Top 6 things to know before starting Invisalign treatment

In this guide, we’re sharing six things we wish all patients knew before starting treatment. This could help you to decide if this treatment is right for you or if an alternative treatment would be better suited to your needs.

Read on to learn the top 6 things we wish all patients knew about Invisalign before they start treatment.

You need to wear your aligners for 20-22 hours per day

One of the perks of Invisalign is that you can take them out when you eat, drink and brush your teeth. This means no changing your diet while you complete the treatment and everyday care is much easier.

However, this benefit has a downside worth considering. You also need to make sure you are wearing your aligners often enough throughout the day. It’s easy to forget to replace them after a meal or leave the house without wearing them in the morning.

If this sounds like something you would do, you might want to consider fixed braces as an alternative. If you really want Invisalign, it’s a good idea to use phone reminders to prompt you to check that you’re still wearing them.

You can only drink water while wearing your aligners

Another important consideration that could influence your decision to get aligners is another important rule. You can only drink water while wearing your aligners, and it can’t be hot water.

This could get in the way of your daily routine if you commonly like to enjoy frequent cups of tea or coffee. It also means you’ll need to take your aligners out if you’re going out for drinks. This could either get in the way of your social life, or it could be the start of some healthy news habits.

You’ll need to wear a retainer at the end of treatment

Once your teeth are in the optimum positions, you’ll need to wear a retainer at night to keep them there. If you stop wearing a retainer, your teeth will eventually drift into the easiest alignment, and this usually means they will go back to how they were before treatment.

If you want to keep your smile looking stunning, you’re going to need to commit to wearing a retainer for the rest of your life.

Invisalign is suitable for complex cases

Another misconception about Invisalign is that it can only be used for very simple cases. With the addition of precision wings and attachments, Invisalign could be suitable for more complex cases, so don’t let this hold you back from asking your Invisalign.

It’s true that there are some orthodontic issues that are best addressed with traditional fixed braces, but Invisalign can handle most issues.

It’s common to look worse before it looks better

Patients often assume that their teeth will look better and better with each day, but this isn't always the case. Each tooth needs to be tracked on the best path to the correct alignment, and this can mean that your teeth look worse aligned before they get better.

You need to be able to relax and trust the process. It’s also common for patients to be more aware of their teeth and how they look when they start treatment. This might lead you to be more critical of your smile simply because you are more aware of it.

It can make your teeth feel loose

Orthodontic treatment works by applying pressure to the teeth to encourage them into the correct alignment. This requires the ligaments that hold your teeth in place in the jaw bone to loosen slightly to enable the teeth to move

As you go through orthodontic treatment, it can feel like your teeth are very loose. This isn’t the case, it’s just the ligaments are allowing the teeth to move. Once the teeth are in the correct alignment, the ligaments will learn this new position and your teeth will feel more secure.

It’s more likely that you will simply be more aware of your teeth during treatment, and this can make you more attentive to the new sensations.

Ready to start your orthodontic journey with us? Book your consultation today!