Invisalign® clear aligners are one of the top choices in orthodontics for good reasons. The treatment is extremely effective but without the need for bulky metal brackets. Patients who are most likely to choose this option are older teens and adults who want to avoid traditional braces for various reasons. In some cases, Invisalign treatment is faster than metal braces—another huge bonus.
While all of these things are great benefits, in some ways, these clear aligners are more complex than regular braces. We certainly don’t want to talk you out of getting Invisalign, but we do want you to know what you should expect when you have them.
Continue reading to learn five things you should know before getting Invisalign.
1. The aligners must be worn 20-22 hours a day.
Although clear aligners are invisible, they must be on your teeth most of the time. This does require some commitment and self-control, but the results are well worth it.
Invisalign wearers should only remove the aligners when eating (a HUGE benefit!) or brushing their teeth. There may be some other exceptions—like public speaking, for instance—that you should ask your dentist about. If the aligners do change the way you speak at first, it’s likely that you’ll get used to them after a few days.
2. Minimal snacking is recommended.
This is a hard one for many. Because the aligners need to be in your mouth most of the time, patients should stick to eating three meals a day. Some patients find that snacking is simply too much work because they have to clean their teeth and aligners after every snack.
However, snacking is necessary for you to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it’s definitely worth it. Just make sure the aligners are staying in your mouth for at least 20 hours a day. It can be so easy to forget to put them back in!
3. You may need attachments.
In most cases, temporary attachments are placed on the teeth to keep the aligners from slipping. The attachments are bonded to the front side of one or more teeth and the aligner will have a slot for the attachment to fit into.
Although these attachments may make the aligners more visible, they are imperative for keeping the teeth moving and making the process more comfortable. Otherwise, they may feel more like dentures that slip and slide while talking.
4. Invisalign clear aligners may cause pain or discomfort.
The sleek, clear aligner sometimes makes people believe they are also painless. How much pain could a plastic mold incite after all? Well, just like traditional braces, Invisalign does significantly move the teeth. The pain typically lasts between one and three days after placing a new aligner which is provided each week.
As much as we try to avoid this problem, sometimes the top of the aligner will rub against the patient’s inner lip and cause ulcers. If this becomes a problem, your dentist can try to file down the aligner to make it more comfortable.
5. Your treatment time may need to be revised during treatment.
Initially, patients are given a specific number of trays that signifies how long their treatment will last. For example, each new tray will have a final tray number like “tray 2 of 18”. Sometimes this is true, but other times the number of trays needs to be evaluated about half-way through treatment.
It’s important to remember that the first number isn’t set in stone, so you don’t get your hopes up. Dentists can’t always predict how quickly or easily a patient’s teeth will move, but after a few weeks, the number should become more precise.
Invisalign in Austin, TX
Searching for an Invisalign dentist in Austin? Look no further! Dr. Helen Ragsdale has a reputation for providing excellent results with clear aligners. Contact our friendly dental team today at (512) 346-4690 to schedule your initial consultation.
