Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign Aligners: A Great Alternative to Regular Braces

Having a gorgeous set of pearly whites can be a huge confidence-booster. In contrast, having crooked teeth is the main reason why many people avoid smiling. The innovation of Invisalign has made a significant difference in cosmetic dentistry in York Harbor, ME.

What Is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic device worn as a dental tray to fix a number of dental issues. It is used to repair misaligned or crooked teeth, as well as overbites, underbites, crossbites, and tooth gaps.

Invisalign Treatment

Invisible aligners are often prescribed with a strict schedule for replacement. Every week, or as often as your York Harbor dentist recommends, you will have to replace your current Invisalign aligner with the next one in your set.

You can think of it as a successive treatment. Each Invisalign tray is meant to adjust your teeth in a gradual progression so that there isn’t any sudden excruciating and intense pressure. You may feel a slight discomfort at the start, but it is nothing like the discomfort other wired dental contraptions produce.

Invisalign Adjustment Period

The adjustment period of Invisalign will vary from patient to patient, unlike permanent metal or ceramic braces, which warrant a minimum of several days to a few weeks.

Due to this periodic cycle, which is the main feature of Invisalign treatments, the movement of your teeth along your jawline will be less drastic. This is an advantage because too drastic shifts tend to result in teeth tenderness. Plus, heightened pain brings about even more heightened sensitivity to your gums and teeth.

Rest assured that with Invisalign, you will not be going through such a dental adjustment phase.

What to Expect from Invisalign Treatment

• Quick and Easy Tray Replacement

The replacement of Invisalign aligners typically occurs every two weeks. You will be asked to return to the dental practice during scheduled intervals to check on your progress.

Having said that, it is possible for you to request that the interval be shortened for faster results. Although this may depend on the severity of a patient’s malocclusion, a 7-day interval is recommended.

• 22 Hours of Wear a Day

If you want to get the best out of your Invisalign aligners, our dentist in York Harbor highly suggests that you wear them at least 22 hours a day. Don’t worry about their aesthetic, as their invisible appearance will make it seem like you are not wearing anything on your teeth at all.

Additionally, be mindful of how long you keep them off whenever you remove them. Leaving them off for long bouts of time may decelerate your teeth-aligning progress. Practical reasons such as brushing and cleaning them are alright. But long hours offwill not do your teeth any good. Our dentist will inform you of how long you can keep your aligners off (i.e., for a special event, etc.).

• Drink A Lot of Water

All you need to do is ensure that you have a bottle of water with you wherever you go. This way, you can take a sip from it at any time. You will not have to go beyond the normal 8 to 10 glasses a day. When it feels as though your mouth is dry, drink water.

• Reserve New Aligners for The Evenings

When it is time to replace your aligners with newly modified ones, reserve this switching for the nighttime, just before you go to sleep. There may be an initial discomfort when you switch to a new tray. So, if you have sensitive teeth, wait until you are about to end your day before using your new aligner trays.

For more information about Invisalign in York Harbor, ME, or to schedule a consultation for Invisalign near you, give our York Dental Group office a call.