Looking for answers to the common questions about Invisalign?

Common Questions about Invisalign that we hear are variable but it is best to answer as many as possible before starting treatment. Invisalign is a modern approach to moving teeth, which uses a set of clear plastic aligners that you can be remove to eat and brush. This is a luxury for many adults who are very meticulous with their hygiene and don’t want the hassle of trying to clean around traditional braces. Each tray is worn for 21 hours per day for a total of 1-2 weeks, then you use the next tray. Wearing the aligners will gradually move your teeth into the position we desire. The aligners follow a plan that your orthodontist designs in the CAD software.  There are some advantages and disadvantages of Invisalign that we will discuss on this page!

Advantages of Invisalign:

Disadvantages of Invisalign:

Our doctors answer the common questions about Invisalign

Common Questions about Invisalign #1 – Who is a candidate for Invisalign?

That is something the Dr. Danielle N. Bauer has to determine on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes, a more in-depth and complex case will get a better result with braces. There are times where Dr. Danielle has done Invisalign and the results were not ideal so we then did a short round of traditional braces to complete things. This MAY add to the cost of treatment, and also makes treatment longer. If we decide Invisalign is not right for you, we will explain why, and give you other alternatives, such as LINGUAL/HIDDEN BRACES or DAMON CLEAR BRACES.

Common Questions about Invisalign #2 – What can I expect during Invisalign?

Teeth are moving through the bone, so you will have some discomfort. Depending on your pain tolerance, you may or may not need to take Ibuprofen or Tylenol. When you remove your aligners to eat and brush, your teeth may feel as though they are loose, which is totally normal. It is due to the tooth movement.

Common Questions about Invisalign #3 – What if I need dental work while doing Invisalign?

If you have ANY dental work, other than cleanings, we need to do it prior to beginning Invisalign so that the trays fit perfectly. If any dental work needs to be done during Invisalign, we will speak to your dentist about when to take care of this, as it may be able to wait until completion of Invisalign.

Common Questions about Invisalign #4 – What do I do with the old aligners?

When you finish with an aligner after wearing it for 2 weeks, just KEEP the aligner!!! Sometimes, we need to backtrack to a previous tray and will need your old ones. We will give you baggies to put them in to keep them safe.

When going out to eat, remove your aligners BEFORE entering the restaurant and place them in their case. If not, you run the risk of wrapping them up in a napkin and throwing them away. Trust me, it happens all the time. This slows down treatment because we have to wait a few days for a replacement to come in.

When treatment is over, you will wear retainers, just like with regular braces. Please see my blog on retainers to have a better understanding for this.