Orthodontics has seen a lot of progress as a whole in the past thirty years or so. One of these inventions is Invisalign, which was first introduced in 1997. Since then, it’s changed millions of lives—and yours could be next! Our experienced team at Glass Orthodontics will explain what you should expect during your orthodontic treatment with clear aligners.
Settling On Invisalign
In the earliest stages of treatment, Dr. Glass will make a choice with you about which method he will use to help you achieve a straighter smile. For Invisalign, we consider a few key factors:
- Commitment: Clear aligners need a high level of responsibility from the patient, as they need to be worn for 20-22 hours a day to work correctly. If there are concerns about this level of upkeep, Invisalign might not be the best choice. Straying from this schedule can impact the results and duration of treatment.
- Suitability: Clear aligners are best used for mild to moderate orthodontic issues like misalignment, gaps, or crowding. However, for more complex cases, traditional metal braces may be a better option, as they can be a bit more versatile.
- Age: Clear aligners are a great option for adults and teens, but they may not be the best choice for children. Younger patients may struggle with the compliance aspect, both in terms of wearing the aligners as they should and properly caring for them.
Life with Invisalign
Our Glass Orthodontics team wants to give you a preview of what your Invisalign treatment will look like. Everyone’s treatment will vary, but it will have the same or similar milestones.
- Consultation: After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Glass will land on Invisalign as the perfect option for your new smile. We’ll do a number of digital scans to capture an accurate model of your teeth, and use this as our blueprint moving forward.
- Custom Treatment Plan: Your treatment plan is a schedule and visual representation of what you can expect from your Invisalign treatment from beginning to end. It’s made just for you.
- Wearing Your Aligners: You’ll receive your first set of aligners, which will be replaced every 1-2 weeks as your teeth shift. Each new set usually feels tight at first, which is a sign that your teeth are moving. The aligners should be removed when eating or drinking any beverage other than water and worn at all other times of the day and night.
- Daily Routine: Be very strict about your oral hygiene routine. It prevents plaque buildup, bacteria formation, and tooth decay. You should also gently be cleaning your aligners once a day.
- Discomfort or Adjustments: Any discomfort you feel as you switch between aligner trays is easily treated with acetaminophen or ibuprofen. This should be fairly mild. If it ever gets to a point where you cannot ignore it or the discomfort becomes severe, please let Dr. Glass know right away.
- Timeline: Treatment can span six months to two years. As we said, this depends on the state of your smile prior to treatment, as well as your compliance during the active stage.
- Completion/Retention: When you’ve completed the use of your last set of Invisalign trays, you’ll begin the retention phase. In a similar manner to your clear aligners, these retainers will be used to keep your results in place. Once again, follow your wear guidelines closely!
FAQs
Q: Should I avoid certain foods with clear aligners?
Unlike braces, you can eat just about anything you want when your aligners are removed since there aren’t additional components that can be damaged. But it’s still important to limit sugar and clean carefully so as not to trap particles beneath your aligner trays.
Q: Are clear aligners comfortable?
Compared to braces, you could say they’re a little more comfortable in that they’re smooth and removable. Apart from that tightness you might experience, people generally find them quite comfy.
Q: How often do I need to come into the office?
Clear aligners usually warrant fewer office visits than alternative treatments, since we don’t have to manually adjust excess components. Usually appointments will be every 10-12 weeks, or more often as needed.
Ahead of the Curve
Did you know that we serve four different communities in Alabama? And we’re grateful for each and every one of them! Providing such a high standard of care to so many people is no small feat. You can see proof of this in the testimonials left by our awesome patients. If you’ve been thinking about Invisalign, please reach out to your nearest office in Daphne, Bay Minette, Atmore, or Brewton.