Invisalign has quickly become one of the most popular means of straightening teeth around the world. Not only are the aligners subtle on the eye, they’re removable, allowing you to eat and brush just as you usually would when you’re not having treatment. Here are some of our tips for getting the best out of treatment with Invisalign, offered by us here at our Hammersmith-based dental practice.
Keep your aligners clean
While Invisalign aligners are transparent and discreet, they begin to be more noticeable when they become stained. Keep them clean using anti-bacterial soap and tepid water to wash away bacteria buildup that may lead to stains. Doing this once a day will also ensure your breath stays fresh. We can show you how to do this at our Kensington dental practice.
Wear them for the full 22 hours each day
Treatment will Invisalign will only work if you wear the aligners for the required time. We recommend that you keep them in for 22 hours each day, leaving you with 2 hours to take them out each day to brush and eat. Failing to wear them for the recommended time will extend the length of treatment.
It’s also essential to stick to a schedule when changing your aligners over, generally every two weeks. Unlike traditional braces, treatment with Invisalign doesn’t require appointments to have your brace adjusted. Instead, we give you the aligners to take home and change yourself. If you feel you may struggle to stick to a rigid schedule with your treatment, fixed braces may be more suitable. We will talk you through your options during your consultation appointment.
Never eat when your aligners are in
You should refrain from eating with your aligners, as this will lead to staining and even potential damage.
Keep your teeth clean
Having a good oral hygiene routine is essential for everyone but is particularly important for patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. As your Invisalign aligners fit snugly around your teeth, anything on your teeth will be retained there with the aligners, and your saliva will not be able to wash away food particles and bacteria. Make sure you keep your teeth clean to minimise your chance of developing a cavity and stay away from teeth-staining food and drink as much as possible.
Be regimental with your retainer
Once the aligner-wearing part of the Invisalign journey is over, you will need to wear a retainer to stop your teeth straight back into their original position. We will talk you through how long to wear your custom retainer during your visit with us here in Hammersmith, and elaborate on the best practices and habits for maintaining your new smile.
Keep your old aligners
We’re all human and misplace and break things, and this goes for braces and Invisalign aligners too! Holding on to your old aligners will ensure that your treatment is not delayed if you lose one. You should get in touch with your dentist here in Hammersmith right away if you damage your aligners.
Why Invisalign, and who is it suited to?
Back in 2020, Invisalign reached the 10 million smiles mark, which shows just how popular this treatment is (Invisalign was born in 1999). There are a whole host of reasons to choose Invisalign, including:
Discreet: the transparent BPA-free plastic from which Invisalign aligners are made is barely visible to the eye. This is of particular benefit to patients who are a little worried about wearing braces and how it might make their smile look.
Flexible: the Invisalign system revolves around the patient’s everyday needs. Thanks to the removability of the aligners, you can brush and eat without any hassle or worry that food will become stuck in your brace – Invisalign aligners are bracket and wire-free.
Predictable: Invisalign uses SmartStaging technology, which can predict the movements your teeth will go through before you even start. This can serve as a huge motivator for patients as they begin and progress through their treatment.
Comfortable: your aligners are made just for your teeth, which means they fit perfectly over the various curves and grooves in your mouth. The impression-taking part of treatment is also comfortable for patients in comparison with the traditional impression-taking process.
Gentle forces to move your teeth: thanks to Align Technology’s own patented aligner material (SmartTrack), your teeth are moved gently but swiftly.
Invisalign is suited to complex issues, but here in Hammersmith at 92 Dental, we generally use the Invisalign system to address more minor problems and fixed braces for the former. If your key concern is the visibility of your brace, we can offer lingual braces, which sit on the tongue side of your teeth, totally out of view.
Invisalign Teen
Here at 92 Dental, we also offer Invisalign Teen; as the name suggests, this is a version of Invisalign for teenagers. The aligners work in the same way as conventional Invisalign aligners but encompass a few key differences that set them apart.
Each Invisalign Teen aligner comes with blue dot-wear indicators that fade from blue to clear, helping your child and our orthodontist gauge wear over time. They also make use of special features that guide the growth of your child’s adult teeth. Addressing structural issues with your child’s smile early on can make a massive difference to their confidence as they grow older and allows for more efficient brushing. We really enjoy working with children and adults alike to help create a happy and healthy smile.
If you’d like to know more about Invisalign, why not book in for a FREE appointment with our Treatment Coordinator at our Hammersmith dental practice, who will talk you through what treatment entails and answer any questions you might have.
