4 Things to Know Before You Get Invisalign

If you’re thinking about investing in Invisalign braces, it’s important to know what you’re getting yourself into. These are not conventional metal braces. Invisalign is a sophisticated, innovative method of aligning teeth that your experienced Haymarket Invisalign provider uses to straighten and beautify smiles every day.

Here are just some of the things to know before you begin your Invisalign journey:

1. Be prepared to commit.

While it may seem like you can be lazy from time to time about wearing your Invisalign aligners since they are removable, this is a big no-no. To be effective, Invisalign must be worn exactly as instructed, 20 to 22 hours a day. The only time the aligners should be out of your mouth is for eating and cleaning.

You’re making a smart investment in this treatment, so don’t destroy it along the way. Remember when you are tempted to skip a dental check-up or have a snack with your aligner in place to follow the rules and all will be well.

2. Expect a little discomfort.

People who wear traditional metal braces with brackets and wires inevitably experience pain – a wire will break and cause scrapes on the lip or cheek, or the braces will be tightened and make the patient’s mouth sore.

Invisalign is smooth and comfortable and is designed to gently move your teeth. It doesn’t come without a little discomfort, of course – they are still shifting teeth and their roots and every new aligner will make that clear. Once you know what to expect each time you switch aligners, however, you’ll find the adjustment and movements easier to adapt to, and you’ll feel confident that your treatment is working as it should be.

3. Treatment isn’t over when you’re finished with your last set of aligners.

In case you’ve been counting on Invisalign treatment to get you out of having to wear a retainer, think again. Every type of orthodontic treatment requires retainers afterward to keep your newly shifted teeth in place. There has been serious movement of your teeth in your mouth – retainers are the insurance policy after your orthodontic treatment is complete.

Your dentist will recommend the best type of retainer for your needs and lifestyle. Many Invisalign patients go on to use Vivera retainers, while some qualify for a permanent retainer behind the teeth so they don’t have to worry about this ongoing responsibility. Don’t despair too much – typically, retainers only need to be worn at night

4. Invisalign can work for almost all orthodontic patients.

Certainly, there are some orthodontic patients who have extreme alignment issues that will require traditional metal braces and other appliances to get their teeth into their proper positions. If you have crooked teeth, gaps, overbite, underbite, or open bite, chances are good that you can wear Invisalign. Your Haymarket Invisalign provider will conduct an examination of your teeth and mouth, take x-rays, and determine whether invisible braces will work for you.

Contact your Haymarket Invisalign provider Dr. Sina Reangber at LifeTime Smiles to find out whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign.