The Stuff Dentists Might Not Tell You About Invisalign
As expert Invisalign dentists, we don’t need to fool anyone into choosing Invisalign to straighten their teeth. It’s an incredible system that has helped adults worldwide get straighter teeth on their terms (without a mouth full of metal).
While by now, you would have heard all of the great things about Invisalign and might be truly considering it, it’s also about time you learn about some of its limitations and what will be required of you during treatment.
So we’ve put the post below together to share tips that will help make your Inivs journey a success and a few home truths about the system that are important to know before you commit and get started.
The price is per jaw
When researching the cost of Invisalign, you’ll undoubtedly see a lot of “prices from”, and you might see costs like “from £1,500” which might sound very reasonable. However, with costs as low as these, it’s likely using only a type of Invisalign targeted to treat small smile problems like slight crookedness or small gaps.
Plus, the price might not indicate that it’s for one jaw. You might believe the cost of treatment is priced for a set of two aligners (one for each jaw). However, in our experience, the price is usually for just one arch, so you can expect to double these costs if you need to straighten the upper and lower arches. Explore Invisalign costs.
Your aligners are not stain-resistant
You won’t be stuck with a stained set for too long as you’ll wear each set of aligners for typically 2-3 weeks. However, the main advantage and reason patients choose Invisalign is that it’s invisible and removable. So, avoid staining your aligners and breaking this illusion by simply following instructions and removing them to eat and drink. To keep them fresh and in perfect condition, you should clean them daily and brush your teeth after every meal (yes, you heard us right).
Every time you swap out the aligners it will be uncomfortable
Invisalign is designed to be as comfortable as possible, and when you get used to them, you’ll hardly notice them. However, you should expect slight discomfort when you switch over to your new aligners every few weeks. These aligners will be sized differently to gradually move your teeth into their next position. Therefore, dentists recommend that you do this switchover while you sleep to avoid interruption or discomfort.
Wear your aligners for 22 hours a day without fail
For your treatment to be successful, you must wear your aligners for 22 hours per day, which means you’ve got a two-hour break to eat and drink and carry on with any other activity like music or sports. However, any dentist will typically recommend that you wear them for as long and as much as possible.
You won’t be able to drink with them on
Consuming any type of beverage other than water is not recommended when wearing your aligners. Not only can other substances stain your aligners, but the sugar in the drinks can be trapped and cause your teeth to decay. As oral health will be your top priority when wearing your aligners, it’s essential to eliminate any food particles that could still be trapped in your teeth after each meal. You can successfully remove these particles by brushing your teeth after every meal and using sugar-less gum to lure out the rest.
Invisalign isn’t over after treatment
Just because you’ve finished the course of your aligner treatment doesn’t mean it’s over. Like any orthodontic process, you must wear retainers for at least three months following treatment (preferably both day and night) to avoid retention or relapse. Depending on your treatment, you could wear retainers for up to six months or even at night, depending on your dentist’s recommendations.
Read more about Invisalign:
- Alternatives to Invisalign
- Invisalign Rules You MUST Follow
- Breaking Down the Invisalign Provider Levels
- Explaining the Science Behind Invisalign
- The Dentist’s Checklist Before Getting Invisalign
- Invisalign’s New Attachment-Free Aligner
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