Invisalign is the clear, removable alternative for braces. This was my personal choice for teeth alignment as an adult, as I was looking for something more discreet. Here’s what you need to know about Invisalign:
Facts:
Getting them on:
You need to book a consultation. An Invisalign-trained orthodontist can go over realistic treatment outcomes with you and personally assess your situation and needs. I had a fantastic experience personally at Level Orthodontics in Edmonton. (They have both North & South locations) and they offer free consultations.
Ask questions – this is your opportunity to ask everything you are unsure of. After assessing your personal situation, your Orthodontist can let you know treatment length, cost, how often you need to come in for appointments, and even show you a digital, 3D projection of what your smile will look like after treatment is complete.
Installation
- You will get a 3D scan at your initial appointment with your Orthodontist
- Once you decide to go with treatment, your trays will be ordered – they need to be custom made to fit your teeth and gum line exactly. They should be ready within a few business days.
- Once your trays are ready, you will go into your Orthodontist’s office and have your attachments placed on. Attachments are tiny, tooth-colored bumps that are similar to the material you get on your teeth when you get a filling. They are small and very discreet, and will hold your Invisalign liners in the right place and help to guide your teeth exactly where they are supposed to go. This typically takes only 5-10 minutes to complete and cure.
- Make sure your first tray fits snug and is comfortable. Your Orthodontist will make sure they are sitting where they are supposed to and fit properly.
- That’s it! You usually go home with a few sets of trays and your Orthodontist will let you know how many days you are to wear each tray for. When it is time to start wearing the next tray, simply open that pre-labelled package and start wearing those aligners for the prescribed amount of time. So easy!
To have success:
- Make sure you are wearing your aligners for the suggested amount of time. They are only to come out when you are eating/drinking or you can remove them for special occasions. It is recommended to keep them on 20-22 hours a day.
- Wear each set of your aligners for the amount of time prescribed by your Orthodontist. Time for each tray set is typically 1-2 weeks.
- Pre-book your appointments for check ups/new aligners so you can move on to the next tray as soon as it is time without delay
- If you have missed a lot of time with your trays, are feeling discomfort or have any issues, book an appointment to see your Orthodontist to discuss and adjust your treatment as needed.
Pros:
- Invisalign is clear and barely noticeable.
- You can remove your trays completely for special occasions
- There are no food restrictions whatsoever (with braces, certain foods are not allowed as they can damage/break brackets)
- Movement with Invisalign is gentle and discomfort is minimal or non-existent
- Invisalign can correct teeth that have shifted after braces removal
Cons:
- Since you need to have them in 22-24 hours a day, sipping coffee at your leisure or consistent snacking throughout the day will not be possible. You need to drink or eat what you need to and get those bad boys back in your mouth!
- Although the trays are removable at any time, the attachments are not.
- You need to stay on top of brushing like never before – you don’t want your aligners to smell like your last snack/meal, so keeping a toothbrush handy for use after every single snack, coffee or other drink/food is very important.
- It is possible to mis place or lose your aligners – since they come out, they can be lost if you are not careful. It is a good idea to get in the habit of placing them into your tray case every time you take them out so you know where they are.
Tips:
- Brush/floss after every meal/snack before putting your Invisalign trays back in
- Try to pre-book appointments in advance for new trays so you are not waiting extra days to get your new trays and progress through your treatment
- Brush your aligners with a toothbrush and toothpaste to keep them clean and fresh
- Don’t use hot water on your aligners, this can warp them
- Don’t smoke, eat, or drink anything (besides water) while your aligners are still in
- Bring a tray case with you where ever you go. Placing your aligners in a napkin while you eat (as opposed to the tray case, which can keep them sanitary in a pockets or bag) is a good way to forget/lose/accidently throw them out, which can delay your treatment and mean more appointments.
- Always keep your previous set of trays. If for some reason you lose your current trays, you can put your previous set in until you can see your Orthodontist for a replacement. Using the previous week’s trays means you wont regress weeks of progress and can keep moving forward. Remember – your teeth can shift if you don’t have trays for several days or more at a time.
- Go for a consultation and ask lots of questions before choosing who to do your treatment with. A great Orthodontist will make sure all of your questions are answered and always have time to fit you in if something breaks, you need a new tray, etc – and of course, it is always good to check reviews before committing to a specific clinic!
- When your treatment is done, ask your Orthodontist about a wire retainer. It is very tiny and typically is placed discreetly behind your four front top teeth – completely out of sight. This can be the difference between a lifelong corrected smile and fairly quick teeth-shifting after you are done with your trays. Some Orthodontists offer the wire and some do not.
Good to know:
Invisalign offers a 5-year peace of mind. If you are unhappy with your results within 5 years of starting your treatment, you can get another impression and fine-tune until you are happy. Invisalign will not re-charge for lab fees within this time frame! You can even transfer your Invisalign file over to another Orthodontist’s office if you are not satisfied with your initial treatment, that clinic closed down, you moved, or you are just looking for more precise results and want to change your treatment provider. Note that if you are transferring your file within the 5-year time frame, you need to start a new treatment plan with the new office (which means new charges) but it will be a substantially lower cost that starting all over at full price.
It’s good to note that Orthodontists strongly recommend working with a professional in person for Invisalign treatments. Online or via-mail treatments can move your teeth, but a lot of people end up coming in to Orthodontists for correction after choosing the mail-in options seen online, which takes more time overall and can be a lot more expensive. They can move your teeth in the wrong direction, making treatment even more complicated than if you had seen an Orthodontist in the first place. Some companies can seem similar to Invisalign, but are not the authentic, trusted brand. It is always best to see someone in person when working on teeth placement correction.
Cost
Cost of Invisalign tends to be a lot less than the cost of traditional braces. A lot of clinics even offer payment plans. I went through Level Orthodontics for my plan and they offered interest-free payments and worked with me to find a length of time that worked best for our family.
Follow us on Instagram to see more about my personal Invisalign journey, my children’s braces progress, and feel free to send a message there to ask us about either one!
Photo credit: Simply Dental