Invisalign FAQ

Many teens are reluctant to have their teeth straightened with braces because of how visible and uncomfortable they can be. Consequently, many adults still have crooked smiles, which can result in periodontal disease because their teeth are hard to clean due to overcrowding and misalignment.

Fortunately, Invisalign offers a great alternative to braces for all ages. There are no wires or brackets to poke the soft tissues of the mouth, just soft, BPA-free plastic trays or aligners that fit over your upper and lower arches. There are small attachments that are similar to brackets, but nowhere near as harsh.

Unlike braces, there are no dietary restrictions because you don’t need to worry about food sticking to brackets or wires; you just remove the aligners before you eat or drink and wear them again afterwards. You can brush and floss as you always did. Because the aligners are clear, no one has to know you are wearing them unless you want them to.

After a full dental examination to make sure you are a good candidate for Invisalign, our dentists will do a 3D scan of your mouth to create the sets of aligners that fit your current bite and gently push the teeth towards their ideal positions. Typically, you will wear aligners for 1-2 weeks per tray and then put in the next set if the correct movement has been achieved. Every 4-8 weeks depending on your case, you will visit the office to make sure the aligners are fitting right and your progress is on course.

You can also speed up your treatment by utilizing Acceledent for ten minutes a day, a mouthpiece that vibrates and loosens the bone around the teeth. We can also provide Orthopulse, a mouthpiece with a light that is worn for ten minutes each day, stimulating cell turnover and movement of the teeth. Another option is Propel, a procedure done in the office several times during the treatment that accelerates the process.

Once the Invisalign process is completed, you will need to wear retainers indefinitely, just as anyone who wears braces does, to avoid the teeth drifting out of position.

Also, the Journal of Dental Lasers reported a study of a painless surgical procedure known as a fiberotomy that can reduce the chance of relapse. The periodontal ligaments and gingival fibers that encircle a tooth are stretched during orthodontic treatment and have a tendency to contract afterwards. Making precise incisions can prevent this so that your retainers are enough to keep your straightened teeth in place.