Since Invisalign was introduced to Singapore more than 10 years ago, it has been steadily increasing in popularity especially among adults. Invisalign involves placing a series of special clear plastic ‘shells’, called aligners, over the patient’s teeth in order to progressively straighten them.
The advantages of Invisalign are many. The aligners are transparent and therefore hardly visible to others. This may be especially relevant in Singapore today, where many people are presently encouraged to use teleconferencing and video chats whereby their faces (and teeth!) can be seen close up. Invisalign aligners are also removable which makes eating more comfortable and brushing teeth easier compared to conventional fixed braces.
However, many in Singapore may be unaware that Invisalign has limitations and is generally more suited for mild to moderate cases. It is therefore important that the patient seek the advice of a dentist/orthodontist competent in the Invisalign system when deciding whether Invisalign is able to correct their teeth and meet their expectations.
Another point that patients starting on Invisalign tend to underestimate is the importance of consistently wearing the aligners at least 20-22 hours every day in order for treatment to progress well. This means that patients have only 2 to 4 hours each day to eat and brush their teeth! Failure to do so will lead to compromised results. Aligners are not magical- they do not work if they are in their pockets and not in their mouth!
