At Synergy Dental, we take pride in being Invisalign®‘ s No.1 provider in the Greater Manchester and Lancashire area. But why has it gained so much traction, and what do the professionals really think about it?
Invisalign is a well-heard-of dental treatment. It has saturated the field of orthodontics – as well as popular culture. Official No.1 hit Bad Guy, by up-and-coming artist, Billie Eilish, lends a comedic nod to the dental brand during the song’s intro. Other well-known names, like Khloe Kardashian; Serena Williams; Tom Cruise; and even Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge have all been figures who have had notable Invisalign treatment. Whether these celebrity treatments have been done as endorsement deals or as personal choices is at the discretion of both parties. One thing is for certain though – it makes sense.
Why is Invisalign a celebrity’s preferred pick?
If you’re wondering why Invisalign is a celebrity go-to when teeth need fixing up, it’s not really too tough to figure out. Simply looking at their product page, you’ll gauge how much the ‘clear aligner’ aspect of the brand lends to the success of the product. It’s not an uncommon fear to walk around high school, work, or appear in public with obtrusive metal braces, as the overall aesthetic of traditional braces isn’t very popular, albeit they are extremely effective. Those general fears can quickly turn to blockades for a celebrity’s image and brand.
Invisalign is a confident contender for traditional braces in this respect. There is very little risk of being seen out-and-about with these aligners, as they are much more discreet. It is clearly a huge selling point for Invisalign in the celebrity market. Although, the way Billie Eilish describes it in her 2019 interview with Pitchfork (right), she clearly didn’t get it for free. So, are other celebrity patients just fans of the product? It wouldn’t surprise us if they were.
What do the experts think?
It might be one thing to stamp yourself into popular culture and the world of celebrities, but we must remember that this is an orthodontic appliance, and the opinions of experts should be appreciated and taken into account as well. Invisalign is considered quite revolutionary in its own right, and this is probably why it has become so popular in recent years – for reasons mentioned earlier.
It seems there was a huge demand that originally let to the development of Align Technology and the subsequent Invisalign clear aligner. Pointed out in a systematic review of Invisalign’s effectiveness (Galan-Lopez et al., 2018), the rate that technology was growing, specifically computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing, contributed quite a lot to the growth in popularity Invisalign experienced.
The technology that allows us to use appliances like clear aligners might be revolutionary, but there are still disadvantages. Shalish et al. (2012) highlight how expensive Invisalign can be, its technical limitations, and inaccuracy compared with traditional braces, and also its inability to treat more complex cases. Aside from this, their research points to results that the trial group using Invisalign aligners experienced the lowest pain – a conclusion shared with researcher White et al. (2017), who completed a similar trail with a similar proposal. The conclusion of this trial found that those using traditional fixed appliances had higher pain and used more pain relief.
Should I choose Invisalign?
While we have freedom of choice when it comes to our dental health care, we should still be aware of the effectiveness of different treatment methods. Different methods offer their own set of advantages and disadvantages, and they should be discussed with your dentist to determine the best course of treatment for you.
Whether you’re looking for expert opinions or the choices of your favourite celebrities, there seems to be no research stating that Invisalign is any worse or any more painful than your typical fixed appliance. In fact, the opposite seems to be true with both studies discussed here. Invisalign may not be advised for more special and intricate cases, as it is warned that they are lower in accuracy than traditional braces (Shalish et al., 2012). Making the right choice for you will start with a brief check-up and discussion with your dentist. Book with Synergy today for a completely free consultation!
Sources
- Galan-Lopez, L., Barcia-Gonzalez, E., and Plasencia, E. (2018). ‘A systematic review of the accuracy and efficiency of dental movements with Invisalign ®.’ The Korean Journal of Orthodontics, 49. 140-149.
- Shalish, M. et al. (2012). ‘Adult patients’ adjustability to orthodontic appliances. Part I: a comparison between Labial, Lingual, and Invisalign™.’ European Journal of Orthodontics 6(34). 724-730.
Unsure about your dental health? Call your nearest Synergy Dental Clinic and we’ll be happy to help.