Invisalign is suitable for many adults who want to straighten their teeth without wearing visible brackets. The clear aligners are discreet, removable and digitally planned. But they require discipline: they must be worn for at least 22 hours a day, and not every misalignment can be treated equally well with them.
Dr. Tanja Karamousli has been an Invisalign provider since 2009 and treats adults at her practice in Küsnacht near Zurich. You can read how treatment works step by step on our page about Invisalign in Küsnacht. Here we look at the question: what speaks in favour of aligners, and what should you know beforehand?
The 7 benefits at a glance
1. Discreet in everyday life
The aligners are made of transparent plastic and fit snugly against the teeth. In conversation, at the office or in photos, most people barely notice them. For many adults, this is the main reason for deciding to have their teeth corrected at all.
2. Removable for eating and brushing
You take the aligners out to eat. So there are no food restrictions as there are with fixed brackets. You can brush your teeth and clean between them as usual, because there are no wires in the way.
3. Comfortable to wear
Invisalign uses SmartTrack material, which adapts elastically to the teeth. As there are no metal parts rubbing against the lips and cheeks, many patients find the aligners comfortable. A slight feeling of pressure in the first few days after changing to a new aligner is normal: it shows that the teeth are moving.
4. 3D scan instead of impression material
Instead of taking an impression with moulding material, we capture your teeth with an intraoral 3D scanner. A small scanning head is passed along the rows of teeth; this is painless. You can read more about the technology in our article on 3D scanning in dentistry.
5. See the goal on screen in advance
The scan is used to create a digital simulation showing how your teeth are to move step by step. This means you can see the intended result during the consultation. The simulation is a plan, not a guarantee: how precisely the goal can be achieved depends on your starting situation and on how you wear the aligners.
6. Few appointments at the practice
You change the aligners at home, usually every one to two weeks. You come to the practice for a check-up roughly every six to eight weeks and receive your next aligners then. This fits in well with a busy schedule.
7. Experience since 2009
Dr. Karamousli has been working with Invisalign since 2009 and holds a Master of Science in Orthodontics. The practice is an Invisalign Gold Partner. For planning, this means that it is not the software alone that decides which tooth movements make sense, but the practitioner’s experience.
What Invisalign asks of you
The aligners’ greatest advantage – that you can take them out – is also their greatest weakness. They can only work if they are worn. Here is what you should know beforehand:
- Wearing time: at least 22 hours a day, including at night. If you leave the aligners out too often, you risk your teeth not moving as planned.
- Brushing after every meal: before putting the aligners back in. Otherwise food debris stays trapped against your teeth under the plastic.
- Coffee, tea and red wine: can stain teeth and aligners. It’s best to take the aligners out for these and clean your teeth afterwards.
- Small anchor points (attachments): Depending on the correction, tooth-coloured anchor points are bonded to individual teeth. They help the aligner grip and are slightly visible.
- Refinements: Sometimes additional aligners are needed to fine-tune the result. These refinements are included in the price.
- After treatment: Teeth tend to drift back to their old position. That is why we secure the result with a retainer, either fixed or removable. We discuss with you individually how long it should be worn.
How long treatment takes depends on the type and extent of the misalignment and on how consistently the aligners are worn. You will receive a reliable estimate after the 3D scan and planning.
When other braces are a better fit
Aligners can correct many misalignments, such as slightly rotated teeth, crowding, or an overbite or underbite. With very pronounced displacements of the jaw, however, they reach their limits. And if you know you won’t wear a removable aligner reliably, a fixed solution is often the better choice.
Our practice offers alternatives for these cases. Orthodontics in Küsnacht includes fixed and removable braces for children, teenagers and adults. Our specialist orthodontist, Dr. med. dent. Sofia Bakirtzi, is also certified in the Incognito and WIN lingual techniques. With these, the brackets are attached to the inside of the teeth and cannot be seen from the outside.
How we work at our practice
We start with an initial consultation of around 30 minutes, which is part of our new patient offer (see below). We discuss your wishes, scan your teeth with the intraoral 3D scanner and show you the digital simulation. Afterwards, you will know whether Invisalign is an option for you or whether another method would make more sense.
Planning usually also requires photos and X-rays. The cost depends on the extent of the correction; if you wish, we will prepare a cost estimate for you in advance. As a new patient, you start with our offer: professional teeth cleaning including an optional 3D scan for Invisalign for CHF 119.
Frequently asked questions
Am I too old for Invisalign?
There is no fixed age limit. What matters is healthy teeth and healthy gums. We check this at the initial consultation.
Does the treatment hurt?
It is not usually painful. After changing to a new aligner, many people feel pressure on their teeth for one to two days, which then eases.
How do I clean the aligners?
With lukewarm water and a mild soap solution. Toothpaste is not suitable because it roughens the surface of the aligners.
How often do I need professional teeth cleaning during treatment?
We recommend scheduling professional teeth cleaning at least every six months. Tartar can build up a little faster under the aligners.
Would you like to know whether Invisalign is right for you? Book a consultation here at our practice on Seestrasse in Küsnacht.