Bay Dental And Orthodontics

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that invisible braces, such as Invisalign™ are an easy, painless way to get straight teeth.

But, you do have to be a rocket scientist to invent invisible braces. Invisalign™ is made from Translucent Polycrystalline Alumina (TPA), a material developed by NASA’s Advanced Ceramics Research, originally designed to protect heat seeking missiles. ^[i]

Now, instead of protecting missiles, these clear braces protect and straighten your teeth.

Invisible braces and invisible were first sold in 1987, but their prices were less cost effective than Invisalign™ prices and the procedure was much less precise. At twice the cost, these first generation invisible braces resembled mouth guards, they were cumbersome, ill-fitting and almost as bad as traditional wire braces.

In 1997, Stanford University students Zia Chishti and Kelsey Wirth perfected the Invisalign™ orthodontics procedure. ^[ii]

The MBA students used high-tech computer imaging graphics to make sure that the invisible braces work exactly like metal braces, without the pain and the constant adjustments.

Here’s a fun fact; neither Chishti nor Wirth had any dental training, they were both traditional braces users that were tired of dealing with teeth issues.

Invisalign™ officially hit the markets in 2000 and instantly became the easiest to use, most popular invisible braces ever.

^[ii] http://www.archwired.com/HistoryofOrtho.htm