admin
Feb 18, 2020
Merely the thought of bearing the discomfort and unsightly appearance of traditional braces can make people anxious. If you too are concerned about the treatment of your crooked or misaligned teeth, then you can heave a sigh of relief with Invisalign.
It is a highly preferred alternative to braces which makes teeth straight and perfectly aligned without causing any uneasiness. It is an orthodontic device which is transparent and made from plastic and thus doesn’t affect your self-confidence.
Most experienced dentists in Hope Island recommend Invisalign because it is almost unnoticeable and highly instrumental in aligning the teeth without making you feel unpleasant or embarrassed.
However, you need to be aware of the significant aspects of this treatment to give it the go-ahead. So here is a rundown on things that you should know before getting Invisalign.
1. Check Your Eligibility For Invisalign
The treatment works best in case of crooked and misaligned teeth. However, it is not recommended in patients with severe malocclusions. Invisalign aids in pushing teeth forward or backward, depending on the need of the patient.
The results are on par with those delivered by metal braces. Since they are almost invisible, they are favoured by people. Also, the treatment time is faster than traditional braces. If only a few teeth are misaligned, then Invisalign can complete the task in just a few months.
You must consult an experienced orthodontist to know the exact duration of the treatment and determine whether you are the best candidate for the procedure or not.
2. Wear Them Throughout The Day
To get the best results, you need to wear the aligners for almost the entire duration of the day. It means that you will have to keep them on for a minimum of 22 hours a day.
So this means that you have to wear them even at night while sleeping. You can only take them off while eating and brushing your teeth. They are customised to fit onto your teeth so that there is no trouble in wearing them for long hours.
Your dentist will create many sets of aligners for you which will last the entire duration of the treatment. Each aligner can be used for up to two weeks and will be replaced by your dentist.
3. Remove Them Before Eating
It is quite important to remember that you cannot eat with the aligners on your teeth. You have to remove them every time a food item goes into your mouth. You can drink water while wearing Invisalign.
However, you must not consume hot beverages like tea and coffee as the heat can distort the shape of the plastic aligners. So stick to clear and cold water.
Also, since you only have a two-hour window to stay without the aligners, you will have to fit in your meals accordingly. Thus you will have to give up on frequent snacking and several coffee breaks until the treatment is over.
4. It Will Take Some Time To Adjust
Since you are not used to having a foreign body in your mouth, you will feel a little discomfort at the beginning, similar to what you feel while getting veneers. You will take a week or two to get used to moving your teeth with Invisalign.
During the treatment, your teeth might feel a little loose as they are moving to get straightened. So don’t worry about the sensation. Also, your dentist will keep checking on your teeth after every few weeks.
Some people experience lisping in the first week until they get comfortable with the aligner. All these challenges are temporary and go away after a few days.
5. Ensure To Brush After Every Meal
Whether or not you are a big fan of oral hygiene, you will have to brush your teeth frequently. You will have to brush your teeth and floss them after every meal before putting back your aligners to make sure that food particles are not stuck between your teeth.
It is essential to keep cavities at bay and avoid bad breath. You will have to clean your aligners regularly with the help of a cleanser prescribed by your dentist to make sure that it doesn’t become yellow or stained.
Also, you will have to carry a toothbrush along with you to work as you will have to brush after lunch.
6. It May Come With Attachments
Sometimes dentists add attachments to the aligner trays to speed up the restoration process. These are in the form of small buttons and are called Invisalign buttons, but they are not visible.
However, not all patients need them. Your dentist will inform you if you need them. In some cases, small ridges may be needed to make the aligners stay in place. Every case is unique, and your dentist is the best person to determine the need for attachments.
7. Get Ready For Some Teeth Adjustments
The dentist will prepare your teeth for the aligners. For this purpose, he may have to make minor adjustments to them.
For instance, if one of your misaligned teeth is too big to fit into the aligner, then the dentist will have to file it a bit to bring in line with the rest of the teeth. It is a painless procedure and does not take much time. Your dentist will talk about it before going ahead with it.
8. Refinement Process Is Essential
Most people are under the impression that wearing aligners is the only part of the treatment. However, the procedure goes beyond it. After the completion of the duration of wearing aligners, you will have to wear a retainer as a post-treatment refinement method.
It ensures that you get desired and lasting results and the teeth do not move back to their original position. The retainer will be made according to the shape of the aligned teeth and will have to be worn at night. Your dentist in Hope Island will inform you about them during the first consultation.
Conclusion
Invisalign clear aligners offer a great way to align your teeth without any pain and invasive procedures and ugly metal braces. To make sure that the treatment goes smoothly, you must be aware of the things mentioned above and follow the guidelines appropriately.
