Is Invisalign right for you?

Modern advancements in the dental care industry have made it possible to give people more options in the pursuit of a perfect smile. One such advancement is Invisalign, the most popular brand of clear aligners. Working just like braces, Invisalign helps realign your teeth to address crookedness or resolve poor occlusion. 

Invisalign isn’t something that everyone is familiar with, so you might have a few questions as to how they work and what they’re like. To help you decide whether they’re right for you, here are 8 things that are worth knowing about Invisalign.

1. There isn’t an age limit.

It’s a common misconception that braces and orthodontic treatments are only for kids, but that’s not actually the case. We’ve only come to collectively assume that because most people who opt for these services are teens who have just welcomed the eruption of most of their permanent teeth. So just because you didn’t jump at the opportunity to get your teeth braced the moment they came out, doesn’t mean you missed the chance to do so. 

Invisalign can be the ideal solution for clients of all ages—from teens to adults and even seniors. There is no age cap on aligning your teeth.

2. They can be more comfortable than braces.

One thing that surprises most of the people who get Invisalign is that the aligners can feel pretty tight around the teeth. And that’s how it’s supposed to be! Your teeth can be pretty stubborn, and it takes quite a bit of force to get them to move around. So you should expect Invisalign to cause you some discomfort at the start but not quite as pronounced as the discomfort caused by braces.

3. The more you wear them, the faster you’ll see results.

Another thing that might make Invisalign more suitable for you than braces is the fact that they can be removed. For the most part, though, your aligners should be in place 22 hours a day, so this leaves you with around a two-hour window every day to eat, clean your teeth, and take a break from the feeling of having the aligners on your teeth.  

4. You’ll learn to make a routine out of cleaning.

Cleanliness is one of the most important parts of caring for your aligners. Cleaning them regularly before wearing them and brushing your teeth thoroughly, as well, can help prevent bacteria buildup and discoloration. So it pays to make sure you clean your Invisalign and teeth properly whenever it’s necessary. Take your time, play your favorite song, or catch up on your favorite web-show while you clean them to make aligner maintenance more fun and interesting.

5. Retainers are still required.

Yes, just like braces, Invisalign also requires that you use retainers after the alignment process. Just like their name suggests, retainers help retain the changes that you’ve achieved with your braces or clear aligners. Without retainers, your teeth will tend to move around again, and they might return to their original crooked alignment without them.

6. Teeth might feel loose when they’re off.

One unsettling feeling that most people report with Invisalign is the feeling of ‘looseness,’ like their teeth are at risk of falling out, once they remove their aligners to eat or brush. That’s absolutely normal because your brain quickly gets used to the feeling of the pressure from the aligners. Just keep in mind that your teeth will be just fine and that the odd feeling is really just the result of frequent pressure.

7. There will be a short adjustment period.

Dentists work hard to make sure you’re as functional as possible, no matter what dental treatment you’re trying to get. So the aligners used for Invisalign are designed to be thin enough so you can still talk and go about your day without too much of a distraction. However, that doesn’t mean there won’t be an adjustment period.

Many people who use Invisalign may experience temporary changes to the way they talk as a result of the thickness of the aligners changing the conditions in the mouth. It’ll be a little uncomfortable at the start, but you will quickly adjust to the change.

8. They cost the same as braces.

Finally, most people who look into Invisalign take a step back because they think it will be more expensive than braces, but that’s not actually true. Approach the right provider, and you might be able to get a steal on your Invisalign treatment. In most clinics, they don’t really cost anything more than the price of braces. So from a cost standpoint, there really isn’t anything that points to braces as the better choice.