Invisalign: Understanding the Common Issues

It is not very common that having Invisalign can cause damage or any other problems to your teeth, other than the normal tenderness that comes with having your teeth slowly moved and adjusted. However, if the patient does not follow the guidelines provided by their dentist regarding the proper care of the retainers and of their teeth, there is a higher chance that they could experience some side effects, especially if they have Invisalign for longer than one year. Improper care could lead to gum recession, tooth root exposure, and possibly weakened enamel if anything acidic is trapped between the retainers and the teeth. Essentially, you do not have to worry about the potential problems as long as you are responsible for taking proper care of your teeth and retainers. As with braces or other orthodontic procedures, there is a fair bit of sensitivity and tenderness that can be expected due to the gradual adjustments made to the teeth, especially immediately following any adjustments, tightening, or new sets are provided. This sensitivity can be fairly uncomfortable so it is recommended that very solid foods are avoided.

Invisalign has an incredibly high success rate of 96% at ameliorating the alignment of teeth to eliminate any excessive gapping, cross bites, and any other general misalignment. It usually takes around 9 months to one year of changing retainers every couple of weeks and wearing them at least 22 hours every day to achieve the desired results, but it is definitely a great option for those who do not require major orthodontics. The ultimate goal of Invisalign is to attain perfectly straight teeth that will remain beautifully straight for the rest of your life, which is very achievable so long as all instructions for hygiene and length of time wearing the retainers are followed.

While Invisalign is an incredibly effective orthodontic treatment to correct misaligned teeth, it does require the patient to be fairly regimented and able to properly care for the retainers as well as their teeth throughout the process. In order for the treatment to work effectively, the retainers must be worn for at least 22 hours throughout the day and should be properly cleaned, as well as only be put on properly cleaned teeth, so users need to be able to make sure that any instructions provided are followed carefully. Because of this, many orthodontists will only recommend Invisalign over braces or other fixed orthodontic treatments to teenagers and older as children may not be as mindful or responsible regarding the proper care. As well, Invisalign is not able to treat every single orthodontic issue and is really only effective for less than severe misalignment of teeth. It is also very important that the teeth and gums are in good health before starting Invisalign, so those with cavities, gum disease, or any tooth rot should not start Invisalign.

Invisalign is very effective for straightening teeth that are mild to moderately misaligned, but there are many other orthodontic cases for which it is not the most effective course of action. It is not recommended for those who have misshapen teeth (shorter or smaller) as the Invisalign retainers may not be able to be fitted correctly. Additionally, Invisalign is not recommended for those who have more severe cases of overbite, large gaps between teeth, teeth that need to be raised or lowered, and teeth that are severely rotated. It is also important to keep prior dental work that has been done into account as procedures such as bridges or suffering from TMJ may not be considered good candidates for Invisalign.

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