Modern orthodontic care is much more advanced than what previous generations have used. Today, the most common form of orthodontic treatment is Invisalign clear aligners. Please be sure to ask our dental experts at Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL everything you need to know about the treatment during your Invisalign consultation.
What Questions Should You Ask at Your Invisalign Consultation?
Whether or not you are familiar with Invisalign, there are several questions you will want to ask during your consultation. For example, you may want to learn about all the ways Invisalign is different from traditional braces. You may also want to ask why you should consider Invisalign instead of other orthodontic treatments. Other questions you may want to ask include:
1. How Do Clear Aligners Work?
Essentially, clear aligners are made of a very durable plastic-like material that is molded to your teeth and gently moves teeth into a straighter alignment. These aligners are usually changed out every two to four weeks, and most of your treatment can be done remotely.
One of the biggest advantages of using clear aligners is the ability to save time and money by not constantly visiting the orthodontist. These aligners work gradually over several months to gently straighten your teeth, move crooked gapped teeth together, and much more. Clear aligners are also significantly more comfortable than traditional braces.
2. What Can Clear Aligners Fix?
Invisalign can fix mild to moderate issues with teeth straightness and alignment. Specifically, this treatment can correct crooked teeth, gapped teeth, overbites, crossbites, and other moderate cosmetic concerns.
That said, if you have severe orthodontic issues, then your orthodontist may recommend other treatments. For example, if your upper or lower jaw is much more narrow than the other, you will likely need to have a widening spacer to correct the width of the jawbone before you can straighten your teeth. It may also be recommended that you have wisdom teeth removed to preserve your results in the future.
3. How Long Does Treatment Take?
While the duration of your treatment will vary from patient to patient based on the condition of the teeth, you can generally expect to wear clear liners for at least eight to 10 months to correct mild to moderate issues. Just like traditional braces, however, you will continue to wear a retainer aligner for several months or years to maintain the desired alignment of your teeth.
4. How Often Do You Need to See an Orthodontist?
Usually, you only need to visit an orthodontist every two to three months when you’re using clear aligners. This is because most of your alignment concerns can be managed at home when new aligner sets are mailed to you.
Of course, you should schedule an appointment with your orthodontist if you find that you are not able to switch aligners as frequently as your treatment plan indicates, as this may mean that your aligners or your treatment schedule need to be adjusted.
5. What Should You Do If You Lose or Break a Clear Aligner?
Although Invisalign aligners are very durable, they can wear out over time. That said, if you lose an aligner or an aligner happens to break, you can get a replacement tray very soon, usually within a week or two so that your treatment progress is not disrupted.
It should be noted that breaking a clear aligner is exceptionally rare. On top of the material of the clear liner being very durable, you should not be able to break in an aligner if you are using them correctly. Specifically, because you remove your aligners during meals, they should not wear down very quickly over time unless you happen to grind your teeth at night or accidentally break an aligner during a sports event.
6. What Are Your Food and Drink Restrictions?
One of the biggest advantages of using clear aligners is the fact that you will not have any significant food or drink restrictions. While you’re wearing the aligners, you should only drink water or other clear, low-sugar drinks to keep the aligners in good condition. When you’re eating, you should take out your aligners for the duration of your meal, brush your teeth, and replace your aligners as quickly as possible.
7. Are Clear Aligners As Effective As Traditional Braces?
You are supposed to wear invisible aligners for at least 20 to 22 hours a day. Ultimately, this means that you are straightening your teeth for about the same amount of time each day as you would with traditional braces, so your results should be just as effective as other methods of straightening your teeth.
However, you can take your aligners out, which isn’t an option with braces, so it does all come down to you: if you’re faithful in wearing your aligners at least 20 hours a day, you can expect to see the results you want in the time frame promised.
Schedule a Consultation Today
If you are interested in using clear aligners to straighten your teeth, then you may want to schedule an Invisalign consultation as soon as possible. Invisalign is an excellent alternative orthodontic treatment for those who do not want to use traditional braces or for those who have mild to moderate tooth alignment concerns. Please contact Parkwood Dental in Bradenton, FL today to schedule your consultation.
