Invisalign® aligners are made from both high-strength and high-modulus materials, meaning they're tough and strong yet flexible enough to allow your teeth to move as they should during treatment. Understanding what makes these materials so effective will help you better understand how this product works and why this revolutionary approach to straightening teeth has been so successful since its launch in 1997!
Most aligners are made of a plastic called polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). PMMA is also used to make Plexiglas, acrylics, synthetic gems, and lenses. It's transparent, durable, and strong. Some aligners are made of polyethersulfone (PES), which is often used in food containers. While PES aligners are transparent, they're not as strong as PMMA ones, so they may break if misused or chewed on by young children. They may also be less comfortable because they're stiffer than other materials.
Many aligners are made of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a durable plastic used in many other everyday items. It's transparent, making it ideal for use as aligners because you can see your teeth through them. PMMA is also strong and resistant to heat, making it less likely to deform if you wear it in hot climates or next to your skin under clothing. The main drawback of PMMA is that it's hard and brittle, so if something bumps into one of your aligners or you break them by chewing on them yourself, they're easy to crack or shatter completely. Many dental offices won't repair broken PMMA aligners because they're complex and expensive to fix.
The latest generation of aligners is made from a material called trimethyl orthosilicate. Ortho means orthodontic or related to teeth. Orthodontic plastic can be molded into 3-D shapes, which is why it's used in Invisalign aligners. This lightweight material is also highly durable and less likely than older versions of aligners to crack or break. The material even has lubricants embedded within it that reduce friction when you move your jaw while wearing them, making them more comfortable than ever before.
It's also more affordable than other aligners, making it a better choice for people who want to make sure they get professional-quality results without having to break their bank. Whether you're choosing Invisalign or another type of aligner, trimethyl orthosilicate is one of many types of materials used in these modern appliances.
The clear plastic that aligners are made of is called Acrylic Resin. It's much harder than teeth but not as hard as bones. It's firm enough that it doesn't move around too much when you wear your aligners but is still flexible enough for comfort and allow eating and drinking in place. For these reasons, Acrylic Resin is one of the most common materials used in dentistry today for things like dental fillings, crowns, bridges, and now aligners. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth, then send it off to a lab where a technician will use it to make your custom aligners out of Acrylic Resin material. The best part is that you'll barely even notice that you're wearing your aligners, making them great for people who want to maintain their professional appearance.
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