So, let’s say you need to straighten out the situation with your teeth, literally. In that case, you may want to consider Invisalign from your local dental practice. The treatment is well-known for producing straight smiles that are truly beautiful! However, you probably have Invisalign questions you want to have answered first. After all, it pays to know what you’re getting into before committing. Luckily, your local dentist is here to help. Here are the answers to four critical questions about Invisalign.
“Will the Treatment Hurt?
Admittedly, your teeth will feel sensitive when you start wearing the aligners. Your gum and cheek tissue may develop sore spots too. These symptoms are a normal part of the alignment process; you’d experience much the same from traditional braces. Thankfully, though, this pain will fade after the first week of treatment.
Besides the starting point, you could also feel soreness or irritation when switching trays. Still, these things can be easily managed.
“How Many Hours Daily Do I Wear the Trays?”
For Invisalign to be successful, you need to wear your aligners for about 20-22 hours daily. If you don’t, your teeth will quickly slide back to their previous position. As a result, you’d delay the straight smile you want.
Given these facts, keep your trays in your mouth whenever you aren’t eating or brushing your teeth. You’ll notice a significant difference in the prompt effectiveness of the aligners when you do.
“How Long Does Treatment Tend to Take?”
The Invisalign procedure generally takes about a year. Even so, keep in mind that this number is an average. Hundreds of different factors can go into a specific treatment plan, each influencing how much time your trays need.
For instance, the aligners will work more quickly when you only have small cosmetic issues. These can include minor crowding or spacing of the front teeth alone.
On the other hand, things will take longer if Invisalign needs to correct an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. Having missing teeth or needing tooth extraction will also add time to the process.
“How Noticeable is Invisalign?”
Invisalign is almost undetectable. At most, people may see that your teeth have a slightly shiny look to them. If they look closely, they may see small projections (buttons) on your teeth. Otherwise, hardly anyone will notice the trays unless they’re paying close attention to your smile.
Hopefully, the answers above gave you a better picture of what Invisalign would involve for your teeth. Talk to your dentist if you have other questions or concerns about clear aligners.
About the Practice
Derby Dental is based in Austin, TX. As led by Drs. Erika Whitehouse and Meghan Kilkelly, the practice takes a patient-centered approach that emphasizes stress-free visits. It thus offers high-quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental treatments. The staff is also qualified to provide Invisalign clear aligners. For more information or to book an appointment, you can reach them at their website or by phone at (512)-795-0128.