There's a good chance you’ve heard of Invisalign, aka the most advanced clear aligner system in the world. Here at HealthOne, we’re proud to partner with Invisalign by Align Technology to offer their innovative dental technology at our clinic.
From 2008 to 2012, Invisalign grew to have over two million patients worldwide and has been gaining popularity ever since. Satisfied customers rave about being able to brush and floss their teeth, eat their favourite foods, and remove their aligners easily. Not to mention they’re barely noticeable when worn, unlike traditional methods.
Based on these benefits alone, it’s no question why people have been loving Invisalign as an effective path to a better smile. We interviewed HealthOne’s Dentist, Dr. Yasmin Vakilian, to hear more about why Invisalign is so popular with millennials.
Let's start off with the basics: what exactly is Invisalign? As we mentioned, it's a popular form of orthodontic treatment. It can be used to fix a variety of dental cases from things like overbites and underbites to crowded teeth and spacing.
When you become an Invisalign patient, a dentist will take a 3D scan of your teeth using a machine called the iTero element. This will help them map out your unique treatment plan and create your customized trays. Every patient's treatment plan will look different from the next, and you'll be given a certain number of trays with instructions on how often to change them. Some patients might switch to a new tray every week, whereas others might only switch to a new tray every two. Your dentist will give you a full overview during your initial consultation and the following appointment.
Once you have your trays, you're off to begin your treatment plan! And the good news, as many millennials can agree, is that there are tons of benefits worth appreciating.
The first reason why people love Invisalign is because of its innovative and flexible design. Their aligners are made using SmartTrack, a material that is completely clear and fits snugly around your teeth. This also makes it easier to put in and remove.
“Since Invisalign is made with a smooth plastic, it has no rough edges. This means there’s no discomfort in the mouth that you might get from wires poking the cheek or lips.” - Dr. Yasmin Vakilian
Wires from braces can also interfere with other dental procedures. Can you get an x-ray with braces? Although it's possible, they will not be very accurate because the metal will interfere with the x-ray. Being able to remove Invisalign gives it a big advantage over other teeth-straightening methods. Learn more about the differences between Invisalign and braces here.
The flexibility doesn’t stop there - Invisalign also has flexible payment options to support your journey to a better smile. If you have insurance or an HCSA (Health Care Savings Account), you may be able to cover up to 50% of the cost. There are also a variety of monthly payment plans available that your dentist can discuss during a consultation.
Invisalign works by making small, subtle changes to the positioning of your teeth. Each clear aligner in your treatment plan is slightly different from the next, and over time they will eventually move your teeth into their new positions.
Dentists recommend wearing aligners for 20-22 hours a day, so keeping on top of these requirements is essential. That's why so many millennials love the Invisalign mobile app. It provides convenient access to handy features with the simple tap of a screen. My Invisalign includes a custom aligner tracker and reminder notifications so you never go too long without wearing them.
“As an Invisalign patient you’re much more in control of your own treatment compared to braces, for example, so it’s vital that you actually follow the instructions from your dentist.” - Dr. Yasmin Vakilian
Since braces are attached to your teeth, there's no option to remove them and you have less control over your experience. Many people also wonder, is it true that braces weaken teeth? This isn't a long-term effect, but for the duration of treatment, the teeth can become weak. Choosing Invisalign allows you to avoid this possibility.
Another highlight of My Invisalign is the Smile Gallery, a feature designed for patients to track each step of their progress. You can upload photos of your smile, add comments, and even share your before and after photos on social media. If you share online, we invite you to use the hashtag #InvisalignSmile and tag @HealthOneTO and @Invisalign so we can see your transformation!
One of the best ways to hear what millennials think about Invisalign is by hearing it from a millennial herself. Kelsey Rose, a Toronto-based healthy lifestyle activist, started her Invisalign journey with HealthOne in August of 2019.
She documented her Invisalign story on Instagram for her audience of nearly 25k, from the initial consultation to the final reveal of her transformed smile. With the help of Invisalign, Kelsey corrected overcrowding and saw her lisp go away in just four short months.
“I’m extremely happy with my results and the team at Health One has been so amazing to work with! #happyclient - Kelsey Rose
See what other HealthOne patients had to say about their Invisalign experience in this blog post.
At the end of the day, the reason why Invisalign has over 8 million success stories is simple: it works. We asked our dentist for her final thoughts on why Invisalign is so popular with millennials:
“I think Invisalign has a great advantage of aesthetics, comfort as well as really cleanable teeth compared to metal braces. With social media being such a big part of people’s lives, it can be taken out for a photo and be worn in public without people knowing you’re aligning your teeth.
"They’re also increasing in popularity because the younger generations have a hard time keeping their teeth clean with braces on. I’ve seen a lot of youth with cavities because they can’t clean braces, and those are very healthy young teens. Again, the trays are removable – so with Invisalign, that isn’t a problem at all. I think that’s a big reason for popularity." - Dr. Yasmin Vakilian
Make sure to consult with a professional dentist before beginning any teeth alignment procedures. If you’re looking for a flexible, non-invasive and tech-savvy method of correcting your smile, Invisalign might be the perfect fit for you.
There are plenty of raving reviews from millennials to support how well Invisalign works, but the success stories don’t stop there. Start your own journey to a better smile and book a consultation with HealthOne Dental today!