As an adult, you may be hesitant about taking any action on straightening your teeth. Maybe you think you’re “too old” for braces. Perhaps the thought of wearing those metal braces attached to your teeth for several years is just too much.
Here’s a bit of good news.
You don’t have to go that route. Today, there are alternative options available, like Invisalign®, that allow you to benefit from the function of braces without having to actually wear traditional metal and wire braces.
Before you make a final decision, it’s important to find out if you’re ready to put forth the effort required for that beautiful smile. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering Invisalign® clear aligners.
Invisalign® Requires Commitment
This should come as no surprise. Braces of any sort require a commitment, as it takes time to shift the teeth to their ideal positions. With Invisalign®, this can be accomplished in 12-15 months or so. While a year still requires a commitment of time, it’s far less than the two to three years it takes with most conventional braces.
Invisalign® Can Cause Minor Discomfort
Some people seem to think that the only painful orthodontic treatment is getting traditional metal braces. The truth is, any orthodontic procedure is bound to cause some amount of discomfort. Your tolerance for discomfort plays a big role in how uncomfortable your Invisalign® clear aligners will feel.
Invisalign® Offers Greater Wearing Flexibility
While you’ll need to wear your Invisalign® clear aligners for about 22 hours every day, you have the option to remove them for brief periods throughout the day to eat or drink. You should not eat anything with your aligner trays in, and you should only drink water. Taking them out before eating or drinking keeps them from becoming stained or damaged.
Invisalign® Requires Consistent Oral Hygiene
You’ll need to floss and brush after eating and before you put your Invisalign® aligners back in. This needs to be done every single time you eat or drink. You can damage your teeth by ignoring the importance of consistent, careful, ongoing oral care. The aligners themselves will also need to be cleaned regularly. When they’re not in your mouth, they should be soaking in cleaner. Rinse them thoroughly before returning them to your mouth.
You’ll Need to Wear a Retainer After Invisalign® Treatment
No matter what sort of orthodontic treatment option you choose to straighten and reposition your teeth, a retainer is required at the end of the treatment period to make sure the teeth don’t slowly return to their previous positions.
Invisalign® Treatment is Practically Invisible
As you might guess, the name Invisalign® comes from the fact that, in most cases, the aligner trays are virtually invisible to other people. You won’t have to deal with friendly jokes about ‘metal mouth’ since most people will be unaware that you have anything in your mouth.
There are some cases for which Invisalign® treatment may not be a viable option, such as with severe malocclusions. You may discover that you need rubber band attachments or even traditional metal braces if your teeth are severely out of alignment.
If you’re considering an orthodontic treatment to straighten your teeth, contact us today and set up a consultation. That’s the fastest way to find out if Invisalign® is the best solution to give you the straight, beautiful smile you deserve!
