14 Things You Need To Know Before Starting Invisalign

There are many of us out there that may have crooked or out-of-place teeth. This could be a cause for concern as it knocks your confidence and can lead to many health problems down the road. Traditionally, there’s an easy solution to this problem; braces. Now there’s a new solution, Invisalign.

The problem is, a lot of people get even more self-conscious when wearing braces. Traditional braces are made from metal wiring and can stand out a lot on you. People like us feel embarrassed when they wear them, particularly if braces are needed later in life.

However, there is a great alternative to braces that is really picking up a storm lately. Invisalign is just like braces, it’s a treatment used to help straighten your teeth, the difference is that it uses clear plastic retainers instead of metal brackets. In doing so, it means you don’t look like you’re wearing braces at all. Its invisible. So, you get the benefit of straightening out your teeth without the self-conscious feeling of wearing metal braces.

If you’re curious to start Invisalign treatment, we recommend you read this article first. Below, we’ll show you some of the top things you need to know before starting it:

 

#1 – Keep Your Aligners In As Much As Possible

The first tip is simple; you need to keep your Invisalign aligners in for as long as possible every day. This is the only way you’ll see results, and the best way to see fast results. At PJN Dental, Dr. Pascal Nguyen will always tell patients to keep their aligners in almost all day during the first 48 hours. This is where they really do a lot of work and help you get used to feeling them. He suggests you refrain from taking them out at all unless you have to brush your teeth, eat, or drink

Once that first two-day period is over, you should still aim to keep them in as much as possible. About 22 hours a day minimum. The longer you have them in, the better it will be for your teeth. Plus, you’ll start noticing them less and less if you keep them on, it just feels like you have nothing on your teeth, which means no cause for discomfort.

 

#2 – You’ll Need To Adjust How You Speak

One of the only drawbacks with Invisalign is that it can affect your speech. When you first put them on, you will have a bit of a lisp. It’s important to prepare yourself for this so it won’t shock you as much when you talk. There’s nothing you can do to prevent this, it’s just a natural reaction to having these things in your mouth.

However, it’s worth noting that you won’t have a lisp the whole time you wear them. It will only really be in the first few days as you get used to the change. Dr. Pascal Nguyen recommends that you make an effort to learn how to speak with your aligners in your mouth. Don’t be tempted to remove them to speak to people, keep them in, practice makes perfect. If you keep taking them out, you’ll always have speech problems when they’re in. So, it makes more sense to just prepare for the lisp, and get over it as you wear them.

 

#3 – Invisalign Treatment Length Varies For Each Person

Before you start Invisalign, you should probably know how long the treatment is going to last. On average, it can last about a year for most adults. Of course, this all depends on the state of your teeth and how much work needs to be done. If your teeth are just slightly misaligned, or if there’s just one or two teeth out of place, then it might last less than a few months. Likewise, if your teeth aren’t in a great shape, it can last longer.

Don’t worry, everything will be discussed at your Invisalign consultation with Dr. Pascal Nguyen. He’ll take a look at your teeth and talk you through everything so you know how long it should roughly last for you.

 

#4 – Results Are Faster Than Metal Braces

One of the great things about Invisalign is that it doesn’t take long to see results. In fact, most people see them after a couple of months. But, this only happens if you revert back to point #1 and keep your aligners in for as long as possible every day!

The treatment comes with a pre-arranged set of clear trays that you wear. You change them every 2 weeks into a new set of aligners that help bring your new smile into position. Dr. Pascal Nguyen will tell you exactly how many trays you’ll need for your procedure and exactly how short of time you’ll need to complete your treatment.

 

#5 – Remember To Floss

No doubt your dentist tells you to floss every day whenever you go and visit them. Do you do it? I think we can agree that very few of us actually floss every day! It seems like a chore, and we just decide not to do it because we’re not in the habit. With Invisalign, flossing is more important than ever, as you really need to keep your teeth and gums as clean as can be. When you don’t floss, there can be a buildup of food, plaque, and other such things between your teeth. This becomes problematic as it can then rub off into your aligners. Consequently, you could get this gunk stuck in the aligners, which means they don’t fit your teeth as perfectly as they should. This leads to pain, which no one wants to deal with!

So, make sure you’re flossing every day, and make sure your technique is good too. Don’t be afraid to as Dr. Pascal Nguyen to show you the correct flossing technique at your consultation.

 

#6 – Set Aside Some Extra Time For Daily Dental Care

Normally, we can get away with a short dental care routine that lasts a couple of minutes. If you’re in a rush, you brush your teeth for two minutes at the start of the day, and two minutes at the end, and that’s it. But, with Invisalign, you need to set aside a little extra minute or two as daily dental care takes longer.

For one, you have to brush and floss more often than you would without them. Every time you eat you need to give your teeth a brush and floss. This is purely because the Invisalign will cover your teeth and keep them covered in whatever you just ate. So, you could have sugar stuck to your teeth for hours on end if you don’t brush before putting the aligners back on. You can’t afford to miss any steps during your dental care routine either. As a result, it could take an extra few minutes, and you need to plan your day, so you have enough time to fully clean your teeth.

