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How Long Can You Wear an Invisalign Aligner?
Oct 01, 2022
Invisalign treatment uses aligners made of clear, plastic material and is virtually invisible when worn.
They are custom-made for each patient and designed to gradually move teeth into the desired position.
Treatment with Invisalign typically takes 9-18 months, depending on the severity of the case.
What are the Three Phases of Invisalign Treatment?
The Invisalign treatment process typically consists of three phases:
- The initial consultation, during which the orthodontist evaluates the patient’s teeth and determines whether Invisalign is a good option for them.
The dentist will assess your teeth with a 3D digital scan and take impressions of your bite. These are used to create the customized Invisalign aligners to be used during the treatment.
- The treatment phase, during which the aligners are worn and teeth are moved into the desired position. You will receive a set of aligners (based on your plan) to be worn for 22 hours daily and 14 days for each set.
Although the orthodontic treatment is done at home, you will be required to visit the dental clinic near you every six to eight weeks to assess the treatment.
- The maintenance phase is during which retainers are worn to maintain the new dental alignment. The dentist will give you a set of retainers to maintain the new position and prevent the teeth from reverting.
Who is Not Eligible for Invisalign?
While Invisalign is effective for many people, some are not candidates for the treatment.
One common reason is having complex orthodontic issues or not being disciplined to comply with the given instructions.
If you’re considering Invisalign, be sure to consult with an orthodontist to see if you’re a good candidate for the treatment.
How Long Does the Average Person Wear Invisalign?
In general, most people wear Invisalign for about 12 months, though some may wear them for six months, while others may wear them for 18 months or more.
The length of time someone wears Invisalign will depend on the severity of their misalignment and how well they follow their treatment plan.
How to Take Off Invisalign Without Pain?
The aligners are designed such that they can be removed easily without any pain or discomfort.
But here are tips to take off Invisalign without pain:
- Remove one aligner at a time to ease discomfort.
- Ensure your fingers are dry before taking the aligners off to provide a better grip
- Keep your mouth warm. Avoid taking cold drinks or foods, and wear the aligners immediately. This will make it difficult to remove them later.
What are the Benefits of Invisalign Over Traditional Braces?
Invisalign is virtually invisible, making them the ideal orthodontic treatment for adults.
The aligners are also removable and do not limit or restrict what you eat. You can also clean them with ease compared to the metal braces.
These clear aligners are more comfortable than metal braces, and you can see the virtual results of your treatment before you start.
What are the Potential Drawbacks of Invisalign?
One of the main drawbacks of Invisalign is that it can be more expensive than traditional braces.
In addition, Invisalign is ideal for people with mild to moderate malocclusion. You may require the fixed metal braced if you have a severe bite problem.
Additionally, you must be diligent about wearing your Invisalign aligners for at least 22 hours per day to see results.
How Can You Care for Your Invisalign Aligners?
- Wash your hands before removing your aligners.
- Remove the aligners before eating and drinking.
- Do not wear your aligners for more than 20 hours a day, including during the night and while sleeping. If you have to wear them overnight, ensure that you take off all of them the next morning before getting up and going about your day (this will allow your teeth to return to their original positions).
- Do not wear your aligners when swimming or using mouthwash; doing so could damage the brackets!
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Complete Dental Works for more information about Invisalign aligners and what you can expect.
When you're looking at dental implant placement, it's important to understand the difference between immediate and delayed approaches.
There are several options when it comes to dental implants in Teaneck and West New York, NJ. Learn more about these types right here.
Are you considering getting dental implants but wondering whether they are worth the investment? Learn more about the costs of dental implants.
Excellent oral health starts at a young age. Learn about what pediatric dentistry is and why it's important in this article.
If you have one or more missing teeth, dental implants might be right for you. Learn about the benefits from a dentist in West New York and Teaneck, NJ here.
Have you been told you need a dental crown or bridge? Check out this guide to find out what dental crowns and bridges are and how they work.
