If you’re considering talking to your dentist about Invisalign clear aligners but you’re not sure what the experience of having orthodontic treatment will be like, we’ve put together the top seven Invisalign truths that most patients tell us they think everyone should know:

Invisalign truth #1: They may be removable but that doesn’t mean you can take them out whenever you want

Invisalign is an attractive teeth straightening option because the clear aligners are removable, which means that you can eat and drink as usual, and clean your teeth without having to work around fixed brackets and wires. If you have a special occasion coming up, you might also want to take your aligners out for a few hours. This shouldn’t be the norm though.

If you want your Invisalign aligners to do their job, you should wear them for at least 22 hours a day. You’ll be surprised how quickly two hours of non-aligner time can go when you spread it across breakfast, lunch and dinner, and teeth cleaning. It’s important to be ready for the commitment and realise that you probably won’t have time for snacking during the day.

Invisalign truth #2: You’ll probably want to carry a toothbrush everywhere you go

If you do decide to have a mid-morning snack or meet a friend for coffee, it’s important that you clean your teeth before your aligner goes back in. This is to stop the aligner or your teeth from staining and make sure that no food is trapped under the aligner. Most Invisalign wearers carry a travel toothbrush wherever they go, so that they can clean their teeth after drinks and snacks.

Invisalign truth #3: You may have a slight lisp to begin with

Generally speaking, most people find that wearing Invisalign aligners doesn’t affect their speech. However, it’s quite usual to have an adjustment period, during which you learn how to talk properly with an aligner over your teeth. This adjustment period varies from person to person, and usually gets better with time but you may have a lisp initially.

Invisalign truth #4: It’s really very comfortable

Another reason the Invisalign system is popular is the high level of comfort the aligners offer wearers. People who wore braces as a teen but come back for Invisalign treatment as adults – usually because they haven’t worn a retainer at night and have seen some tooth movement over the years – tell us that Invisalign is a walk in the park compared to the discomfort of their childhood metal braces.

Invisalign truth #5: Invisalign is better for your gum health than fixed braces

As we mentioned in a recent article about your orthodontic treatment going under the radar with Invisalign, this system has been found to offer higher levels of gum health than fixed braces in a recent clinical study.

Invisalign truth #6: Invisalign isn’t the right treatment for everyone

While some brace and aligner systems concentrate on minor alignment and spacing issues, Invisalign is able to tackle more complex cases. That being said, if you have severe problems with crooked teeth, over or under bites, or wide gapping, we may recommend that you have fixed braces or suggest another system more suitable to your needs. The best thing to do is to book an initial consultation so we can review whether Invisalign is the right system for you.

Invisalign truth #7: Your treatment may take longer than you think but it will be worth it

With Invisalign, we are able to plot the course of your treatment to give you an estimated date for when it will end. It is important to realise that as your treatment actually progresses, your teeth may need a bit longer to move than we originally planned. In some cases we will suggest a set of finishing aligners to make your teeth look as good as possible. If this will add more time on to your treatment plan, we will always let you know.

However long treatment takes, the overwhelming majority of Invisalign patients say that they would have the aligners again and that every rejected cup of coffee or mid-morning snack is worth the beautiful smile at the end.

If you would like to know more about Invisalign in Wetherby at Blossom Dental Care & Implant Studio, please book a consultation by calling  01904 653356.