, overlapping teeth while showing off that confident smile.

What is Invisalign?

Globally regarded as the most established clear aligner system, Invisalign is a custom-made set of virtually invisible aligners for your teeth. As a more comfortable and aesthetic substitute to traditional metal and ceramic braces, these soft, elastic and removable clear aligners use advanced digital orthodontic treatment schemes to precisely predict teeth movement and treat most types of teeth-straightening conditions.

What does Invisalign treat?

A common misconception about Invisalign is that it can only treat less complicated dental problems. This is not completely true because Invisalign can correct a wide range of  dental issues like:

• Crowding
• Overbite
• Underbite
• Crossbite
• Open Bite
• Teeth Spacing or Gaps

How does Invisalign straighten teeth?

Invisalign are designed to put pressure to allow the teeth to move into the desired position. The teeth straightening process works by letting the patient wear the aligner for one-two weeks. Within this time, it will move all of the teeth it is designed to move for about 0.25mm. Your dentist or orthodontist may require attachments or buttons to securely attach aligners into the tooth. Over a period of time, different sets of aligner trays are issued to a patient depending on the complexity of the condition.

Advantages of Invisalign over Traditional Braces

Invisalign and traditional braces are both designed to improve your oral health, straighten your teeth and ultimately, perfect your smile. The following are notable advantages of Invisalign over traditional braces:

1. Advanced 3D Technology

With the use of 3D imaging technology, you will have a clear picture of how your teeth will improve after the treatment. The innovations in Invisalign technology makes it possible to treat most teeth-straightening problems of both teen and adult patients.

2. Virtually Invisible

From its name, Invisalign are designed to be almost invisible. Traditional braces consists of immovable metal brackets and orthodontic wires and bands that are conspicuous and unflattering. Invisalign trays on the other hand are made of clear plastic so you’ll be able to improve your teeth in the most aesthetic way possible.

3. Removable & Convenient

Aligners are removed during mealtimes and it can only mean one thing—you eat all your favorite food without any restrictions! With braces, some food particles can stick to the metal brackets and require extra care.

4. Improved Oral Hygiene

Since Invisalign are removable, healthy brushing, flossing and cleaning can be carried out without any hassle. Maintenance of aligners is also easy. Simply brushing them with toothpaste and rinsing with lukewarm water is enough. With traditional braces, maintaining a healthy oral hygiene can be very challenging.

5. Comfortable

With Invisalign, you can live your life fuss-free. The plastic is made of elastic polymer that comfortably snugs into the teeth so there are no irritations to the surrounding tissue. There won’t be any worry of cuts, ulcers and nicks into your gums that can be caused by metal wires.

6. Time Saving

In comparison with braces, dentist visits are also less frequent with Invisalign, averaging once every 8 to 12 weeks, thus saving you more time for other activities.

How much does Invisalign Cost in Singapore?

According to experts at Dental Designs, the price for Invisalign in Singapore done by an orthodontist fall between $7500 – $9000 in total. This price includes:

• Laboratory diagnostics like dental x-ray
• Pre-treatment procedures
• Adjustments
• Retainers

Some dental clinics also offer Invisalign at lower price that can range from $4000- $5500 for minor cases but may not include pre-treatment and laboratory fees. Moreover, since Invisalign is not a surgical procedure, it cannot be covered by Medisave.

Consultation is Vital

Based on the amount of tooth movement required, your dentist or orthodontist will determine the treatment plan that best addresses your condition. This is why consultation is of utmost importance. During consultation, your dentist will do the following to design your set of aligners accordingly:

• Oral examination
• Take a dental mold
• X-rays and 3D imaging of your teeth

How long should I wear my aligners?

Once your customized Invisalign aligners are available, your dentist will issue you your first set of aligners. The aligners are designed to be worn 20-22 hours a day.

How long will it take to achieve desired results?

Changing the aligners with a completely different set every 7-10 days facilitates tooth movement and improves teeth alignment into a far more favorable or aesthetic position. The duration of treatment is unique for every patient. Typically, the number of set of Invisalign aligners may vary and the treatment plan is carried out for about 12-24 months depending on the complexity of the condition.

Compliance is Key

It is important to stress that the success rate of your Invisalign treatment greatly depends on your commitment to wearing your aligners. Compliance to wear aligners all day and night, only to be removed when eating and cleaning the teeth and gums, is key to achieve best results.

Do the results of Invisalign treatment last forever?

Yes, but with the help of retainers. Post-treatment retainers will be specifically designed by your dentist to prevent teeth from relapsing or slowly shifting back to untreated position. Significant improvements can already be observed after wearing retainers for 2-3 months. Invisalign treatment will have lasting results when you wear your retainers regularly.

Is Invisalign treatment painful?

Undeniably, any tooth movement will cause some level of discomfort. Patients describe sensitivity and aching sensation every time a new set of trays are issued as teeth start to gradually move. However, once you break into them, wearing your aligners will become more comfortable and manageable. In addition, Invisalign treatments are less painful when compared to the edgewise appliance in their initial stages.

How to find the right Invisalign provider in Singapore?

In Singapore, both orthodontists (brace specialist) and general practitioners can be providers of Invisalign given that they have undergone the necessary training. These providers are then classified into different ranks based on the number of Invisalign cases handled per year. So, dentists with higher ranking have successfully performed a greater number of cases over the year compared to those in lower ranks. At the end of the day, like any medical procedure, choose the dentist or orthodontist that you trust and most comfortable with.