Are you preparing to get a dental filling soon? Read here for a guide to the different types of dental fillings to find the right option for you.
Are you wondering how to get used to your dental implants? Click here for seven practical tips for adjusting to dental implants that are sure to help you.
Dentists require images of your teeth, gums, and surrounding structures to create diagnostic models of your mouth for various purposes. For example, dentists take dental impressions of the teeth, gums, and oral structure when providing different treatments to restore teeth. In addition, the images are essential for creating whitening trays, retainers, mouthguards, et cetera. Traditional impressions are pretty familiar in dentistry, although advances now make digital teeth impressions popular similarly. Dental Impressions Explained If you are unaware of dental impressions, these are mere imprints of the structures inside your mouth. A special putty helps make conventional dental impressions in use for several years. However, dentistry advances have given dentists access to digital teeth images that they take using a handheld wand and computer software to capture mouth pictures. How Do Dental Impressions Help? Dental impressions help create models and casts of your mouth to enable dentists to view the fitting of your dental arches. They also help your dentist to see the size and relationship of your teeth and gums. In addition, dental impressions allow for various dental restorations and oral appliances. For example, if you need restorations of damaged or missing teeth, the dentist requires impressions of your mouth to have dental crowns, bridges, dentures, veneers, clear aligners, retainers, teeth whitening trays, sports mouthguards, night guards, and sleep apnea oral appliances. The restorations mentioned above either help to fix damaged or missing teeth, protect your teeth from sustaining damage, or help improve their aesthetic appearance. Therefore dental impressions help in various ways to provide images of your teeth and mouth to the dentist to custom-create models of your mouth for dental laboratories to fabricate your restorations. Kinds of Dental Impressions Three types of dental impressions are familiar in dentistry. They are preliminary, final, and bite registration. Preliminary impressions help fabricate dental prostheses such as crowns and dentures during the diagnostic process or the initial step in the procedure. The Teaneck dentist generally takes impressions during your initial visit for a consultation. Preliminary impressions provide dentistry with a visual aid to plan your treatment. Final impressions are taken for the dental laboratory to fabricate restorations or appliances. For example, dentists might have crowns, bridges, dentures, retainers, etc., manufactured from the putty dental laboratory using final impressions. Bite registration impressions display how your upper and lower teeth fit together. What Happens When Taking Dental Impressions? The dentist might use dental putty or the latest technology when making dental impressions of your mouth. The procedures for taking the images vary but provide similar results. Traditional dental impressions require the dentist to dispense a putty-like dental impression material in a plastic or metal tray. After that, the dentist places the trays over your teeth, asking you to bite on them. A minute or two later, the rental impression material sets and hardens. Eventually, the dentist removes the trays from your mouth beside the impression material. The impressions are for the dental laboratory, where a technician will pour stone into the impression to make a cast of your mouth. Presently digital impressions in Teaneck are gaining popularity because dental offices are increasingly investing in them to capture thousands of images of your teeth and gums. Digital prints do not require your dentist to prepare trays with putty to take digital impressions. Instead, the dentist in Teaneck passes a wand over your teeth to view your mouth on a computer screen and capture the images. The computer stitches the pictures to create a digital 3D image of your dental arches. The dentist forwards the digital graphics electronically to the dental lab, where the technician starts working on your requirements. Can Dental Impressions Pull Teeth out? In most cases, dental impressions will likely not pull teeth out. Digital dental images make it impossible for the wand to remove teeth from your mouth. Unfortunately, if you have loose teeth from trauma or periodontal disease, you might experience pulling of the teeth with traditional impressions. You can discuss the possibility of your teeth getting pulled by traditional impressions before your consultation to ensure the professional uses the digital variety. What Is the Cost of Dental Impressions? The cost of dental impressions varies according to the purpose they are needed for and the dentist’s expertise besides your geographical location. However, if you are visiting dentists for restorations like dental implants or veneers, the professionals provide a free consultation during your meeting and will likely not charge for the impressions unless you want them merely to look at the insides of your mouth. In addition, dental impressions are standard tools of the trade of dentists who use them frequently when providing minor or significant dental treatments to patients. Therefore the cost of dental impressions should not remain a concern in your mind unless you contact the dentist for frivolous reasons unrelated to any dental procedure or want to pull the dentist’s leg for reasons unknown. If you need restorations like indirect fillings or teeth whitening from Complete Dental Works — Teaneck expects the dentist to capture digital impressions of your mouth to create the fillers and teeth whitening trays. You will have to pay for the whitening trays, while the images for the restorations will likely be on the house. Therefore contacting this practice for your dental treatments is suggested for access to the latest technology, helping provide excellent services.
