If your teeth aren’t perfectly straight, or don’t meet together properly when you close your jaw, you certainly aren’t alone. Alignment problems such as twisted, crooked or gapped teeth, or under/overbites are common complaints made by people who are embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth. In the past, there was only one solution – a set of orthodontic braces. These metal arches were attached to the teeth and tightened with brackets and wires so that they would move into a more desirable position. Closing gaps between teeth is also beneficial for your dental health as straighter teeth are much easier to clean and less likely to have small areas where bacteria and decay can accumulate.

Unfortunately, orthodontic braces have a number of limitations. In addition to being highly visible, and for some patients, embarrassing to wear, patients who wear them may also find their ability to eat certain things compromised. This is because foods that are sticky or chewy can become trapped in the brace, causing damage to both the device and your teeth.

Fortunately, there is another option – Invisalign®.
 

What is Invisalign®?

Invisalign® is a revolutionary new treatment plan that uses a series of transparent, custom-created aligners worn over the teeth to propel them into the desired position. Each liner in the series is worn for approximately 2-3 weeks and must be worn for at least 22 hours each day to be effective. Once you have finished a stage in the series, simply move on to the next aligner in your treatment plan. These are provided clearly marked so there is never any confusion as to which liner you need to be wearing next!

The treatment plan itself is designed using cutting edge mapping technology which takes the current position of your teeth and plots the route that they will need to take to be moved into the most aesthetically pleasing position.

There are two main benefits to choosing Invisalign®. The most obvious is the fact that Invisalign® aligners are transparent. This makes them a subtle, attractive solution that does not in any way detract from the beauty of your natural smile. Patients who wear Invisalign® aligners can still smile, talk, and laugh without worrying about drawing attention to their mouth.

Invisalign® aligners need to be briefly removed while you eat, but this allows you to enjoy whatever foods you like before you replace them back in your mouth.
 

Caring for your Invisalign® aligners

In order to obtain the best possible results from your Invisalign® treatment program, you must ensure proper handling and care for your aligners. Here are our top tips for keeping yours in tip top condition.
 

Do not eat/drink while wearing them

You should always remove your aligners before you eat or drink. This is because the aligners are made from plastic and can be damaged or distorted by coming into contact with anything hot such as coffee. Removal can be done discreetly and just pop them into the container provided.
 

Store them properly

Aligners should be stored in a cool, dry place in the short periods that you aren’t wearing them. If you forget to use the case, they could easily become lost or damaged. It will also stop any children or pets from picking them up and playing with them!
 

Clean them regularly

Your aligners are exposed to exactly the same bacteria as your teeth are and this means that they need to be cleaned just as regularly. Use the cleaning products recommended by your dentists and follow their instructions with regards to the best techniques to use.
 

Don’t soak them

Some patients are tempted to soak their aligners in water or even mouthwash. Since you need to be wearing them for at least 22 hours a day you don’t really have time to soak them, and there is no need to if you are cleaning them properly.

For further advice on caring for Invisalign® aligners, contact us and speak to our treatment program provider.