 

#7 – Remember To Clean Your Aligners

This is such a big tip for anyone considering Invisalign. As well as looking after your teeth, you should also look after your aligners. They need to be cleaned every day, just like your teeth. Cleaning them is so easy, you just use your toothbrush and clean them with some toothpaste.

Dr. Pascal Nguyen suggests you do this every morning and evening while giving them a quick rinse whenever you take them off during the day. You will also get full cleaning instructions when you first get your Invisalign.

 

#8 – You Can’t Eat With Them On, Sort Of

It shocks a lot of people to know that there’s a diet you should follow when you use Invisalign. Don’t worry, this isn’t some crazy diet that will completely change your lifestyle and make you lose tons of weight. No, it’s more of a list of foods you can and can’t eat while wearing your aligners. Keep in mind that metal braces also have food restrictions, but with Invisalign you can always easily slip off your aligners while you eat, which makes it so you actually can eat anything you want! Just don’t eat while you’re actually wearing them so you can take care of them.

Also, Dr. Pascal Nguyen stresses the importance of drinking water while you’re on this treatment. Water is already the best liquid for your teeth, but it’s also so needed when you wear aligners all day. Your mouth gets dry quickly, and it can feel uncomfortable at first. But, there’s nothing a little bit of water can’t fix. Drink regularly, and you will find it a lot easier to straighten your smile with the aligners.

 

#9 – Invisalign Can Help Whiten Your Teeth

The main aim of Invisalign is purely to help realign your teeth and get your smile looking straighter. But, as a happy side effect, it can also help whiten your teeth. This goes back to what we said about Invisalign keeping things on your teeth. Well, if you brush with a whitening toothpaste, all the whitening agents will stick to your teeth and not get washed off thanks to the Invisalign.

Following on from this, it can also help protect your teeth from cavities too. Again, this is because the fluoride in toothpaste will stick to your teeth and not get diluted down from drinking water.

 

#10 – You Can Get Attachments To Speed Up Your Results

Sometimes, you may be given attachments that can help speed up the results. These are commonly referred to as Invisalign buttons. They’re not for everyone, and Dr. Pascal Nguyen will talk about them with you at your consultation to see if you need them.

Essentially, they’re little things that are attached to a tooth and the Invisalign tray. The aim is that it helps speed up the movement of that particular tooth to get it in line with the rest a lot quicker. They don’t stand out, no one will notice them, and they can help you see quicker results.

 

#11 – There’s No Age Limit For Invisalign

Some people think that there’s an age limit with Invisalign treatment. However, there’s no evidence to suggest this is true. People of all ages can enjoy the benefits of Invisalign.

Dr. Pascal Nguyen specializes in treating all patients within the Portland, Beaverton, and Hillsboro areas of Oregon, so you will be taken care of when you decide to come in.

 

#12 – You Will Need A Retainer

Invisalign is a revolutionary treatment in that it can quickly yield results and hardly anyone will notice you’re wearing the aligners. However, as with braces, the work doesn’t stop when the treatment is over. Invisalign will do an amazing job, but it’s up to you to ensure it stays that way. You’ll get a retainer fitted for your newly aligned teeth which you have to keep in every night afterwards, don’t worry, its easy!

Too many people forget to do this, particularly after having braces. As a result, their teeth slowly start shifting again. The good news is, when you have Invisalign trays in your mouth for a year, you tend to get used to the feeling. So, sticking a retainer in before bed really doesn’t feel strange to you and can actually be rewarding knowing your smile is always going to stay amazing.

 

#13 – Adjustments May Be Made To Your Teeth

Finally, it’s worth noting that some minor adjustments may be made to your teeth before your treatment. Again, this will all be discussed at your consultation. If your teeth are too big, they can get filed down slightly so they can fit in a tray with the rest of your teeth. Don’t panic, this isn’t a painful procedure at all, and it will only help you get more from your treatment and have a better-looking smile.

 

#14 – Cost Varies Per Person

Knowing the exact price of your Invisalign treatment can be difficult. It varies from person to person, and is usually cheaper if you’ve had braces before. Most patients can get all of their desired results for just 3-5 thousand dollars. The results that patients enjoy after their treatment are so astounding that patients are always grateful they had the opportunity to use them. Additionally, many insurance providers cover Invisalign treatments, so you’ll be able to enjoy your new smile easily and quickly.

 

Hopefully, this article as provided you with some information you didn’t know about beforehand. Invisalign is a great treatment, and it can help bring back confidence to your smile.

At PJN Dental, we offer Invisalign treatment for our patients. If this interests you, we suggest you book a consultation with Dr. Pascal Nguyen today. He knows everything there is to know about Invisalign and can help you make the right decision. Click the contact us page and call us to set up your appointment! If you live within any of the surrounding Portland Oregon areas or even inside of downtown, we can help you out!

 

Also, please feel free to comment below. We’d love to chat with you!