Many patients who avoided addressing teeth alignment issues in the past due to reservations about the treatment are now more comfortable with receiving care due to the invention of Invisalign®. This solution removes many of the disadvantages of braces, such as having unattractive metal on the teeth and limiting food choices. However, this option is new to the dental community and so raises many questions among patients. The first step to getting straighter, more attractive teeth is meeting with a dentist and getting all the essential information.
Discussing Invisalign® with a dentist
Many people are unfamiliar with clear aligners and how this newer alternative to braces works to straighten the teeth. However, understanding this treatment option is important for knowing whether this is a suitable solution. Here are three questions to bring up during the consultation appointment.
1. Who can benefit from clear aligners?
People with clear aligners should be adults or older teenagers who can stick to a routine. If wearing aligners consistently is a problem for any reason, traditional braces should be considered. Dental restorations can make wearing Invisalign® trickier, so this needs to be discussed with the dentist. Overly complex cases that are dealing with severely crooked teeth, large gaps, midlines movements, or extractions may be too complicated for clear aligners to address. However, most alignment issues can be fixed with this alternative.
2. How often should the aligners be worn?
To have teeth treated with Invisalign®, the patient must be mature and dedicated enough to wear the aligners consistently without taking them off for extended periods of time. When placing a set of aligners for the first time, the dental professional instructs the patient to wear the trays at least 22 hours a day. The additional two hours in a day are reserved for times when the patient takes off the trays to eat food, drink a non-water beverage, or clean the teeth. If patients neglect to wear the aligners at all other times, the teeth may not shift to the intended position and the treatment will be unsuccessful.
3. What is the cleaning process for the aligners?
While clear aligners can be removed, making it easier to keep the teeth well-maintained, patients do need to add an extra step to their teeth hygiene routine. After waking up and before bed, the tray needs to be removed from the teeth and cleaned using a special solution or toothbrush. Consider brushing the teeth and trays in between meals as well. Attachments require extra care to remove food if it gets stuck.
Conclusion
Dental professionals are ready to answer patient questions about Invisalign® and the other teeth alignment options that are available. Have a list of questions ready before attending the consultation, including the three here and others you may have. As the process continues, more questions are bound to come up. Establishing open communication and making an educated choice for clear aligners over other alternatives is a strong way to start the journey to a beautiful smile.
Request an appointment here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com or call McCarthy Dentistry at (740) 546-5178 for an appointment in our Marietta office.
Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.
Recent Posts
An experienced cosmetic dentist can provide dental veneers to help you regain your smile. The custom-fit shells can improve your looks. Each one can even provide support for your teeth. Here are the questions to ask your cosmetic dentist to find out if getting veneers will be a good decision for you.These thin shells go…
Being unhappy with your smile can impact how you view yourself and socialize. Cosmetic dentists understand this, so they are committed to providing patients with the smile of their dreams. They do this through smile makeovers. Smile makeovers are custom for each patient and encompass various services. Here are the five most common.Dental bonding is…
Your cosmetic dentist can improve your smile with specific techniques. Assessing the issue comes first. Discussing the treatment options will follow. Here are the details on how a cosmetic dentist can rejuvenate your smile.A stunning smile comes with good functionality. The cosmetic dentist will focus on improving the appearance of one’s smile, but at the…
A cosmetic dentist is the best type of professional to utilize when preparing to undergo a smile makeover, a process in which various dental procedures are performed to transform and improve one's smile. Multiple procedures can be part of the smile makeover process, but many patients may not know what those might be. Since dentistry…