Five Questions About Invisalign Braces

Your braces questions answered by our Ashby and Burton dentist.

Of all the ‘invisible’ braces that we provide at Alexandra Dental Care, Invisalign is probably the best known system. Over the years, we have used these modern orthodontic appliances to straighten many patient’s teeth, resulting in nice even smiles.

As you’d expect, along the way, we have been asked many questions. The ones below are just a selection of those most commonly asked.

1.    Are they really invisible?

No; that would be impossible to achieve and would leave you unable to find them should you put them down when cleaning! However, Invisalign are very transparent and most patients who have had them fitted say that hardly anybody noticed that they were wearing them unless they mentioned it. They are made from a durable medical grade plastic and we are confident that you will be happy with the way that your teeth look whilst wearing them.

2.    How long do they take to work?

This really depends on each patient and their specific needs but we will be able to give you an estimated time frame during your consultation. What we would say is that this is not the fastest method to straighten teeth, and, if you are looking for a quick result, options such as the Six Month Smile or Inman Aligner may be a better choice, where appropriate. The ‘pay off’ in using these though is that they are more visible and use the traditional wire and bracket system to move your teeth. Whilst Invisalign may take longer, many find them more comfortable and convenient which compensates for the extra time taken to achieve the end result of straighter teeth.

3.    Are they really easy to remove?

Invisalign do need to fit securely in order to do their job. They are designed to be removed by the patient however, and this is straightforward to do and something you will find to be easy after a few attempts. We will show you how to do this when we initially fit them for you. This is an important aspect of Invisalign braces and one of their unique selling points i.e. they can be removed for cleaning and when you are eating.

4.    Can I really eat anything whilst wearing them?

As mentioned above, Invisalign orthodontics should be removed whilst eating. This means that there are no restrictions as to what you can eat, other than any you might impose for dietary reasons. It is worth mentioning that there have reportedly been a small number of cases where a patient has used chewing gum whilst wearing them. This is definitely not advisable!

5.    Do I need to clean them?

Yes; you should remove Invisalign to brush and floss your teeth. It is important to remember that bacteria can accumulate on the plastic trays if you do not clean them. This is likely to lead to decay and gum problems so you should clean them before returning them to your teeth. Special cleaning solutions are available and we will offer advice when you have Invisalign fitted.

These are just five of the more common questions that our Ashby and Burton dentists have been asked about Invisalign. However, we are sure that you may have many more and we are always happy to answer them. If you are interested in having your teeth straightened using Invisalign, or any other orthodontic system available at Alexandra Dental Care, please call us on 01283 216347 to book your consultation. Our team are always pleased to help!

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