Living With Invisalign

During treatment, you wear every set of aligners for approximately two weeks, after which you discard that set and move onto the next set in the series. Treatment continues this way until your teeth are straight and look like the virtual images in your preview.
We will show you how to insert and remove the aligners when you come to pick up your first sets, and we are always here to help you if you have any further questions at any time between appointments.

Although the aligners are very thin, they do take up a small amount of space in your mouth. Consequently, you might develop a minor lisp when you first begin wearing them and especially if you try to speak too quickly. Usually, any minor speech problems will disappear just a few hours or a couple of days after you begin treatment.
It’s highly likely that no one will even notice you are wearing Invisalign aligners because they are nearly invisible. However, some people may notice the aligners if they are particularly close to you when talking. If someone does notice your aligners, they are more likely to be intrigued and impressed. They will almost certainly want to know more about Invisalign, perhaps because they are considering treatment themselves.

All braces systems, including Invisalign, use continual pressure to straighten teeth, moving them into the desired positions gradually. Some discomfort is inevitable, and with Invisalign, it is usually more noticeable when you first begin wearing a new set of aligners. After your teeth become accustomed to the new set, the discomfort usually decreases and may disappear altogether until you begin wearing your next set of aligners. If you do find the discomfort painful, you might need to take an over-the-counter painkiller until it subsides.

There are three very good reasons for removing your aligners before enjoying a meal or beverage.

1. If you try to eat a meal with your aligners in there is a possibility you could damage them by trying to chew food or when they come in contact with a hot meal or hot liquids.
2. Removing your aligners protects your oral health. Otherwise, if you leave them in your mouth, the aligners can trap food debris and plaque, which is in constant contact with your teeth and gums, increasing the risk of dental problems.
3. If you eat or drink strongly colored foods or beverages while wearing your aligners, they could become stained and will be more visible in the mouth.

We will want to see you every 6 to 8 weeks during your Invisalign treatment. This is to check your teeth are moving as predicted in your treatment plan. We will also supply you with more sets of aligners as treatment progresses.

You will need retainers after finishing orthodontic treatment. We can supply Invisalign retainers that are as discreet as the aligners and which are made from the same thin plastic. You will need to wear your retainers virtually all the time, initially, until the bone around your teeth has remodeled enough to hold the teeth in their new locations. Afterward, we will discuss how often you need to wear your retainers to ensure your teeth stay firmly in the proper places. Retainers are the final but very important stage in your Invisalign treatment.