Many people have crooked and out-of-place teeth which take a toll on their confidence and oral health. Although braces were considered the most effective solution for correcting misshapen teeth in the past, Invisalign has taken over and offers a much better option.
Besides, you might not be comfortable having to wear braces and feel self-conscious. The thing about braces is that they are easily visible as they are made of metal wiring. Over time they have advanced as well and as you can see even braces have become a thing of demand and desire these days. You can have them in different colours, and you can have fun with them, but still, more advanced solutions are always welcomed. We are a society of advancements and there are a lot of people standing in line wanting to try something new, different and innovative. The advancement of technology has paved the way for a better alternative. This is where Invisalign comes into place.
What Is Invisalign?
According to mydentistsanfrancisco.com, Invisalign is a nearly invisible aligner that is used for straightening teeth. Although they serve the same purpose as braces, they are made using different materials. As Invisalign is not noticeable, people feel more confident and comfortable wearing them. These are awesome for people that want their teeth straight and healthy, but that have issues with self-confidence. It will benefit you in all the right ways without making you feel like you have a ton of metal stuck to your teeth. If you are considering starting Invisalign treatment, here is everything that you should expect.
What to Expect?
Known for its one-of-a-kind experience, Invisalign is a unique procedure. Here is everything that you can expect.
Plenty of Attachments
The Invisalign procedure involves plenty of attachments. The dentist will provide coloured ridges which would stick to the teeth like braces. It will help shape your teeth effectively.
Eat and Drink Without Any Hassle
The best thing about clear aligners is that they make drinking and eating relatively easy as you just need to take the aligners out. Before you eat, you need to take them out. Once you are done eating and have cleaned your teeth, you will be able to put them back on. It is an additional step that you would need to do, but this will ensure that you function without issues and still walk firmly toward a better smile.
Has To Be Worn Throughout the Day
Another thing that you need to keep in mind when deciding to get Invisalign is that you will need to wear them for a minimum of 22 hours. This means that you will only be able to remove the aligners to eat or drink. However, a great thing about the aligners is that they do not cause any discomfort. Hence, you should have no trouble wearing them. It takes some time to get used to but, in a day, or two you should be totally fine. Just take care of them and you will not have any issues at all.
Mouth Soreness
Initially, when you start using the aligners for the very first time, your gums and teeth will be compressed and it will leave your mouth tender. But, there is no need to worry as you will get used to the sensation as you continue to wear the clear aligners. If for some of you that soreness becomes a bit hard to tolerate advise your dentist and you may get some type of crème or gel you can soothe your gums and pallet with.
Speech Distortions
When you wear Invisalign aligners, you will notice a slight change in speech. The reason behind it is that your tongue would accommodate the aligners. Fortunately, your speech should get back to normal as you get used to wearing them. All of these new treatments come with a slight “disadvantage”, thankfully this one should not concern you. Even with braces, you need to adapt slightly when it comes to your speech and the case is the same here.
No Lipstick
If you wear lipstick or lip gloss, you will need to say goodbye to them because they can stick to the aligners and attachments. Even if you try to apply lip balms or clear lip gloss, there would still be waxy residue. Hence, you should avoid these. Small sacrifice for a smile that will make you proud all the time.
Cleaning Is Essential
Cleaning is very important when you get Invisalign aligners. This means that you need to look after your oral hygiene by ensuring regular flossing and brushing. It will prevent plaque formation and bacteria from building up. All you need to do is whatever you have done so far when it comes to oral hygiene and you will be totally fine. There is no need for specialized cleaning solutions or tools, just use floss and a toothbrush and there will be no problems. The aligners also need to be cleaned. All you need to do is soak them in a 50-to solution of vinegar and water or a mouthwash. It should do the trick.
Complications
Generally, Invisalign is a safe treatment that helps correct crooked teeth. However, there are certain risks and complications that you should still know about as mentioned below.
- Bad breath if you fail to clean the aligners
- Damage to fillings and crowns
- Root resorption
- Scratches to lips, gums, and cheeks
- A lisp
- Tooth bone damage
- Allergic reactions if you are allergic to the material used in the aligners
- Breaking of the aligner tray
- Dryness of mouth
Some of these might scare you away but you have nothing to worry about. Mostly the same complications come from regular braces, which you need to take care of even more than Invisalign. Your dentist will talk you through everything, explain everything and keep you safe.
The Procedure
When it comes to the process, the aligners work just like braces. However, it is the approach that is different. Instead of relying on metal wires, aligner trays are placed for repositioning your teeth. When you undergo treatment, you will need to use multiple aligner trays. Each aligner would be worn for around 2 weeks before you replace it with another aligner. This type of exchange is needed because as the Invisalign works, your teeth will work and move with it hence the need to change the aligner trays for the best effect. Your dentist will follow your development and will adjust accordingly.
The first thing that the dentist will do is take impressions of your teeth once the consultation is done. All the information obtained by the dentist would be sent to the dental technicians to create aligners that help you achieve the desired results.
As soon as the trays are ready, you will be called in. Your dentist will place the first tray on your teeth and ask you to come for a checkup after two weeks. The treatment should last the same amount of time as braces, but, you do not need to worry about any discomfort.
So, as you can see there are plenty of benefits from this type of teeth straightening procedure. You will have nice looking teeth at the same time you would do with regular braces, just with a lot better look. Another thing to consider is the price, and in this day in age that is not something to neglect. Invisalign, although relatively new are a lot cheaper than regular braces. With Invisalign, you can expect pricing to start around $5,000 and if you have options then it may range from $3,500 to $8,000. Traditional braces are somewhat expensive, and given the situation and your teeth you can expect anything from $4,000 to $10,000, which is a pretty penny.
