Q. How often must I wear my aligners?
A. You must wear your aligners 21- 22 hours daily. You may remove them for eating, drinking and regular oral hygiene.
Q. Are there any restrictions to what I can eat while in treatment?
A. No. Unlike braces, you may eat whatever you like as long as you remove the aligners before eating. Prior to placing the aligners back on, it is important to brush your teeth and the aligners after you eat. It is important to continue with your regular dental cleanings/checkups at your dentist.
Q. Will wearing the aligners affect my speech?
A. Like any orthodontic treatment, there is a short adjustment period. The more you speak with the aligners on, the quicker you will adjust and the saliva in your mouth will decrease making any minor speech impediment obsolete.
Q. Is there any discomfort with Invisalign® treatment?
A. Most patients report surprisingly little discomfort. There will be some pressure and minor discomfort for a day or two after each initial insertion. This is a sign that your teeth are moving sequentially into their final position.
Q. Can I chew gum?
A. It is recommended that you remove your aligners prior to chewing gum as the gum will stick to the aligners.
Q. Can I smoke with the aligners in?
A. We discourage smoking with aligners as the cigarette smoke will tend to discolor them.
Q. How do I keep my aligners clean?
A. Brushing them with toothpaste and a regular soft bristled brush or electric toothbrush will keep them fresh and clean.
Q. How often do I see an orthodontist while wearing Invisalign®?
A. Regular office visits are every 6-10 weeks once the initial steps are completed and we are confident in your progress and cooperation. This will ensure that your Invisalign treatment is progressing as planned.
Q. What happens after my treatment is complete? Do I need retainers?
A. All orthodontic patients are instructed to wear a retainer at night indefinitely as well as the fixed wires we place on the inside of your teeth. Sleeping with your upper retainer in at night will ensure a healthy bite and maintain the new position of your teeth.
Q. How long does Invisalign treatment take?
A. Treatment time varies depending on the severity of the misaligned teeth. At your consultation visit we can predict timing based on our many years in the field.
Q. Does Invisalign work for kids?
A. Yes, in some cases we can start treatment in mixed dentition ( partially erupted adult teeth/spaces) We can discuss at your complimentary consultation if your child is a candidate for this or if we can use a combination of techniques to achieve the smile you want as invisibly and quickly as possible.
Q. Why do some of my aligners have bumps or ridges on them?
A. Depending on your individualized treatment, Dr. Bozek will have intentionally placed features on your aligners to make the desired movement happen. The bumps are called. “attachments” and they are different shapes and sizes which direct the tooth movement into the desired location. The “ridges” are pressure points and give certain teeth the extra push they need , they appear like slim indentations and initially may rub on your gums until you adjust. They will disappear as soon as the tooth is in its final destination. There may also be “turbos” which are bumps on the tongue side of the upper aligners which assist your teeth to slide past each other into their desired location. These may get worn down over the week and that is normal.
Q. What should I do if I break or lose my aligner?
In the event an aligner splits from removing it and it no longer holds its horse-shoe shape, call or email the office to let us know and we will review your status and Invisalign Clincheck movie so that we can best advise you how to proceed. Often we will advise you to try in the next tray and use “chewies” to help them seat. You will feel added pressure by jumping forward and we suggest you wear this tray for more than 7 days so the teeth can fully catch up. We are always happy to schedule extra visits to check in with you if you have concerns over the fit or comfort of aligners.
Q. A spot on my aligner feels rough, what can I do?
A. All aligners go through a professional polishing stage prior to delivery. Sometimes tissues are very sensitive or the tray rubs them and it does not settle down. In these areas you may take a fine nail file and smooth any areas of concern. This is often by the tip of the tongue on the lower tray or back corners by wisdom teeth. We are happy to smooth areas for you in the office if you bring your aligners in to us. Your comfort is our top priority.
Q. I am going on holiday or need to cancel my next appointment and I don’t have enough trays to proceed. What should I do?
A. Call or email our office and we will review your Clincheck movie and arrange to provide you with extra aligners to bridge the gap. There are only a few instances where this is not possible such as your first attachment appointment on week 4, if your are due for a refinement scan and photos, or if you require IPR/filing prior to your next trays. In these cases we will advise you to continue to wear your last tray until you can come in for n appointment and we will work with you to make that happen as efficiently as possible.
