If you’re one of the 50% of Americans that feel self-conscious about their teeth, you might have considered trying Invisalign.
If so, you’re in good company. Invisalign’s transparent aligners are used by over 10 million people already.
Gone are the days where braces are the only way to realign your teeth. This used to be quite a hassle, involving numerous visits to your orthodontics, the discomfort and self-consciousness of noticeable metal braces, and many food restrictions.
Invisalign offers a convenient alternative. Their aligners are near-on invisible, smooth and comfortable, and can easily be removed for cleaning.
They also don’t stop you from eating all the foods you love because you can just take your aligners out whenever you need them.
As great as this sounds, it’s worth knowing what you’re getting into before making this decision. Invisalign treatments require lengthy commitment and can still inflict some discomfort that you’ll need to be prepared for.
In light of that, we’re discussing five major factors to consider before getting Invisalign to upgrade your smile. Let’s get started!
1. Your Speech Will Change for a While
Invisalign doesn’t have many drawbacks. But one thing they still have in common with new braces is that they will, at first, introduce a bit of a lisp to your speech.
Prepare yourself for this eventuality, so you aren’t shocked when it happens. Note that this is a natural reaction to having an unfamiliar object in your mouth and that your speech will adjust in time.
You should only notice the difference for the first few days of wearing your Invisalign. During that time, don’t be cowed before the lisp.
You can speed up the process by making an active effort to talk with the aligners in your mouth to get accustomed to them. Don’t take them out just to talk, or you’ll be stuck with the lisp whenever you wear them!
2. Treatment Periods Vary for Each Person
Before you get started adjusting your teeth with Invisalign, you should also be prepared to be in for the long haul. On average, most adults will have their aligners for about a year.
However, the length of treatment depends entirely on the state of your teeth. If more work needs to be done, the treatment may take much longer.
On the other hand, if only minor re-alignments need to be made, it could take just a few months to complete.
It also depends on how diligently you wear your aligners. Keep them in as much as possible to keep the progress on track. Our friendly team can advise you before you start your treatment how long we expect it to take.
As we consider time as a factor, you’ll also need to consider the cost. This will correlate to the treatment period and how much re-alignment is required.
3. Daily Dental Care Takes Longer
There’s no way around spending a bit of extra effort on daily dental care for the duration of your treatment. Usually, your routine might take just a couple of minutes.
But if you’re wearing an Invisalign, you should be prepared to set aside an extra few minutes each day.
You’ll need to floss. Chances are your dentist has been telling you so for a long time, but with Invisalign treatments, this becomes inevitable.
Flossing is more important because any plaque or food leftovers between your teeth can rub off into your aligners. This means they may not fit as perfectly as they should. This can lead to pain when wearing your aligners.
You’ll also need to clean your teeth after every meal. Your aligners will be locking any food residue in over your teeth, which means you could have sugar stuck to them for hours if you don’t brush them.
4. You’ll Need to Wear a Retainer After Your Treatment
Invisalign is an excellent treatment for aligning your teeth to be straight in your mouth. However, as with braces, the work isn’t over when you are done with your treatment.
Once your teeth are aligned the way you want them to be, you need to make sure it stays this way.
After your treatment, you’ll get a retainer to wear every night. This is easy and will feel like second nature at this point. But forgetting about this could slowly cause your teeth to start shifting again.
After a year of wearing an Invisalign, you’ll be used to the feeling of a retainer. You might even find it a comforting practice.
5. You May Need to Adjust Your Teeth Beforehand
A final factor to consider is that you may need to have work done on your teeth before starting your Invisalign treatment.
Suppose your teeth are too big for a retainer, for example, or specific teeth stand out significantly. In that case, they can be filed or readjusted.
Whether or not you need work done for your treatment will be discussed in your consultation. This is just another part of your tailored treatment plan and will help you understand exactly what you need to prepare for.
Are You Ready to Upgrade Your Smile?
Invisalign is a fantastic option for upgrading your smile. Fortunately, Invisalign treatments are available for all ages.
But before starting your treatment, ensure you know what you’ll need to do and the commitment it requires. As long as you’re all in, Invisalign will be a worthy investment.
Get in touch with us today for more information on Invisalign or ask us any questions you have on the subject. Speak soon!