Invisalign – Cary, NC

Is Invisalign Treatment Painful?

Since Invisalign doesn’t require metal brackets and pesky wires to guide your teeth into the perfect position, many patients find that they are virtually pain-free. In fact, the trays are custom-made, which prevents them from incessantly rubbing against your gums and cheeks. With that being said, it is natural to feel some discomfort in the hours or days following each new phase of treatment. Don’t worry, that just means the aligners are doing their job!

How Long Does Invisalign Treatment Take?

Thanks to Invisalign’s clear aligners, patients can fix crowded, gapped, or crooked teeth quicker than ever before. In fact, the average treatment is only 12 months! That being said, your timeline can vary between 6 and 18 months depending on your unique dental needs. Interested in knowing exactly how long it will take to achieve your dream smile? Don’t hesitate to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Singh, our dentist in Cary, to find out.

My Invisalign Aligners Are Turning Yellow. What Can I Do About This?

To keep your aligners clean and spotless, you must be diligent about incorporating them into your oral hygiene routine. Otherwise, their once clear makeup will become yellow and stained. The best place to start is by brushing them gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush in lukewarm water. You can also soak them in an Invisalign-friendly cleaner daily, avoid stain-causing foods and beverages, like coffee, and always take them out when you eat or drink to keep them in pristine condition.

Will Invisalign Affect How I Speak?

To enunciate words properly, your tongue makes a series of distinct movements against your teeth. So, it’s natural for your tongue to need some time to adjust to your Invisalign trays. However, many patients don’t experience any difficulty, and those that do usually find that it only takes a couple of days at most to adjust. If you are experiencing a lisp due to your aligners, repeating difficult words over and over again can help you acclimate quicker.

What If I Accidentally Lose My Invisalign Tray?

If you accidentally misplace one of your trays, it is important to remain calm. After all, a frazzled brain won’t help you locate them any faster. Simply do your best to retrace your steps, paying special attention to the small nooks and crannies they could’ve fallen into. Once you’ve confirmed that they are lost, give our office a call. From there, we can determine whether you can use a previous set of trays, move onto the next ones, or need to have a replacement one made ASAP.

Can You Get Invisalign After Braces?

It’s possible! Of course, the decision is ultimately up to you and your dentist. If you want to straighten your teeth with Invisalign, but your case of malocclusion is too severe, then they may create a “hybrid treatment plan,” which starts with traditional braces and ends with Invisalign. Similarly, if you had traditional braces when you were younger but your teeth moved out of their positions over the years, then they will take scans of your teeth to determine if you’re a candidate for Invisalign. As always, if you want to learn more about your specific case, you’re welcome to give us a call or schedule an appointment!

What if My Invisalign Broke?

How we recommend handling this situation varies slightly depending on the severity of the damage. If your aligner has a very small crack, then you may be able to continue wearing them. Just be sure to be extra careful when taking them out and putting them on. If, however, your aligner is completely broken, then you need to call us ASAP so we can determine what needs to be done. For example, if you just started that set of aligners, we may recommend wearing your previous ones until your replacement ones arrive.

Can You Eat with Invisalign?

There aren’t any dietary restrictions with Invisalign since you can take them out! With that being said, it is still important to be mindful about what you eat to prevent an attachment from popping off or a cavity from developing. We recommend exercising caution when eating croutons, raw vegetables, and other crunchy foods. Naturally, we also encourage our patients to keep their intake of added sugar to a minimum.

What Happens After Invisalign?

Many patients think that their orthodontic treatment ends with Invisalign. It doesn’t! Once you’ve worked through your entire series of trays, we need to take impressions of your teeth so a custom retainer can be made. This device serves a very important purpose: it helps keep your perfectly straight teeth in position! If you don’t wear your retainer consistently, then orthodontic relapse can occur. This is the phenomenon where your teeth begin to drift out of position, and it can happen shortly after you’ve completed your Invisalign treatment or decades later.

How Do I Clean My Invisalign?

On a daily basis, all you need is a soft-bristled toothbrush and some clean, lukewarm water. Although some patients like using toothpaste as well, its abrasive ingredients can leave behind small scratches that can affect the look of your trays. So, keep that in mind when choosing which products to use!

When you’re ready to clean your aligners (which should be done after each meal), wet them and the bristles of your toothbrush with clean water. Then, use your toothbrush to gently scrub each surface of your aligners. When you’re done, rinse your trays thoroughly with clean water and place them back in your mouth.

Contact Us Today For Your Complimentary Invisalign Consultation!

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect treatment to straighten your smile, schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Singh today to learn all the benefits Invisalign has to offer you. You can also get an idea of what your smile will look like after Invisalign treatment by scanning the QR code below. All you have to do is open your camera on your phone, point it at the code, and then you can see your treated smile!