Everything You Need to Know Before Trying Invisalign

October 24, 2019

When it comes to dentistry, some things are just basic truths. One of these is that more people want straight teeth than have them. Often, the path to a straight, beautiful smile can seem intimidating.

Having braces means committing to having metal and wires on your teeth, as well as enduring discomfort or pain, often for years at a time.

However, as technology has progressed, so have the options for those who long for straight teeth, and one of the best new options is Invisalign.

What’s good about Invisalign?

There are so many reasons why Invisalign provide a better, easier alternative to having braces.

For one, as implied by their name, they are clear and invisible, meaning they won’t change your look or even be noticeable in the same way that large metal braces are. For those worried about the appearance of conventional braces, Invisalign can be a great solution.

Second, Invisalign have the potential to work even more quickly than braces when it comes to teeth straightening.

The specific amount of time will vary for everyone, but Invisalign has straightened the teeth of some patients in as quickly as 6-12 months.

Finally, while having Invisalign won’t always be entirely comfortable, the potential for pain is far less when compared with conventional braces.

What’s the catch?

While Invisalign are an outstanding option, they aren’t a no-fail alternative to metal braces. For one, you can have to self-monitor in terms of wearing them, which is not the case with conventional braces.

Most orthodontists recommend wearing Invisalign for 22 hours a day, taking them off only to eat and brush your teeth. While this might seem like a high threshold, if you want your Invisalign to be truly effective you’ll need to adhere to this rule.

A hidden benefit for some patients is that because Invisalign make eating more of a pain, you might be inadvertently discouraged from snacking as much as you’d like.

Cleaning your teeth and Invisalign multiple times a day can become somewhat of a chore, however, metal braces can be even more of a pest in terms of cleaning.

For some, it may take a little while to get used to talking normally with your Invisalign. While this might be embarrassing or tough at first, the annunciation difficulties will subside with time.

Finally, while Invisalign will work for most people, it certainly doesn’t work well for everyone.

Particularly in more extreme cases of skewed teeth, conventional braces might be the only viable solution.

How do I start?

If you think Invisalign might be the right option for you, talk to your dentist about trying them.

Remember that different methods work for everybody and for various reasons, your dentist might suggest a different course of action when it comes to teeth straightening.

However, if it is the case that Invisalign are right for you, they will certainly be worth the beautiful, straight smile you end up with.

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