What are Whitening Strips, and How Do They Work? Whitening strips are thin plastic strips that you put on your teeth. They contain peroxide, which bleaches your teeth. Your dentist will apply them to the surfaces of your teeth using suction or adhesive and then let them sit for 30-60 minutes (usually) before rinsing them off with water. Whitening strips are usually used once a day for several days to achieve the best results. It is not recommended to use the whitening strips overnight because they can cause gum irritation and sensitivity. Why Do My Teeth Hurt? Teeth sensitivity The use of whitening strips can cause sensitivity. However, it isn’t permanent and can be reduced with time and continued care. If you are sensitive to the bleaching agents found in your teeth-whitening strip, try using them less often or switch brands altogether. Using a low-strength whitening strip may also help reduce sensitivity if your mouth is sensitive to stronger chemicals used in these products (such as hydrogen peroxide). If you experience extreme pain or irritation when brushing or flossing, we recommend you visit a dental office near you for treatment. The dentist will assess the gums and recommend the appropriate treatment. Irritation to the gums Gum irritation can occur because it may contain harmful chemicals, which can irritate the tissue of the gums. The irritation causes swelling of the tissue around the teeth, which causes discomfort and pain in some people. Stop using the whitening strips immediately if you experience any sensitivity or soreness after using them. How to Ease Teeth Sensitivity While Using Whitening Strips? Teeth sensitivity happens because the tooth enamel becomes thinner and less protective after the whitening process. To reduce teeth sensitivity while using whitening strips, you must use a desensitizing toothpaste or mouthwash. You will also need to avoid acidic foods with high sugar content. How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth? The frequency of teeth whitening is dependent on the condition of one’s teeth. If you have sensitive teeth, you should whiten them every six months. If someone has stained teeth, they should whiten them quarterly or every three months. The more frequently you whiten the teeth, the more likely the whitening results will last longer. How Do I Naturally Whiten My teeth? There are many natural ways to whiten teeth, like baking soda and peroxide. This method will not only give you whiter teeth, but it will also remove plaque and improve your gum health. An easy way to whiten your teeth is by using mouthwash or toothpaste with a whitening agent or activated charcoal. This can help remove stains on the surface of your teeth and make them appear whiter. Baking is a natural, non-toxic, and inexpensive remedy for teeth whitening, and it is easy to use. When brushing, use the baking soda for a minute, and rinse your mouth thoroughly with water. However, baking soda can erode the enamel and weaken the teeth. However, the best option is getting professional teeth whitening services in West New York for better results. Furthermore, the dentist protects the gums from irritation by applying the protective gel before the tooth whitening procedure. How to Prevent Teeth Discoloration? Teeth discoloration can happen because of age or consuming too much coffee, tea, red wine, and other beverages that contain tannins. Smoking or chewing tobacco can cause the teeth to discolor. There are many ways to prevent teeth discoloration , and some of them are as follows: Avoid drinking coffee, tea, and red wine. Avoid smoking cigarettes or using tobacco products. Brush your teeth with baking soda mixed with water every day to remove stains from your teeth. Schedule an Appointment Visit Complete Dental Works for more information about teeth whitening strips and how they work.
