Does Invisalign Work? Pros, Cons, Effectiveness

Another popular method for straightening your teeth is Invisalign. This system was inspired by the clear plastic aligners that are used to hold the teeth in the correct position at the end of orthodontic treatment. Instead of only using them at the end of treatment, the inventor wondered what would happen if the aligners were used for the treatment.

With this innovative treatment plan, you receive a case of aligners at the start of your treatment plan and wear each one for 10-14 days. As you move through the case, your teeth will become gradually straighter and closer to perfect alignment.

In this guide, we’re exploring the pros and cons of Invisalign and asking important questions about whether this treatment works and who it can help.

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

The biggest benefit of Invisalign is that the aligners are completely removable, which means you can take them out to eat, drink and brush your teeth. This means you don’t have to avoid your favourite foods for the duration of your treatment and you don’t have to take special care when brushing your teeth.

The aligners are also made from clear plastic, which means they are very discreet and almost invisible. If you work in a public facing role or are self conscious about wearing braces, this can be an ideal solution.

Another benefit of Invisalign is that you’ll spend less time in the dentist’s chair. Since you change your aligners at home, you don’t have to visit for every adjustment as you would with traditional fixed braces. This can be perfect for busy professionals who don’t have the time for regular dentist visits. Of course, you will still need to visit the dentist so they can check on your progress, but it won’t be as frequent as with fixed braces.

What are the disadvantages of Invisalign?

One disadvantage of Invisalign is that it isn’t a suitable option if you are forgetful or lack the discipline to wear the aligners. You need to commit to wearing the aligners for 20-22 hours every single day. If you don’t wear them often enough, the treatment won’t work.

If you are likely to lose your aligners or if you think you will struggle to remember to wear them, you might be better off with a fixed orthodontic solution. This will remove the need to decide to wear the aligners every day, so you can focus on more important things.

Another disadvantage of Invisalign is that you can’t drink hot drinks while wearing the aligners. Hot drinks will warp the material, so you need to remove them if you enjoy a hot drink. Obviously, if you are drinking multiple cups of tea, coffee or hot chocolate every day, you’re going to struggle to meet your wearing targets.

One final disadvantage is that your aligners could become discoloured, so they might not be as clear and “invisible” as you first hoped. You will need to maintain your aligners to help keep them looking good.

Does Invisalign work?

Every patient is unique, and what works for one person might not work for another. This is why it’s vital to visit a dentist before making a decision about your Invisalign treatment. Your dentist will be able to tell you if you are a suitable candidate for treatment.

Invisalign can be highly effective for treating a wide range of alignment issues, from mild to severe cases. There are some alignment issues that Invisalign would not be as effective for treating, but this is determined on a case by case basis.

In general, Invisalign can be highly effective, provided the patient can stick to the treatment plan. A common problem that parents face is that they pay for Invisalign for their teenager, and then their teen doesn’t want to wear the aligners. To counter this, Invisalign has wear indicators, which will let your dentist know if you are wearing them for long enough.

This can be a very helpful prompt to encourage you to make sure you keep wearing your aligners for 20-22 hours per day. There may be times when you forget to wear them overnight, or you take them out for a work meeting, but these should be the exception rather than the norm if you want to make sure your treatment is effective.

If you’d like to explore the possibility of Invisalign with your dentist, get in touch with our team today. We can arrange a no-obligation consultation so you can learn about how this treatment could help you.