Invisalign and  Me

A

 

Acceledent

A mechanism used to help speed along the Invisalign process.

 

Aligner (see also: Appliances, Braces, Retainers, Trays)

Aligners are custom-made, transparent dental appliances used to exert pressure and therefore straighten crooked teeth.

 

Invisalign aligners are designed, patented, and manufactured by Align Technology. Plaster models of a patient’s teeth are transformed into a highly accurate 3-D digital image using advanced imaging software. From this 3-D prediction a series of aligners is created, which a dentist or orthodontist will use during the Invisalign treatment to correct the position of a patient's teeth.

 

Attachments

Small forms that are bonded onto the surfaces of a patient's teeth (back or front) to help achieve certain types of tooth movement with Invisalign®.

 

B

 

Bands

Small rubber bands that can be hooked over your attachments to help the aligning process.

 

C

 

Case

The plastic Invisalign case received with your aligners for keeping them safe. You usually get two, one red and one blue.

 

ClinCheck®

Intelligent software that depicts the movement of a patient's teeth in 3-D from beginning to end of the course. Also allows the patient and doctor to review the projected movement during the treatment.

 

Cross Bite

When the upper back teeth fit inside the lower teeth.

 

Crowding

A state in which teeth are positioned very close together and, in some cases, overlapping.

 

D

 

Deep Bite

An excessive overbite in which the upper front teeth obscure the lower teeth from view.

 

E

 

Extraction

When a tooth or part of a tooth is removed.

 

I

 

Invisalign Express

An orthodontic course specifically for treating minor problems such as mild crowding or spacing gaps. Treatment time is typically less than six months, depending on the severity of the case.

 

M

 

Malocclusion

When the chewing or biting surfaces of teeth are improperly aligned.

 

O

 

Occlusion (Bite)

The contact made between upper and lower teeth, also known as Bite.

 

Open Bite

When teeth don't properly close or come into contact.

 

Orthodontist

A dentist that specialises in the prevention or correction of misaligned teeth.

 

Overbite

When the upper jaw and teeth protrude beyond the bottom jaw and teeth. Also known as buck teeth.

 

S

 

Spacing

When there are gaps or distances between teeth.

 

T

 

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

A joint that connects the skull to the lower jaw. Located between the head of the lower jawbone and the temporal bone. The upper jaw remains stationary; the lower jaw moves when a person talks, chews or breathes. A TMJ misalignment can result in the entire lower set of teeth being mis-aligned. This results in "overbite" or "underbite". TMJ misalignment can be very painful, including joint pain, headaches, and resistance when opening and closing the mouth.

 

U

 

Underbite

When the lower jaw and teeth overlap the upper teeth.

 

V

 

Veneers

A plastic or porcelain tooth-coloured material that is bonded to teeth, most often for appearance purposes.