Here at Weybridge Orthodontics, we understand that every patient has different needs when it comes to having their teeth straightened, therefore we offer lots of choice when it comes to treatment. Invisalign in Weybridge is chosen by many of our patients because it comes with so many benefits. But what is it and how did this orthodontic option come into being? 
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign in Weybridge is an alternative to traditional braces. Rather than wires and brackets, these braces come in the form of trays of clear plastic. The trays, also known as aligners, are worn over the teeth. They are changed every few weeks for several months until the teeth have moved into a better position.
Orthodontic history
Most people who were treated with braces in the years before 2005 are likely to have worn the traditional metal ones. There was not much in the way of alternative options. If a person had crooked or protruding teeth in this time, they had to either put up with their smile as it was or make the decision to wear metal braces.
The idea for Invisalign
Invisalign in Weybridge has its origins back in 1997. Stanford undergraduate Zia Chishti was in the process of completing his orthodontic treatment and had his metal braces removed. He was given a retainer after the dentist had finished the removal. The retainer was plastic and was positioned over the teeth and held in place using metal brackets, as was usual at that time.
The shape and fit of the retainer inspired Chishti, and he started to come up with the idea of braces modelled on this. He wanted to create something that was more comfortable than the metal braces and that could be removed for cleaning. He also wanted the patient to be able to keep the teeth and gums thoroughly clean during treatment. Chishti was also keen to develop a set of braces that could be take out when eating, making meals a much easier process during orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign development
Chishti teamed up with some of his fellow students in order to get his idea off the ground. He founded Align Technology in 1997 alongside Kelsey Wirth, Apostolos Lerios and Brian Freyburger. They gained investors on the strength of the concept and worked with Marc Levoy using the technology available to them at Stanford University to make a model of the braces.
A year of honing and working on the technology later, the team got the go ahead from the United States Food and Drug Administration to start selling their product. To begin with, orthodontists were not too sure about recommending clear braces to their patients. They wanted to stick with what they knew, and they were unsure about the team behind Align Technology as they had not trained as dentists or orthodontists.
Gain in popularity
The orthodontists who chose to give Invisalign a try realised that their patients liked the braces and that they found them much more comfortable and easier to wear than other options. They then started to become more popular. By 2012, there were over two million people getting their teeth straightened using Invisalign. Today, the treatment continues to be the best choice for many.